REC Power Development and Consultancy (RECPDCL) has invited bids to set up an interstate transmission system (ISTS) to evacuate 6 GW of solar power from the Barmer-II pooling substation in Rajasthan.

The last date to submit bids is April 1, 2026. Bids will be opened on the same day.

Bidders must submit a bid bond of ₹2.86 billion (~$31.18 million) and a contract performance guarantee of ₹7.16 billion (~$77.96 million).

The scope of work includes the establishment of a 400/220 kV, 6×500 MVA substation at a suitable location near Barmer (Barmer-II Substation), along with two 125 MVAr bus reactors. It also entails making a provision for future 400 kV line bays, including switchable line reactors, 400 kV line bays, and a 400 kV bus reactor, along with associated bays.

Successful bidders must ensure future provision for a 400/220 kV interconnecting transformer (ICT), including bays, 400 kV sectionalization bays, and 220 kV line bays. The scope of work also includes creating provision for the future development of a 220 kV sectionalization bay, a 220 kV bus coupler, synchronous condenser (syncon) units at the 400 kV level, two 400 kV bays, and a static synchronous compensator, along with associated 400 kV bays.

The project covers the line-in and line-out of both circuits of the 400 kV Fatehgarh-IV PS–Barmer PS D/C line at the Barmer-II substation, as well as the construction of a 400 kV D/C line from Barmer-II PS to Barmer-I PS.

Successful bidders must establish a 6,000 MW, 800 kV Barmer-II high-voltage direct current (HVDC) terminal station at a suitable location near the Barmer-II substation.

In addition, the scope includes the establishment of a 6,000 MW, 800 kV South Kalamb HVDC terminal station at a suitable location south of Kalamb, along with an 800 kV HVDC bipole line between Barmer-II and South Kalamb.

Successful bidders must augment the South Kalamb substation and install two syncon units at the 400 kV level of the Barmer-II power station.

The project must be completed within 54 months from the date of its allocation.

RECPDCL stated that connectivity for approximately 6 GW has already been granted at the Barmer-II substation, and the transmission project has been planned to evacuate an additional 6 GW of solar power injection at the same substation.

The project’s scope of work includes the design, engineering, construction, erection, testing, and commissioning.

It also entails the establishment, operation, and maintenance of the project on a build, own, operate, and transfer basis.

Successful bidders must conduct surveys, prepare a detailed project report, arrange financing, and undertake project management. They must also obtain the necessary consents, clearances, and permits required for the transmission project.

Successful bidders must have completed infrastructure sector projects with an aggregate capital expenditure of at least ₹143.2 billion (~$1.56 billion) over the last ten years. One of these projects must have incurred a capital expenditure of at least ₹28.64 billion (~$311.8 million).

Alternatively, bidders must have received aggregate payments of at least ₹143.2 billion (~$1.56 billion) for developing infrastructure projects over the last ten financial years, with one project involving capital expenditure of at least ₹28.64 billion (~$311.8 million).

Bidders must have a net worth of at least ₹57.28 billion (~$623.6 million) over the last three financial years.

They must also maintain an aggregate equity shareholding of at least 51% in Barmer HVDC Power Transmission for at least one year after project commissioning.

Recently, RECPDCL invited bids to develop an ISTS to augment the Kankani 400 kV grid substation to 765 kV, along with associated transmission lines, to evacuate 2.8 GW of renewable energy in Rajasthan.

According to the state’s load dispatch center, Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam, has an estimated spare transmission capacity of up to 13 GW for future renewable energy projects in the financial year 2026. The state’s available transmission capacity will drop to 1.9 GW by FY 2029.