Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID) has received a letter of intent from REC Power Development and Consultancy (RECPDCL) to establish a 765 kV interstate transmission system (ISTS) between Parli New, Maharashtra, and Bidar, Karnataka, on a build, own, operate, and transfer basis.

The Parli New–Bidar double circuit transmission line will include the construction of two 765 kV line bays at each end, as well as the Parli New and Bidar pooling stations (PS). The line will also include 765 kV, 240 MVAr static line reactors at the Bidar PS, comprising six 80 MVAr switchable units.

The Bidar 765/400/220 kV PS is being developed to support 2.5 GW of renewable energy capacity, with connectivity of 2.5 GW already granted at the 220 kV level.

The tender for this project was issued in June this year. It was part of a broader transmission expansion plan aimed at enhancing grid connectivity between India’s southern and western regions, as well as increasing the capacity to evacuate renewable energy.

POWERGRID’s work will encompass the survey, design, engineering, financing, land acquisition, right-of-way clearance, permits, construction, testing, and commissioning of the transmission system. It also entails providing operations and maintenance services for 35 years.

The company must transfer the transmission assets to the Central Transmission Utility at the end of the 35-year term at no cost.

In August, POWERGRID received a letter of intent from RECPDCL to establish an ISTS in Karnataka to integrate renewable energy generation. The work includes installing four 500 MVA, 400/220 kV ICTs (5th-8th) at Davanagere PS, along with associated 400 kV and 220 kV ICT bays.

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.