Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) has been named the successful bidder for developing a mega Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) project utilizing HVDC technology.
The project, known as the “Evacuation of power from potential renewable energy zone in Khavda area of Gujarat under Phase-V (8 GW): Part A,” will be established on a build, own, operate, and transfer (BOOT) basis.
The letter of intent (LoI) was received on October 28, 2024. The project, housed under “Khavda V-A Power Transmission Ltd,” is expected to cost nearly Rs 250 billion, making it the largest ISTS-TBCB scheme in terms of capital investment.
PGCIL competed against Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL) and Sterlite Power for the bid. The bidding process, managed by REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL), began in November 2023, with initial price bids opened on September 18, 2024. The process saw delays due to discussions on technical parameters and the HVDC technology involved, leading to the relaxation of the minimum local content (MLC) clause from 60% to 25% in July 2024.
The project spans Maharashtra and Gujarat, involving the following major elements:
- A 6000 MW, ±800kV KPS2 (HVDC) terminal station in Gujarat
- A 6000 MW, ±800kV KPS2 (HVDC) terminal station in Maharashtra
- ±800kV HVDC Bipole line (Hexa lapwing) connecting KPS2 (HVDC) and Nagpur (HVDC) terminal stations (approximately 1,200 km)
Bipole-I is scheduled to commission within 48 months, with Bipole-2 following six months later.