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 8.1 GW of power from solar energy zones in the state.

The company won both projects on a build, own, operate, and maintain basis, PGCIL said in a BSE filing.

The transmission system strengthening program under Phase-II Part D includes establishing new 765 kV double circuit transmission lines and connected substations extension works in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

PFC Consulting, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Power Finance Corporation (PFC), is nominated as the bid process coordinator by the Ministry of Power for the development of independent transmission projects.

In May 2020, PFC Consulting five special purpose vehicles (SPV) to implement the transmission projects. The Sikar-II Aligarh Transmission Limited was the SPV formed to execute the Phase-II Part D transmission project. The qualified bidders in the technical bid for this project included  Sterlite Grid 24, PGCIL, Adani Transmission, Renew Transmission Ventures, and DBL Electricity Transmission.

PGCIL will build a new 400/220 kV substation, static synchronous compensator (STATCOM), and substation extension works in Rajasthan and 400 kV double current transmission lines that pass through Rajasthan and Haryana under Phase II – Part F. The Bikaner-II Bhiwadi Transco Limited, was the SPV formed to execute the Phase II – Part F. The bidders in the technical bid for this project included – Sterlite Grid 26, PGCIL, Adani Transmission, and DBL Electricity Transmission.

The company undertakes electricity transmission through the Inter-State Transmission System, ensuring smooth flow of electricity from generating stations to the load centers.

Earlier this month, the company won three projects in Rajasthan to establish transmission systems as part of the transmission strengthening program under Phase II- Part A, B, C. It had also started the commercial operation of the first leg of the 6 GW Raigarh-Pugalur high voltage direct current transmission project in September 2020.

In December 2020, REC Limited invited bids to establish transmission systems to evacuate power from solar energy zones in Rajasthan. The invitation was extended to transmission service providers under phase II for part-A, B, and C of the transmission infrastructure program to evacuate 8.1 GW of power from these zones.

The lack of transmission infrastructure to support new renewable energy capacity addition has been a concern for solar and wind generators in the country, especially over the last few years, in light of the surge in renewable energy projects.