Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) has emerged L1 for a major interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme, involving extensive use of HVDC technology.
In an investor presentation discussing the company’s performance in Q1FY25, PGCIL said that it has emerged L1 for an ISTS-TBCB scheme officially termed as “Transmission system for evacuation of power from REZ in Rajasthan (20 GW) under Phase-III Part I.”
According to information available with T&D India, PGCIL was in the final race for this project with two other contenders – Sterlite Power and Adani Energy Solutions Ltd.
REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL) is the bid process coordinator for this scheme. It will be housed under a project SPV called “Rajasthan Part I Power Transmission Ltd” that will be transferred to PGCIL, subject to completion of formalities.
This project, estimated to cost Rs.12,700 crore, is expected to see extensive deployment of HVDC infrastructure based on LCC (line commutated converter) technology.
Key project elements of this scheme include:
- 6,000 MW, ±800kV Bhadla HVDC terminal station (4×1,500 MW) near Bhadla-III substation, Rajasthan
- 6,000 MW, ±800kV Fatehpur HVDC terminal station (4×1,500 MW) near Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh
- ±800kV HVDC Hexa-Lapwing line with Dedicated Metallic Return (DMR) between Bhadla (HVDC) and Fatehpur (HVDC) terminal stations [Running length: 950 km)
Concerns with implementation period
This scheme has been in the bidding stage since July 2023 and has witnessed deliberations between CEA, NCT, PGCIL and HVDC equipment suppliers, regarding the implementation timeframe that was originally set at 42 months for the entire project. It is now learnt that the implementation period has been revised to 42 months for the first bipole and 48 months for the second. Also, the minimum local content requirement condition, which was set at 60 per cent, has now been dispensed with.
Rajasthan (20 GW) – Part III
This overall project for RE evacuation from Rajasthan (20 GW, Phase III) has several components, largely to be developed under the TBCB route. According to information available with T&D India, some of the components of the overall scheme awarded so far are:
- Part A3 (SPV: Fatehgarh III Transmission Ltd; Developer: Apraava Energy)
- Part A1 (SPV: Fatehgarh IV Transmission Ltd; Developer: Apraava Energy)
- Part H (SPV: Powergrid Beawar Dausa Transmission Ltd; Developer: PGCIL)
- Part C1 (SPV: Powergrid Ramgarh II Transmission Ltd; Developer: PGCIL)
- Part B1 (SPV: Powergrid Bhadla III Transmission Ltd; Developer: PGCIL)
- Part D-Phase I (SPV: Powergrid Sikar Khetri Transmission Ltd; Developer: PGCIL)
- Part G (SPV: Fatehgarh III Beawar Transmission Ltd; Developer: Sterlite Power)
- Part F (SPV: Beawar Transmission Ltd; Developer: Sterlite Power)
Editor’s Note: In the scheme under discussion “Transmission system for evacuation of power from REZ in Rajasthan (20 GW) under Phase-III Part I,” the term “I” implies the letter “I” (which follows “H”). It does not stand for “first”.
Also read: PGCIL plans restructuring of its wholly-owned subsidiaries
Featured photograph (source: GE T&D India) is for representation only.
