Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID) has received a letter of intent from REC Power Development and Consultancy (RECPDCL) to establish an interstate transmission system (ISTS) in Karnataka to integrate renewable energy generation.

POWERGRID must install four 500 MVA, 400/220 kV ICTs (5th-8th) at Davanagere pooling station (PS), along with associated 400 kV and 220 kV ICT bays. They must also augment Davanagere/Chitradurga PS with one 1500 MVA, 765/400 kV ICT, complete with its 765 kV and 400 kV ICT bays.

Two 220 kV line bays will also be added at Davanagere/Chitradurga PS to terminate dedicated transmission lines from renewable energy generation projects.

The scheduled commercial operation date (COD) for the 765/400 kV, 1×1500 MVA ICTS augmentation is 24 months.

The tender for this project was issued in May this year. The other bidders were H. G. Infra Engineering, Techno Electric & Engineering Company, and Ramalingam Construction Company.

POWERGRID’s scope of work includes the engineering, procurement, construction, financing, and commissioning of the ISTS. Additionally, it involves providing operation and maintenance (O&M) services for 35 years from COD.

After the O&M period, all project assets, including the substation land, right-of-way, and clearances, will be transferred to the Central Transmission Utility or its successors at no cost and free from encumbrance.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy identified a renewable energy potential of 4 GW in Davanagere/ Chitradurga. The transmission system for integrating 2 GW of renewable energy is already under implementation. Connectivity of about 1,850 MW has been granted/agreed for grant at Davanagere PS with the transmission system. Additionally, applications for connectivity of about 1,325 MW have been received at Davanagare PS.

In March, POWEGRID received a letter of intent from PFC Consulting to establish an ISTS at Kurnool-III PS, Andhra Pradesh, to integrate 4.5 GW of renewable energy. This project involves augmenting the transformation capacity at the existing Kurnool-III substation, along with a 765 kV direct current transmission line.

POWERGRID also received letters of intent for three transmission projects from RECPDCL, cumulatively worth ₹107.5 billion (~$1.2 billion). The three projects are a transmission system for power evacuation from the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Phase V, an augmentation of transformation capacity at Banaskantha, Gujarat, and another transmission system project for the integration of Kurnool-IV REZ Phase I in Andhra Pradesh.