Nepra allows govt to mandate Battery Energy Storage Systems for wind, solar IPPs in upcoming power auction
ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Friday allowed the government to require mandatory Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) as part of an upcoming auction for 800 megawatts of renewable power capacity from wind and solar projects, aimed at helping stabilise an electricity supply facing serious duck curve challenges. After a delay of more than 30 years, the government has announced the auction process for a notional 800MW of capacity as part of its efforts to gradually move towards a competitive energy market. It is currently engaging with the private sector to finalise the bidding schedule. Facing serious duck curve challenges, the government had decided in July to make BESS mandatory for bidders as part of the upcoming auction. The regulator approved the move through amendments to the “wheeling auction process”, allowing the Independent System Operator (Ismo) — a subsidiary of the power division — to formally issue a request for proposals for the first block of the 400MW auction within the current month. Under the first of three key amendments to the previous wheeling auction process, prospective bidders would be required to commit to having BES
ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Friday allowed the government to require mandatory Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) as part of an upcoming auction for 800 megawatts of renewable power capacity from wind and solar projects, aimed at helping stabilise an electricity supply facing serious duck curve challenges. After a delay of more than 30 years, the government has announced the auction process for a notional 800MW of capacity as part of its efforts to gradually move towards a competitive energy market. It is currently engaging with the private sector to finalise the bidding schedule. Facing serious duck curve challenges, the government had decided in July to make BESS mandatory for bidders as part of the upcoming auction. The regulator approved the move through amendments to the “wheeling auction process”, allowing the Independent System Operator (Ismo) — a subsidiary of the power division — to formally issue a request for proposals for the first block of the 400MW auction within the current month. Under the first of three key amendments to the previous wheeling auction process, prospective bidders would be required to commit to having BES
