Define the decision the system must support
An RFP is strongest when it starts with the commercial outcome. State whether the priority is demand-charge control, solar self-consumption, backup resilience, tariff shifting, grid support or a combination of these. Rank the use cases, because one battery cannot always reserve the same energy for every objective at the same time.
Describe the target in measurable terms. Examples include a demand limit, a required backup duration, a solar-curtailment reduction target or a minimum daily energy-shifting window. The supplier can then explain how its control strategy and equipment configuration address that target.
Provide the right site data
A monthly bill is useful context, but it is rarely enough for technical sizing. Requesters should include interval load data, tariff rules, single-line diagrams, transformer information, site layout constraints and any planned expansion. If solar is present, add generation data and the current export arrangement.
Mark data gaps openly. A supplier can propose a data-collection step or an initial concept with stated assumptions. Hidden assumptions make competing proposals appear comparable when they are not.
- At least 12 months of interval demand data where available
- Tariff, demand-charge and export rules
- Existing electrical drawings and transformer capacity
- Available equipment area, access routes and environmental limits
- Target commissioning date and permitting dependencies
Ask for comparable performance definitions
Require every bidder to state whether energy is nameplate, usable at beginning of life, usable at end of life, DC-side or AC-side. Ask the same question for power rating, efficiency, auxiliary consumption and ambient-temperature derating. These definitions often matter more than a headline capacity figure.
For a system with multiple cabinets or containers, ask how the plant will behave when one block is unavailable. This reveals the practical effect of maintenance and fault isolation on the owner’s operating target.
Separate equipment scope from project scope
A battery enclosure is not a complete project. The RFP should identify the responsibility for PCS, EMS, transformers, medium-voltage equipment, fire systems, civil works, cabling, transport, commissioning and grid-interface studies. If an item is excluded, request a clear interface point rather than a generic exclusion.
Ask bidders to show an assumptions and exclusions table. It is the fastest way to identify why two quotations with similar energy capacity have different prices or schedules.
Review warranty and service in operating terms
A warranty should be read alongside the expected duty cycle. Request the capacity-retention condition, throughput allowance, calendar limit, response process, parts strategy, remote monitoring responsibility and the conditions that may affect coverage.
For overseas projects, confirm who handles commissioning support, local service coordination, training and fault escalation. A technically suitable system still needs a service route that fits the project country and owner team.
Use a bid-comparison table before choosing
Create one line for each required decision item: usable energy, continuous power, control scope, site works, delivery point, warranty, standards, commissioning and lead-time assumptions. Give every supplier the same template and ask for written exceptions.
The final selection should combine price, technical fit, project risk and service readiness. A structured RFP does not replace engineering review, but it gives that review better information and makes the commercial decision more defensible.