An interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme to cater to upcoming green hydrogen/green ammonia plants at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu was recently approved by the National Committee on Transmission (NCT). It may be recalled that a scheme to serve such units in Gujarat’s Kandla area is also in the making.
The Tuticorin scheme will be officially known as “Transmission system for proposed green hydrogen/green ammonia projects in Tuticorin area” and will be implemented under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mode with REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL) as the bid process coordinator.
Estimated to cost Rs.2,617 crore, this ISTS-TBCB scheme has an envisaged completion period of 30 months. The scheme will now be forwarded to the Union power ministry for final approval.
The transmission scheme will serve, among others, the GNA (general network access) applications worth 2,640 MW received from two bulk consumers – AM Green Ammonia (India) Pvt Ltd [1,660 MW, with start date December 2026] and Green Infra Renewable Energy Farms Pvt Ltd [800 MW with start date December 2028]. Both these entities are setting up green hydrogen/ammonia plants in Tuticorin area.
CTUIL has estimated that upcoming green hydrogen/ammonia plants in Tuticorin area will have power requirement of around 7,015 MW by 2030.
The Tuticorin transmission scheme will involve the development of several components, the major ones being:
- Setting of a new 3×1500 MVA, 765/400kV substation at Tuticorin (to be known as “Tuticorin (GH)” with 1×240 MVAR bus reactor
- A 765kV double-circuit line of around 50 km connecting the above substation to PGCIL’s existing Tuticorin Pooling Station (PS)
- Upgrade of Tuticorin PS to its rated voltage level of 765kV, along with capacity augmentation
- Upgrade of Dharmapur (Salem New) substation of PGCIL to its rated voltage level of 765kV, along with capacity augmentation
GNA application
CTUIL is understood to be processing the GNA applications of green hydrogen/green ammonia project developers in Tuticorin area as “bulk consumers” as per CERC GNA Regulations, 2022. During the NCT meeting in which the Tuticorin transmission scheme was approved, CTUIL clarified that if there is any conflict regarding grant of GNA to bulk consumers between CERC GNA Regulations, 2022 and Electricity Act, 2003, the state utility Tamil Nadu Generation & Distribution Company Ltd (TANGEDCO) could take up the matter with Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).
Also read: ISTS scheme planned to feed Dholera investment region in Gujarat
Featured photograph for representation only
