Apraava commissions Fatehgarh IV transmission project in Rajasthan

Apraava Energy has commissioned the 22-kilometre Fatehgarh IV transmission line and an associated 400/220 kV pooling substation in Barmer, Rajasthan. The project strengthens renewable power evacuation infrastructure in the Jaisalmer-Barmer region and forms part of a broader transmission scheme supporting 20 GW of renewable energy capacity in Rajasthan under Phase-III Part A1.

The asset has been developed through Fatehgarh IV Transmission Limited, a tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) subsidiary acquired by Apraava in August 2023. The facility includes five 500 MVA transformers with a combined transmission capacity of 2.5 GW. The 400 kV transmission line is connected to Apraava’s existing Fatehgarh-III substation, expanding the region’s capability to evacuate power from renewable energy zones.

The project is intended to support India’s target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based installed capacity by 2030 by addressing transmission constraints in one of the country’s major renewable energy regions.

According to the company, the project was completed despite operational challenges including extreme weather conditions, land acquisition issues and temporary work stoppages linked to border tensions. Construction was also affected by right-of-way (RoW) constraints. Apraava stated that the Fatehgarh IV project ranks among the fastest-completed transmission schemes under the Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Phase III programme in Rajasthan.

Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Managing Director of Apraava Energy, said the commissioning represents a key milestone for the company. “We are delighted to complete the commissioning of the Fatehgarh IV Transmission project, which is our first greenfield transmission project of this scale,” he said. “The project will act as an enabler to strengthen the transmission infrastructure of Rajasthan and ensure reliable dispatch of renewable energy to the remotest regions of the country.”

Apraava currently operates three transmission assets covering around 516 kilometres across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur, with a combined substation capacity of 3.5 GW. The company is also developing three additional greenfield transmission projects that include about 470 kilometres of transmission lines and grid substations with a total capacity of nearly 8 GW.

These projects include about 430 kilometres of 400 kV and 765 kV double-circuit transmission lines and a 4 x 1500 MVA, 765/400 kV pooling station in Rajasthan. Another project involves roughly 40 kilometres of 765 kV double-circuit lines and a 2 x 1500 MVA, 765/400 kV grid substation in Madhya Pradesh.

In Rajasthan, Apraava also operates three wind power projects with a combined capacity of over 250 MW. In addition, three solar projects with a total capacity of 550 MW are currently under construction. The company’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) business has secured contracts to install more than 1.1 million smart meters in the state.

Apraava Energy is an integrated energy solutions company headquartered in Mumbai. It is jointly owned by CLP Group and La Caisse (formerly CDPQ). Since its establishment in 2002, the company has developed an installed capacity of around 3.4 GW across wind, solar and thermal power, along with transmission assets and smart metering infrastructure. It is also executing projects for the installation of more than 7 million smart meters across multiple Indian states.

The featured photograph is for representation only.