The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) has awarded a ₹1.62 billion (~$22.87 million) contract to GE T&D India Ltd. to extend 765 kV air-insulated substation (AIS) and set up a new 400 kV/220 kV gas-insulated substation (GIS) at Bhuj, Gujarat. The project will be delivered on a turnkey basis.

The contract also entails the extension of the existing 400 kV GIS at Tirunelveli substation. The project is part of the green corridor transmission system and will help evacuate around 2,500 MW of wind power generated in Gujarat.

A green energy power transmission corridor is being set up to evacuate the power generated by a large number of wind farms and solar projects in western India. After the completion of this project, wind farm developers will be able to transmit the power generated in the state to the green energy power transmission corridor.

Sunil Wadhwa, MD of GE T&D India Limited said, “As renewable capacity in the country goes up, it is imperative that grid infrastructure in states like Gujarat, which have high degree of renewable generation, is scaled up rapidly to keep up with the evacuation demand of solar and wind power into the Green Energy Corridor. This project will further strengthen the grid evacuation infrastructure in the western part of the country and improve access to important demand centers.”

GE has executed similar projects for PGCIL to evacuate solar power through the green corridor transmission system in the past. GE installed a 400 kV AIS substation to evacuate solar power from the 750 MW Ultra Mega Solar Power Park at Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. GE has also installed a 765 kV AIS substation to evacuate power from the Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan.

Recently, Mercom reported that the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission had asked bidders of wind auction to declare pre-bid tie-up with at least three equipment manufacturers or engineering, procurement, and construction contractors for the execution of the project.