Tata Power’s Gopalpur interstate-TBCB scheme receives transmission licence
- September 17, 2026
In a significant development for Tata Power, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has granted final interstate transmission licence to TP Gopalpur Transmission Ltd, a subsidiary of Tata Power.
The licence was granted by CERC in its order dated September 12, 2026 to project SPV TP Gopalpur Transmission Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Power, which is developing an interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme termed as “Eastern Region Expansion Scheme (ERES) XXXIX.”
The transmission licence will be valid for a period of 25 years and its validity will be subject to statutory regulatory compliances.
For Tata Power, this is a very significant development as the transmission licence faced inordinate delay. It may be recalled that Tata Power acquired project SPV “TP Gopalpur Transmission Ltd” (then known as “ERES-XXXIX Power Transmission Ltd” from bid process coordinator RECPDCL, way back in November 2024.
Background
While hearing the matter relating to TP Gopalpur’s transmission licence, CERC, in its order dated December 18, 2025, had questioned the financial viability of the scheme as there were no long-term customers for the proposed scheme. The Gopalpur ISTS scheme essentially aims to provide long-term RE power to upcoming green hydrogen/green ammonia plants in the Gopalpur region of Odisha. CERC stated that one application (ACME Clean Energy Pvt Ltd) had withdrawn its connectivity application, while another (Avaada Greenh2 Pvt Ltd) had decided to seek connectivity from the intrastate grid.
CERC directed the matter back to the National Committee on Transmission (NCT) for further investigation. NCT, in its meeting on December 31, 2025, established that by December 2027, which is the scheduled completion date for ERES-XXXIX, drawl of 859 MW is confirmed, which includes 700 MW at Gopalpur (TP Gopalpur, ISTS) and 159 MW at Gopalpur (OPTCL). Further connectivity of 473 MW is expected at the intrastate level by December 2027. OPTCL has also indicated that it foresees an upcoming demand of 1,900 MW from upcoming industries in Gopalpur region.
In view of these, NCT has strongly recommended early start of work on ERES-XXXIX, upon grant of transmission licence by CERC.
NCT also pertinently observed that in some cases, the gestation period of building RE projects is much less than that of the associated transmission infrastructure. Hence, to ensure that there is no time mismatch between the development of generation and transmission assets, the transmission system has to be planned based on identified potential rather than on actual application.
From interim to final
Empowered by NCT’s favourable recommendation, TP Gopalpur approached CERC afresh with the transmission licence petition. Subsequently, in its order dated May 21, 2026, CERC proposed to grant transmission licence to TP Gopalpur, subject to the petitioner issuing a public notice seeking suggestions/objections to the grant of transmission licence. With no objections/suggestions received in response to the public notice that was issued by TP Gopalpur on May 23, 2026, CERC, in its order dated September 12, 2026, issued the final transmission licence. It may be mentioned that Central Transmission Utility of India Ltd (CTUIL) had already recommended grant of licence in its communication dated January 29, 2026.
Project details & Current status
The TP Gopalpur scheme involves building a greenfield 765/400kV, 2×1500 MVA GIS substation at Gopalpur. This will be connected to the upcoming 400/220/33kV Gopalpur (GIS) substation of OPTCL (Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd). Besides, the Gopalpur substation of TP Gopalpur will also be connected to PGCIL’s 765kV Angul substation by a 765kV double-circuit line of around 400 ckm. Some extension works at 765kV level, in the form of GIS or hybrid line bays, will also be carried out at PGCIL’s Angul’s substation.
The TP Gopalpur project is scheduled to commission by December 2027, which is also when OPTCL’s Gopalpur substation is likely to commission.
With respect to the 765kV double-circuit Angul-Gopalpur line, as of August 31, 2026, a total of 182 foundations were built out of the total of 452, according to a CEA report. Towers were erected on 13 foundations, as of the same date.
Other TBCB schemes
TP Paradeep Transmission Ltd, another ISTS-TBCB scheme of Tata Power, also in Odisha faced similar delays in receiving transmission licence. The same was granted by CERC in February 2026, more than a year from Tata Power acquired the project SPV on November 6, 2024. (Read tndindia.com story dated February 24, 2026)
In a related development, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) recently granted final transmission licence to Tata Power’s intrastate-TBCB scheme in Maharashtra, housed under “TP Jejuri Hinjewadi Power Transmission Ltd.” Incidentally, this scheme was also a case of “high” tariff discovery, as discussed in this tndindia.com story dated September 11, 2026.
Featured photograph is for representation only