The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Bangladesh’s state-owned power utility, has launched a competitive bidding process for large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects aimed at stabilizing the national grid as more intermittent renewable sources come online. According to the request for proposals issued on July 30, the program calls for 16 standalone projects, each rated at 10MW/40MWh, totaling 160MW/640MWh of four-hour storage capacity. Selected developers will design, build, own, and operate the systems under 15-year agreements. CEB, which generates, transmits, and distributes roughly three-quarters of Bangladesh’s electricity, said the move is intended to ensure grid reliability as the country expands its use of “non-conventional” renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind.

The projects will connect to the grid at the 33kV level and occupy approximately 0.8 acres each. Proposals must include comprehensive plans covering site preparation, battery and inverter installation, energy management systems, environmental safeguards, auxiliary power, and SCADA integration, along with necessary transformers, switchgear, and transmission links to the grid termination point. CEB has not specified a preferred technology but requires proven solutions with successful track records in countries with infrastructure comparable to Sri Lanka. All equipment must be new and unused. The deadline for bid submissions is September 10, 2025, with a target completion date of May 29, 2026.

An EU-funded 2023 study previously underscored the cost-saving and reliability benefits of BESS for Bangladesh, according to Energy-Storage.news. By inviting private sector participation under a build-own-operate model, CEB aims to accelerate deployment while managing capital outlay. While the RFP outlines detailed technical and operational requirements, it does not indicate potential sites beyond specifying grid connection parameters, leaving bidders to propose optimal locations within the country’s network constraints.