BESS made mandatory: Nepra approves amendments to electricity wheeling auction process

ISLAMABAD: National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has approved, with modifications, amendments to the electricity wheeling auction process proposed by the Independent System and Market Operator of Pakistan (ISMO), making battery energy storage systems (BESS) mandatory for solar and wind projects participating in the first auction. Under the approved amendment, solar and/or wind projects will only be eligible to participate if the firm capacity of their co-located BESS is at least 10 percent of the firm capacity of the associated renewable generation facility. The BESS and renewable generation firm capacity will be determined and verified under the Market Commercial Code and relevant Commercial Code Operating Procedure. Nepra said the first wheeling auction quantum has been increased from 200 MW to 400 MW with the approval of the Ministry of Energy (Power Division). For the 400 MW auction, ISMO estimates that the 10 percent BESS requirement would represent around 40 MW of BESS firm capacity and approximately 160 MWh of storage energy capacity, subject to the applicable discharge-duration requirement. READ MORE: ISMO seeks amendments to power auction process framework A