The bidding process for all the three ISTS schemes to feed green hydrogen/ammonia units, and which have been approved by National Committee on Transmission (NCT) so far, is now underway.
These three schemes with an aggregate envisaged outlay of around Rs.8,200 crore (as estimated by NCT), will developing interstate transmission system (ISTS) schemes meant to feed upcoming green hydrogen/ammonia manufacturing units in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
All the three schemes have recently opened for bids and by current timelines, the technical bids are likely to be opened by December 20, 2024.
In Gujarat, manufacturing potential has been identified in two areas – Kandla and Mundra, while in Tamil Nadu, it is Tuticorin. The two schemes in Gujarat have a gestation period of 36 months while that in Tamil Nadu is envisaged for completion in 30 months.
Kandla
By FY28, additional electricity demand from green hydrogen/ammonia units in Kandla is estimated to be 1,690 MW, arising from proposed plants of Greenko Group and Ocior Energy. The Kandla scheme, with a total capacity of 3 GW, is designed to cater to this demand. The scheme envisages a new 765/400kV substation at Kandla and a double-circuit line connecting this substation to Halvad, running 140 km.
Mundra
The Mundra scheme will enable transfer of 3 GW to Mundra from the Navinal substation. It may be mentioned that the Navinal substation is coming up through another ISTS scheme (housed under Navinal Transmission Ltd) that envisages 1.5 GW of supply for green hydrogen/ammonia units in Mundra area. Therefore, such units will get a total supply of 4.5 GW from two schemes. The Mundra scheme, under discussion, will involve augmentation of the Navinal substation by 2×1,500 MVA.
Tuticorin
The Tuticorin ISTS scheme will have transmission capacity of 4.5 GW and will cater to requirements of green hydrogen/ammonia units promoted by AM Green Ammonia (India) Pvt Ltd [requirement: 1660 MW by December 2026] and Green Infra Renewable Energy Farms Pvt Ltd [800 MW by December 2028]. It is also estimated that by 2030, green hydrogen units Tuticorin will have a cumulative demand of 7.015 GW, which will be catered to by more such schemes in future.
Summary
Here is a summary of the three ISTS schemes discussed in this story:
Scheme: Transmission system for supply of power to green hydrogen/ammonia manufacturing potential in Kandla area of Gujarat (Phase-I: 3 GW)
BPC: PFC Consulting Ltd
Estimated cost: Rs.2,775 crore
Opening of technical bids: December 17, 2024
Scheme: Transmission system for supply of power to green hydrogen/ammonia manufacturing potential in Mundra area of Gujarat under Phase-I: Part B1 scheme (3 GW at Navinal substation)
BPC: PFC Consulting Ltd
Estimated cost: Rs.2,817 crore
Opening of technical bids: December 18, 2024
Scheme: Transmission system for proposed green hydrogen/green ammonia projects in Tuticorin area
BPC: REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd
Estimated cost: Rs.2,617 crore
Opening of technical bids: December 20, 2024
Featured photograph is for representation only. BPC stands for Bid Process Coordinator.
