The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has allowed Bikaner Khetri Transmission Limited (BKTKL) and Powergrid Bhuj Transmission Limited (PBTL) to lay transmission lines for renewable projects in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

According to the details published in the Gazette of India, Bikaner Khetri had applied for authorization to lay electric lines associated with long term access (LTA) applications from Rajasthan solar energy zone (SEZ)-Part-D.” The 239.18 km long powerlines will traverse through four districts and ten talukas, including Bikaner.

Similarly, PBTL had applied for authorization for laying of electric lines for providing connectivity to renewable projects at Bhuj-II (2,000 MW) in Gujarat. The 53 km line will traverse through two tehsils of the Bhuj district in Gujarat.

The CERC had also given its approval for the installation of this 2 GW Bhuj-II on a build, own, operate, and maintain basis by PBTL.

After this permission, which is valid for 25 years, both BKTKL and PBTL would have to seek the consent of the concerned authorities like local bodies, railways, national highways, state highways, before the erection of proposed lines. They would operate the lines only after the approval of an electrical inspector of the central government. Both BKTKL and PBTL must submit the requisite clearances to the Central Electricity Authority after obtaining them from concerned authorities at the time of electrical inspection.

Earlier, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission passed an order granting regulatory approval to the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) for setting up transmission systems under the second phase of its transmission program for solar energy zones in Rajasthan. The transmission systems for 11.1 GW of solar projects consists of 3 GW is to be built under the intrastate system by the state and 8.1 GW under the interstate transmission system. These transmission systems were part of the much larger program, which includes setting up transmission infrastructure for solar and wind projects with a power generation potential of 66.5 GW.

Previously, Mercom reported that the PGCIL invited bids to establish transmission systems to evacuate power from solar energy zones (8.1 GW) in Rajasthan.