Two ISTS schemes for renewable energy evacuation from Madhya Pradesh, which will be awarded under the TBCB modality, were recently approved by National Committee on Transmission.
The two schemes will facilitate RE evacuation from the solar energy zones in Rajgarh and Neemuch, respectively. With an estimated aggregate cost of Rs.3,472 crore, these schemes will have an implementation period of 24 months each.
While REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL) has been named bid process coordinator for the Rajgarh scheme, PFCCL will be associated in similar capacity with the Neemuch project.
Rajgarh
The Rajgarh scheme is termed as “Transmission system for evacuation of power from RE projects in Rajgarh (1500 MW) SEZ in Madhya Pradesh – Phase III” and will help honour ISTS connectivity applications at the Pachora pooling station (PS) in Madhya Pradesh. This scheme represents the third phase of the overall evacuation scheme and will involve augmentation of the Pachora PS by 3×500 MVA, 400/220kV apart from building a 180-km line connecting Pachora PS to the existing Rajgarh substation of PGCIL.
This scheme will essentially build on the infrastructure developed by G R Infraprojects Ltd through its two TBCB subsidiaries – Rajgarh Transmission Ltd and Pachora Power Transmission Ltd. The ISTS project housed under Rajgarh Transmission, and representing Phase-I of the overall project, was commissioned in April this year. It involved setting up of the Pachora PS (3×500 MVA, 400/220kV) and a connecting 400kV line to Bhopal.
Phase-II of the project, under Pachora Power Transmission Ltd, is currently under implementation. Besides augmenting the Pachora PS by another 3×500 MVA, this project also involves a 400kV line connecting this pooling station to the Ujjain substation of Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company Ltd, the state transmission utility. The scheduled commissioning date of Phase-II is February 14, 2026.
Neemuch
Known as “Transmission system for evacuation of power from Neemuch (1,000 MW) SEZ in Madhya Pradesh – Phase II,” this ISTS scheme will enable total evacuation of 2,000 MW (1,000 MW above the existing 1,000 MW from Phase I). This scheme entails several elements such as: augmentation (3×500 MVA, 400/220kV) at Neemuch PS, a 190-km double-circuit 400kV line from Neemuch PS to Pachora PS, a new 400/220kV substation at Handiya, a 400kV line interconnecting Handiya substation and Pachora PS, etc.
The Neemuch PS was developed under an ISTS-TBCB project incorporated under “Powergrid Neemuch Transmission System Ltd,” a subsidiary of PGCIL. This project, representing Phase-I of the overall Neemuch SEZ evacuation scheme, was declared commercially operational on May 14, 2024.
Connectivity applications
It is learnt that cumulative connectivity applications worth around 4 GW have been received at the Pachora PS while the corresponding figure for the Neemuch PS is around 2 GW. This has necessitated expansions of the two pooling stations. It may also be noted that once Neemuch PS is expanded under the ISTS-TBCB scheme discussed in this story, the pooling station will be closed for further connectivity applications.
MoP Approval
As the two schemes are estimated to cost over Rs.500 crore each, they would need final approval from the Union power ministry. NCT, it is learnt, has submitted these schemes for approval on November 22, 2024. The bidding process for these two schemes will start once the formal power ministry approval is in place.
Featured photograph (source: G R Infraprojects Ltd) shows a transmission element associated with the ISTS scheme of Rajgarh Transmission Ltd, a subsidiary of G R Infraprojects Ltd.
