Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL), a state-owned power transmission company, has bagged two power transmission projects in Rajasthan through tariff-based competitive bidding. These projects are built to evacuate 5.5 GW of power from renewable energy zones in the state.

The company won both projects on a build, own, operate, and transfer basis from the bid process coordinator – REC Power Development and Consultancy (RECPDCL). The transmission projects need to be implemented within a two-year timeframe.

RECPDCL announced the handover of the two project-specific special purpose vehicles (SPVs), namely Rajasthan IV-C Power Transmission and Rajasthan IV-E Power Transmission, established to evacuate power from Rajasthan Renewable Energy Zone Ph-IV (Jaisalmer/Barmer Complex).

The project, Rajasthan IV-C Power Transmission, covers the construction of new 765/400/220 kV pooling sub-station at Mandsaur, 765 kV DC transmission line and associated bays extension works at other existing substation in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

The project, Rajasthan IV-E Power Transmission, covers the construction of the new 765 kV sub-station at Rishabhdeo, in Rajasthan, 765 kV D/C transmission lines and associated bays extension works at other existing substation in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

RECPDCL is the  bid process coordinator for inter-state and intrastate transmission and renewable energy-bundling projects implemented through the tariff-based competitive bidding.

RECPDCL has floated the tenders for the two power transmission projects in October 2023. After completing the bidding process, the two project-specific special purpose vehicles (Rajasthan IV-C and IV-E Power Transmission) was to be transferred to the selected bidder.

Rajasthan IV-C Power Transmission was acquired for an aggregate value of about ₹185.2 million ($2.2 million) including 50,000 equity shares at par at ₹10 ($0.12) each.

Rajasthan IV-E Power Transmission was acquired for about ₹185.4 million ($2.21 million) including 50,000 equity shares at par at ₹10 ($0.12) each.

Renewable Energy Zones with a total capacity of 181.5 GW were identified in eight states, including 75 GW in Rajasthan. This included 15 GW wind and 60 GW solar. For this, a comprehensive transmission plan for evacuation of 75 GW renewables (45 GW evacuation capacity) from Rajasthan has evolved, which includes transmission plan for total evacuation requirement of 5.5 GW (Ph-IV: Part-2:) from Jaisalmer/Bamer Complex (Fatehgarh-IV (4 GW) and Barmer-I (1.5 GW)).

In April, PGCIL won the contracts to establish three inter-state transmission systems projects on a build, own, operate, and transfer basis to evacuate 18 GW of power from various renewable energy zones in Rajasthan and Gujarat.