Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has directed the developer Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) to issue a public notice seeking suggestions from the public, before CERC proceeds to grant transmission licence for the Sikar scheme in Rajasthan.
In a recent order, CERC has said that PGCIL should have a public notice published seeking objections and suggestions from the general public before CERC grants transmission licence to the scheme. Public feedback should reach CERC before May 4, 2022, the commission said. CERC, in its order, has observed that PGCIL has complied with all prerequisites for the grant of transmission licence.
The transmission scheme in question is officially termed as “Transmission System Strengthening Scheme for evacuation of power from solar energy zones in Rajasthan (8.1 GW) under Phase II (Part C)”.
The scheme is being developed by Sikar New Transmission Ltd, the project special purpose vehicle, which was acquired by the successful bidder PGCIL, under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mechanism. (Read more)
Incidentally, upon acquisition, the name of the SPV has been changed by PGCIL to “Powergrid Sikar Transmission Ltd”. (PSTL)
GIB dimension
A significant portion of this project footprint falls under the potential habitat of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB). The project, along with two others (Fategarh Bhadla and Sikar-II Aligarh) has therefore witnessed delays in implementation. (Read more)
However, according to the recommendation of a committee appointed by the Supreme Court, it has now been decided that bird diverters will be installed on all overhead lines passing through the potential GIB habitats. The earlier suggestion was to use underground cables but it was agreed that it would be infeasible to have such cables for high voltages like 765kV, as envisaged in the transmission scheme.
Accordingly, PSTL has agreed to install bird diverters on the overhead 765kV double-circuit line running 306 km from Bhadla-II Pooling Station to Sikar-II, on portions that fall under potential GIB habitats. Other elements of the Sikar transmission scheme include the 765/400kV Sikar-II substation, 400kV double-circuit line from Sikar-II to Neemarana (around 137 km), and several line reactors and bays. The project is scheduled to commission within 18 months from the grant of transmission licence.
Current Status
According to information available with T&D India, PGCIL has awarded the contract for construction of the two aforementioned transmission lines on KEC International. Of the 764 locations of the Bhadla-II Sikar-II line, foundations have been erected on 367 locations and, from these, towers on 210 locations. Stringing work has also started.
Background
The Sikar transmission scheme, with an estimated project outlay of Rs.1,562 crore, was clinched by PGCIL under the TBCB regime, with the winning quote of Rs.163.705 crore being the levelized annual transmission charges. Other developers in the final race included ReNew Transmission Ventures, Adani Transmission and Sterlite Grid 21 (a subsidiary of Sterlite Power).
The long-term transmission customers (LTTC) include SBE REnewables, Renew Surya, Altra Xergi Power, Eden Renewable Passy and the two state discoms of Bihar.
Sikar New Transmission Ltd (now Powergrid Sikar Transmission Ltd) was one of the five TBCB projects that PGCIL won in FY22. The remaining four, incidentally, also dealt with evacuation infrastructure related to upcoming renewable energy zones in India. (Read more)
Featured photograph is for illustration only
