Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) has won yet another interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme in Rajasthan, under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mechanism.
In a brief stock exchange filing, PGCIL said that it has been declared as successful bidder under the TBCB mode to establish an ISTS project officially termed as “Transmission system for evacuation of power from REZ (renewable energy zone) in Rajasthan (20 GW) under Phase-III Part C1.” The project will be developed on build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis.
The letter of intent was received by PGCIL on September 11, 2023, the filing said, adding that the project comprises establishment of a new 765/400kV substation along with STATCOM at Ramgarh, a 765kV double-circuit transmission line and associated bays extension works at other existing substations, in Rajasthan.
According to information available with T&D India but not contained in PGCIL’s stock exchange filing, seven bidders were qualified to submit their price bids for the project. In the race with PGCIL were seasoned bidders like Adani Energy Solutions, Tata Power, Sterlite Power, Apraava Energy and Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd. The list of qualified bidders also included a consortium of India Grid Trust (IndiGrid) and RS Infraprojects Pvt Ltd.
It is further learnt that bid process coordinator REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL) has incorporated a project SPV called “Ramgarh II Transmission Ltd” to develop this project. Currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of RECPDCL, this project SPV will be eventually transferred to the selected bidder, PGCIL, in due course. The project is expected to be developed within 18 months from the date of transfer of the project SPV to PGCIL.
The detailed project scope includes:
- Establishment of 2×1500 MVA, 765/400kV and 2×500 MVA 400/220kV pooling station (PS) at Ramgarh along with 2×240 MVAr (765kV) bus reactor & 2×125 MVAr (420kV) bus reactor
- Establishment of a new 765kV double-circuit line from Ramgarh PS – Bhadla-3 PS, along with 240 MVAr Switchable line reactor at each circuit at Ramgarh end of the said line.
- Two 765kV line bays at Bhadla-3 PS
Project background
This project is part of an overall scheme to evacuate 20 GW of additional renewable energy potential from various zones in Rajasthan – Fatehgarh (9.1 GW), Bhadla (8 GW) and Ramgarh (2.9 GW). The overall scheme is termed as “Evacuation of power from additional 20 GW RE potential in Rajasthan (Phase III)”.
Broadly, under Phase III, Ramgarh pooling station (PS) is to be established which shall be integrated with Bhadla-3 PS. In turn, Bhadla-3 PS shall further be connected to Fategarh-2 PS and Sikar-2 substation to establish connectivity as well as enable evacuation of RE power from Bhadla-3 and Ramgarh PS (beyond Bhadla-3).
The transmission scheme under discussion and housed under “Ramgarh II Transmission Ltd” will facilitate evacuation of RE power from Ramgarh complex for onward dispersal of power to various beneficiaries.
Also read: PGCIL Declared Successful Bidder For TBCB Scheme In Rajasthan
ISTS schemes in Rajasthan
According to estimates made by T&D India, at least seven ISTS schemes involving evacuation of renewable energy from Rajasthan have finalized in FY24 so far, under the TBCB route. Some of these schemes are:
It may be noted that in most of the above cases, the formal transfer of the project SPV to the selected developer is yet pending.
