Bid process coordinator REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL) has begun the bidder selection process for an interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme involving evacuation of power from upcoming pumped storage projects in Uttar Pradesh.
Termed as “Transmission system for evacuation of power from pumped storage projects in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh,” this ISTS-TBCB project is estimated to cost Rs.3,626 crore and has an envisaged completion timeframe of 34 months.
By present timelines, the last date for submission of bids is June 27, 2025.
The main project elements include setting up of a new 765/400kV, 4×1500 MVA pooling station (AIS) at Robertsganj in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. This pooling station will be connected to the upcoming Prayagraj substation through a 765kV double-circuit line of around 185 km running length. Besides, LILOs of both circuits of the 765kV 2xsingle-circuit Varanasi-Gaya line at Robertsganj PS will also form part of the project.
The 765/400kV Prayagraj substation is coming up through a separate ISTS-TBCB scheme housed under “Vindhyachal Varanasi Transmission Ltd” that is currently under bidding. Incidentally, as of April 21, 2025, RECPDCL had not incorporated the project SPV for the Sonbhadra scheme under discussion.
Rationale
The Sonbhadra PSP evacuation scheme aims to cater to 4 GW of PSP connectivity in the Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. It is learnt that so far connectivity applications of around 3.7 GW (drawl: 3.7 GW and injection: 3.25 GW) have been received from the two PSP developers — Greenko (2,016 MW) and Avaada (1,716 MW). Their projects are expected to commission by June 2028 and December 2030, respectively.
It may be noted that pumped storage projects need transmission infrastructure for both “injection,” which is pumping water onto the upper reservoir; and “drawl” which is to transmit hydropower generated by releasing water from the upper reservoir onto the generating turbines.
Second scheme
According to information available with T&D India, the Sonbhadra scheme is the second ISTS-TBCB scheme relating to evacuation of power from pumped storage projects.
RECPDCL is in the process of selecting a developer for a similar scheme concerning pumped storage projects in Maharashtra. Three developers – PGCIL, Adani Energy Solutions and Resonia – have qualified for opening of initial price bids for this scheme that is housed under project SPV “WRNES Talegaon Power Transmission Ltd.”
Featured photograph (source: Greenko Group) is for representation only
