Bondada wins EPC contract for 100 MWh VRFB project at Khavda
Bondada Engineering Limited has received a Notification of Award (NOA) from NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) package of a 100 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Energy Storage System (VRFB BESS) at Khavda Solar Park in Gujarat.
According to the company’s regulatory filing, the project will be executed with Delectrik Systems Pvt Ltd as the technology partner. The scope of work also includes operations and maintenance (O&M) for a period of 10 years.
The project is scheduled to be completed within 10 months from the date of receipt of the NOA.
Project details
Bondada Engineering described the project as India’s first and largest grid-scale VRFB BESS installation.
The deployment of a vanadium redox flow battery system marks a departure from the lithium-ion technologies that currently dominate India’s utility-scale energy storage market. The project is expected to contribute to the development of long-duration energy storage (LDES) applications, which are increasingly being considered for renewable energy integration and grid balancing requirements.
Technology profile
The company stated that VRFB technology offers several operational characteristics distinct from Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery systems.
According to Bondada Engineering, VRFB systems have a service life of more than 25 years, compared to approximately 12-15 years for LFP batteries. The company also highlighted their intrinsic safety, ability to withstand frequent charge-discharge cycles with near-zero degradation, and comparatively lower operating expenditure over the life of the asset.
Bondada further noted that the availability of domestic vanadium resources could help reduce import dependence over the long term and support India’s energy security objectives.
Market context
The award comes amid growing interest in utility-scale energy storage in India. The company cited estimates indicating that the country could require approximately 236 GWh of battery energy storage capacity by 2030, compared to an installed base of around 3.3 GWh at present.
Increasing renewable energy penetration, grid stability requirements and the need for dispatchable clean power are expected to drive demand for both conventional and long-duration energy storage technologies in the coming years.
Commenting on the development, the company stated, “With this landmark order, Bondada Engineering has secured India’s first and largest grid scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery BESS project, demonstrating the Company’s ability to adopt and execute energy storage projects involving advanced Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) technologies.”
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