The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), a state-owned power transmission company, has invited bids to establish transmission systems to evacuate power from solar energy zones (SEZs) in Rajasthan.

The invitation was issued under phase II, part-A of the transmission program for the evacuation of power from solar energy zones in Rajasthan (8.1 GW).

The scope of work includes conducting a detailed survey, design, prototyping, fabrication, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the transmission lines. The work would also include the destringing and dismantling of the existing transmission lines.

The project has two packages– one transmission line package each at Ramgarh-II SEZ PP-Fatehgarh-II (TW01) and Ramgarh-II-Jaisalmer-II (TW02) – and they both require the installation of a 400 kW D/C Line (Twin high-temperature low sag (HTLS) with a minimum capacity of 2,200 MVA on each circuit at nominal voltage).

Interested bidders are expected to make an earnest money deposit of ₹20 million (~$262,719). The deadline for bid submission is May 13, 2020, for soft copies, and May 15, 2020, for hard copies. The tender documents also said that all bids must be accompanied by a bid security of ₹20 million (~$262,719) for each package selected.

The lack of transmission infrastructure has been a major concern for solar and wind developers in the country. A PGCIL report states that with the expected doubling of electricity demand over the coming decade, India’s transmission and distribution system will also require significant expansion.

Earlier, Mercom reported that the PGCIL signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited under which PGCIL will provide a project management consultancy services for a transmission system to evacuate power from 1,500 MW of solar projects in Madhya Pradesh.

Previously, the PGCIL floated two tenders, one for the installation of reactor packages and another for the supply of transmission lines in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The first tender issued by the PGCIL invites bids for the installation of reactor packages at the Kurnool solar park in Andhra Pradesh and Maheshwaram in Telangana.

Last month, REC Transmission Projects Company Limited (RECTPCL) floated a request for proposal (RfP) for transmission service providers to set up seven projects on a build, own, operate, and maintain basis. These transmission projects are for solar projects in Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.

Recently, Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited (RSDCL) also invited bids for the construction of 220 kV and 132 kV transmission lines at Nokh Solar Park in Jaisalmer on a turnkey basis.