The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), Government of India has announced the selection of successful bidder under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage. Reliance Industries Limited has beenawarded 10 GWh ACC capacity under Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme based on QCBS mechanism. This initiative is another step towards enhancing domestic manufacturing capacity, reducing import dependence, and positioning India as a global leader in ACC battery manufacturing.

Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) had received bids from seven bidders under global tender for there-bidding of Production Linked Incentives (PLI) for 10 GWh Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) manufacturing with maximum budgetary outlay of Rs.3,620 crores, announced on 24^th January 2024.

The list of bidders (in alphabetical order) who hadsubmitted bids in response to this tender were ACME Cleantech Solutions Private Limited, Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies Private Limited, Anvi Power Industries Private Limited, JSW Neo Energy Limited, Lucas TVS Limited, Reliance Industries Limited, and Waaree Energies Limited for a cumulative capacity of 70 GWh.

All seven (7) bids were evaluated, and six (6) companies were shortlisted for financial evaluation as per the requirements under the RFP. Accordingly, the financial bids for the qualified bidders were opened on 2^ndAugust, 2024, after announcement of the results of technical evaluation, under transparent global tender process of RFP through CPP portal of Govt. of India.

Final evaluation of the Shortlisted Bidders was carried out as per Quality & Cost Based Selection (QCBS) mechanism and the bidders were ranked based on their combined technical and financial scores. The Ministry has awarded the 10 GWh PLI ACC capacity to the shortlisted bidder with highest the overall score, i.e., Reliance Industries Limited, and the remaining five shortlisted bidders are put in the waiting list as per their rank, starting from Rank II onwards. Bidders who were waitlisted under the Program are: ACME Cleantech Solutions Private Limited (Waitlist 1), Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies Private Limited (Waitlist 2), Waaree Energies Limited (Waitlist 3), JSW Neo Energy Limited(Waitlist 4), and Lucas TVS Limited(Waitlist 5).

In May 2021, the Cabinet had approved the technology agnostic PLI Scheme on 'National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage’ for achieving manufacturing capacity of Fifty (50) Giga Watt hours (GWh) of ACC with an outlay of Rs.18,100 Crore. The first round of the ACC PLI bidding was concluded in March 2022, and three beneficiary firms were allocated a total capacity of Thirty (30) Giga Watt hours (GWh), and the programme agreement with selected beneficiary firms were signed in July 2022.

The PLI ACC scheme has been a huge success in terms of the bids received to manufacture advanced chemistry cells in India. The overwhelming response shows that industry has reposed its faith in India’s stellar progress as a world class manufacturing destination which resonates strongly with PM’s clarion call of Atmanirbhar Bharat- a self-reliant India.

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MG/SK