Author: PPD Team Date: 25/03/2025
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) has invited bids for Package-I of the undersea power cable package (CA-01) for the 220 kV undersea export power cable and underground land cable.
This package is part of the Transmission System for Offshore Wind Zone Phase-1 (500 MW VGF off the coast of Gujarat for Subzone B3). The bidding process opened on March 21, 2025, and the last date for submission is April 21, 2025.
The project is estimated to cost Rs 3.19 billion. The National Committee on Transmission (NCT) had initially recommended the scheme to PGCIL under the regulated tariff mechanism (RTM). However, the Electricity Power Transmission Association (EPTA) has requested the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to implement the project under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) model.
The Committee of Directors (CoD) on investment of projects of PGCIL accorded investment approval for the project on February 3, 2025.
Transmission system details
The transmission project is divided into two packages:
Package A: Transmission system from the onshore pooling station (Estimated cost: Rs 22 billion)
- Establishment of a 2×500 MVA, 400/220 kV Mahuva Onshore Pooling Station (GIS) with a 125 MVAr, 420 kV bus reactor. The station will have space for future expansion to 765 kV for upcoming offshore wind projects in adjacent zones B3, B4, and B5.
- Creation of a 400 kV switchyard at Vataman, along with 2×1500 MVA, 765/400 kV ICTs and two 125 MVAr, 420 kV bus reactors.
- Construction of a 400 kV double-circuit transmission line between Mahuva Onshore PS (GIS) and Vataman (190 km), with switchable line reactors at both ends.
- Installation of ±300 MVAr STATCOM at the 220 kV level of Mahuva PS (GIS).
Package B: Transmission system for offshore wind farm integration (Estimated cost: Rs 47 billion)
- Establishment of a 2×315 MVA, 220/66 kV Gujarat Offshore B3 Substation (B3-OSS-1) with ten 66 kV line bays for renewable energy integration.
- Laying of two 220 kV three-core cables (total length ~45 km, including 35 km undersea and 10 km underground) between B3-OSS-1 and Mahuva Onshore PS (GIS), along with switchable line reactors at the offshore substation.
The Western Regional Power Committee (WRPC) approved the scheme in a special meeting on March 27, 2024. The NCT later recommended the project for final approval by the Ministry of Power (MoP) under the TBCB model during its meeting on June 25, 2024.
The project is expected to be completed by March 2029.