ACC battery tender: Govt gets 22 bids for 10 GWh manufacturing capacity under PLI scheme
Synopsis
Twenty-two companies have bid for just one 10 GWh block of Advanced Chemistry Cell manufacturing capacity in India — a signal of intense industry appetite for a sector that sits at the intersection of EVs, grid storage, and energy security. With ₹18,100 crore in PLI incentives on the table and a 50 GWh national target in play, the tender outcome could shape India's battery supply chain for a decade.
Key Takeaways
The Ministry of Heavy Industries received 22 bids for a 10 GWh ACC manufacturing capacity block on 12 November 2026 .
The capacity is reserved for Grid-Scale Stationary Storage (GSSS) applications under the National Programme on ACC Battery Storage .
The overall programme targets 50 GWh of ACC manufacturing capacity with a budgetary outlay of ₹18,100 crore , approved by the Union Cabinet in May 2021 .
Bids were submitted via the CPP Portal by 10 November 2026 ; technical bids were opened the following day at MHI.
Selection follows a two-stage Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) mechanism conducted online.
The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) on Thursday, 12 November 2026, disclosed that it received 22 bids for a 10 GWh capacity block offered under a Global Tender floated on the Central Public Procurement (CPP) Portal, seeking firms to establish giga-scale Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) manufacturing facilities in India. The robust participation signals growing industry confidence in India's emerging battery-storage economy.
What This Tender Covers
The 10 GWh capacity on offer is exclusively earmarked for Grid-Scale Stationary Storage (GSSS) applications. It forms a portion of the broader 50 GWh ACC manufacturing target set under the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage. The remaining capacity tranches under the same programme have been or will be tendered separately.
The last date for receiving bids on the CPP portal was 10 November 2026. Technical bids were opened the following day in the presence of bidders at MHI. The process follows a transparent two-stage Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) mechanism conducted entirely online.
The PLI Scheme Behind the Push
The Union Cabinet approved the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage in May 2021, with a total budgetary outlay of ₹18,100 crore. The scheme is designed to enhance India's domestic ACC manufacturing capabilities and attract both large domestic and international players to build a globally competitive ACC ecosystem within the country.
Notably, this is one of the more strategically significant PLI verticals — ACC batteries are the foundational technology for electric vehicles, grid storage, and consumer electronics, making self-sufficiency in this space a long-term industrial and energy-security priority.
Why Grid-Scale Storage Matters Now
India's renewable energy capacity has expanded rapidly, but intermittency — the gap between when solar and wind generate power and when demand peaks — remains a structural challenge. The 10 GWh GSSS allocation is designed directly to address this, enabling utilities to store surplus renewable power and dispatch it on demand.
According to officials, this tranche is expected to support the country's rapidly growing energy-storage requirements arising from the expansion of renewable energy, while also boosting energy security and deepening the domestic value chain for ACC technologies.
Industry Response and What Comes Next
The 22 bids received reflect strong industry interest, far exceeding the single capacity block on offer, which suggests a competitive evaluation ahead. The government's statement noted that the participation 'reinforces the government's commitment to building a technologically self-reliant, globally competitive and sustainable ACC ecosystem.'
Shortlisted bidders will now proceed through the second stage of the QCBS process, where financial bids will be evaluated before final beneficiaries are selected. The pace of finalisation will be closely watched by the energy and EV sectors, given that downstream industries — including grid operators and EV manufacturers — depend on domestic ACC supply to lower costs and reduce import dependence.
Point of View
Not just PLI subsidy capture. The harder question is whether the QCBS process will select for genuine technology depth or lowest-cost compliance. India's earlier ACC rounds exposed a gap between manufacturing intent and actual cell chemistry capability. As the energy transition accelerates and China dominates global battery supply chains, the quality of this selection — not merely its competitive optics — will determine whether India builds a durable domestic ACC industry or assembles another import-dependent value chain in disguise.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ACC battery tender floated by the Ministry of Heavy Industries?
The Ministry of Heavy Industries floated a Global Tender on the CPP Portal for companies to establish giga-scale Advanced Chemistry Cell manufacturing facilities in India. The current tender offers 10 GWh of capacity earmarked exclusively for Grid-Scale Stationary Storage applications, forming part of a larger 50 GWh national target.
How many bids did the government receive for the 10 GWh ACC tender?
The government received 22 bids by the closing date of 10 November 2026. Technical bids were opened on 11 November 2026 at the Ministry of Heavy Industries in the presence of bidders.
What is the PLI scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell battery storage?
The PLI Scheme on the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage was approved by the Union Cabinet in May 2021 with a total outlay of ₹18,100 crore. It targets 50 GWh of domestic ACC manufacturing capacity, aiming to build a globally competitive battery ecosystem in India.
Why is grid-scale stationary storage important for India?
India's rapid expansion of renewable energy has created a need for large-scale storage to manage intermittency between generation and peak demand. The 10 GWh GSSS allocation is intended to support growing energy-storage requirements, boost energy security, and deepen the domestic value chain for ACC technologies.
What happens next after the technical bids are opened?
Following the technical evaluation, shortlisted bidders will proceed to the financial-bid stage of the two-step Quality and Cost Based Selection process. Final beneficiaries will then be selected to establish ACC manufacturing facilities under the PLI scheme.
