The National Committee on Transmission (NCT), in a recent meeting, approved the implementation of North Eastern Region Generation Scheme – I (NERGS-I), under the TBCB route.
The project, estimated to cost Rs.214 crore, is envisaged for completion by December 31, 2025. REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL) has been designated as the bid process coordinator (BPC).
The transmission scheme seeks to provide connectivity to new solar power capacity of around 1,000 mw coming up in Assam. This solar capacity is likely to commission by December 31, 2025 – which is when the transmission scheme in discussion is scheduled to commission.
According to information available with T&D India, Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL), a state government discom, had applied for ISTS connectivity under GNA Regulations 2022 for its new solar generation capacity to be installed in Karbi Anglong, Bokajan, Assam. It was decided that the aforementioned connectivity may be granted to APDCL with suitable augmentation in the interstate transmission system (ISTS) network as envisaged under NERGS-I and the same will be treated as Associated Transmission System (ATS).
It may be mentioned that Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has not declared any solar potential in the above-mentioned Bokajan area, which is why this project could not be taken up as a pure ISTS scheme, and is now being treated as ATS.
A key element of NERGS-I is establishment of a new 400kV switching station at Bokajan (Assam) including one 400kV line bay for termination of the 400kV single-circuit APDCL-Bokajan dedicated transmission line.
Various alternatives for ISTS connectivity were explored and the present one was finalized, considering the hilly terrain and forest-related issues in the northeastern region.
GNA Regulations 2022 were notified by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) on June 7, 2022, and are officially termed as “Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Connectivity and General Network Access to the inter-State Transmission System) Regulations, 2022.”
The broad objective of these regulations is to facilitate non-discriminatory open access to licensees or generating companies or consumers for use of interstate transmission system (ISTS) through General Network Access (GNA).
Also read: NCT Recommends TBCB Mode For Three ISTS Schemes
Featured photograph (source: Avaada Energy) is for representation only.
