Govt. invites bids for 10GWh Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) battery manufacturing

India's Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) on Wednesday (Jan. 24) opened the re-bidding process for the remaining 10GWh capacity under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for the 'National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage.' 

The tender documents for the rebidding are now available online, and the entire bidding process will follow a two-stage transparent approach, utilizing the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) mechanism through the CPP Portal, as outlined in the official release by MHI.

Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, the Union Minister of Heavy Industries, emphasized MHI's commitment to supporting the growth of India's manufacturing capabilities and exports in the automobile and automobile component sector. He stated that MHI is dedicated to advancing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of a self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) and developed India (Viksit Bharat), particularly in the context of the rebidding for PLI in ACC.

In the initial round of the ACC PLI bidding, which concluded in March 2022, three companies—Ola Electric Mobility, Reliance New Energy, and Rajesh Exports—were allocated a combined capacity of 30GWh. The program agreement with the beneficiaries was officially signed in July 2022.

Further, MHI has released RfP for shortlisting and selection of bidders under the ACC Battery Storage PLI scheme for setting up battery manufacturing with a total manufacturing capacity of 10GWh with a maximum budgetary outlay of INR 3,620 crore.

The upcoming bid due is April 22, 2024, and bids will be opened on April 23, 2024. Additionally, MHI has scheduled a pre-bid conference for February 12, 2024.