REC Power Development and Consultancy (RECPDCL) has handed over ERES-XXXIX Power Transmission to Tata Power Company to develop transmission works to evacuate power for green hydrogen projects in Odisha.

The project will provide transmission services for 35 years from the scheduled commercial operation date of December 31, 2027.

Tata Power must pay annual transmission charges of ₹2.9 billion (~$ 34.50 million).

In addition to Tata Power Company, Grid Corporation of India, Sterlite Grid 32, and Adani Energy Solutions had qualified in the technical round.

The project involves constructing 2 x 1500 MVA, 765/ 400 kV GIS substations at Gopalpur with associated bays at Angul and Gopalpur (OPTCL), ~190 km of 765 kV double-circuit transmission line from the existing Angul substation of PGCIL to the proposed 765 kV GIS substation at Gopalpur, and ~12 km of 400 kV line from the upcoming OPTCL substation at Gopalpur to the proposed 765 kV GIS substation at Gopalpur.

The scope of work covers the establishment, operation, and maintenance of the project on a build, own, operate and transfer basis and completion of all the activities for the project, including survey, detailed project report formulation, arranging finance, project management, necessary consents, clearances and permits, land compensation, design, engineering, equipment, material, construction, erection, testing and commissioning.

With upcoming green hydrogen and green ammonia plants/industries in Gopalpur, a cumulative energy demand of about 3 GW is expected by 2025-26. The Odisha government had recommended an inter-state transmission system (ISTS) corridor to supply renewable energy from outside Odisha to such industries to meet their renewable purchase obligations.

RECPDCL invited recently to establish an ISTS to augment transformation capacity at Banaskantha (Raghanesda), Gujarat.

In September 2024, the company invited bids to establish an ISTS to evacuate 4 GW of power from the Renewable Energy Zone Phase V (Sirohi-Nagaur Complex) in Rajasthan.