Power Sector News Roundup for July 14, 2026
PFCCL incorporates SPV for Satara pumped storage transmission project
PFC Consulting Limited (PFCCL) has incorporated Satara Power Transmission Limited as a wholly owned subsidiary to implement the “Network Expansion Scheme in Western Region to cater to pumped storage potential near Satara (up to 4500 MW) – Part A.” The project will facilitate evacuation of power from proposed pumped storage projects with a cumulative potential of up to 4,500 MW in Maharashtra’s Satara region. Phase-I will support 1,800 MW capacity with a Scheduled Commercial Operation Date (SCOD) of March 31, 2029, while Phase-II will expand evacuation capability to 4,500 MW by December 31, 2029. PFCCL has already issued the Request for Proposal (RFP) for selecting a Transmission Service Provider (TSP) under the Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) route.
India, Australia operationalise uranium export framework for civil nuclear cooperation
India and Australia have finalised the administrative arrangements required to enable the export of Australian uranium to India for exclusively peaceful purposes under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. The framework operates under the Australia-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signed in 2014 and effective since 2015. The two countries also committed to strengthening bilateral energy trade through the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) and ongoing Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations. The joint statement reaffirmed support for secure supplies of coal, diesel, liquid fuels and natural gas, alongside cooperation on low-carbon fuels.
SAEL Solar wins NTPC REL order for 585.8 MWp Chitrakoot-1 project
SAEL Industries Ltd announced that its subsidiary, SAEL Solar P6 Pvt Ltd, has received a Letter of Award (LoA) from NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL) to supply TOPCon solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for the 585.8 MWp Chitrakoot-1 solar PV project in Uttar Pradesh. The company said the award represents the largest block of the Chitrakoot-1 project. SAEL Solar P6 is developing a 10 GW integrated manufacturing ecosystem comprising 5 GW of solar cell manufacturing and 5 GW of module manufacturing at Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, with an initial investment of Rs 8,200 crore. The company was incorporated in August 2023 to lead SAEL’s domestic solar manufacturing expansion.
Grid-India revises SRAS and TRAS procedures to strengthen grid balancing
Grid Controller of India Limited (Grid-India), through the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC), has issued revised detailed procedures for Secondary Reserve Ancillary Services (SRAS) and Tertiary Reserve Ancillary Services (TRAS). The revisions align the framework with the Indian Electricity Grid Code (IEGC), 2023 and incorporate more than three years of implementation experience. Key changes include broader participation for energy storage resources, emergency provisions for grid operations, and consolidated settlement under the Security Constrained Unit Commitment (SCUC) framework. The revised procedures took effect immediately upon issuance.
NERPC finalising SOP for regional spare transformers, private TSPs seek role
The North Eastern Regional Power Committee (NERPC) is finalising a National Power Committee (NPC)-approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for diversion of regional spare transformers and reactors. The draft SOP seeks to establish uniform guidelines for utilising Regional Power Committee (RPC)-approved spare equipment while maintaining emergency preparedness. Private transmission service providers (TSPs) have sought formal inclusion under exceptional circumstances, subject to NERPC approval. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) has been asked to submit a techno-commercial study on the challenges associated with rotating cold spare transformers and reactors.
NHPC restores 340 MW at Teesta-V hydropower station in Sikkim
NHPC Limited has resumed commercial operation of two generating units at its 510 MW Teesta-V Power Station in Sikkim, restoring 340 MW of capacity. Unit No. 1 and Unit No. 2, each rated at 170 MW, commenced commercial operation at 17:00 hours on July 13, 2026. The restoration follows the commissioning of a new Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS), inaugurated on July 11, 2026, by Diwakar Nath Mishra, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power, and NHPC Chairman and Managing Director Bhupendra Gupta. NHPC is continuing efforts to restore the remaining 170 MW unit.
NPCIL, IIT Bombay partner on ground improvement for GHAVP Units 3 & 4
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) to evaluate the use of Deep Soil Mixing (DSM) for Units 3 and 4 of the Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP). The collaboration marks the first proposed application of the ground improvement technique at an Indian nuclear power plant. GHAVP, located in Haryana’s Fatehabad district, is planned to comprise four 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) units. NPCIL said DSM could reduce excavation, piling and dewatering requirements while maintaining nuclear safety standards.
Aditya Birla Renewables to acquire Sprng Energy from Shell for Rs 17,200 crore
Aditya Birla Renewables Limited (ABRen), a subsidiary of Grasim Industries Limited, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Sprng Energy from Shell Overseas Investment B.V. for an enterprise value of Rs 17,200 crore. The acquisition will add around 5 GWp of contracted renewable energy capacity, including approximately 3.3 GWp operational and about 1.7 GWp under construction. Following the transaction, ABRen’s renewable portfolio will expand from around 4.4 GW to approximately 9.4 GW. The deal is expected to close before the end of calendar year 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions.
CG Power bags PGCIL’s Rs 289 crore 420 kV reactor order
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) has awarded a contract worth approximately Rs 289 crore to CG Power and Industrial Solutions Limited for the supply of 420 kV reactors. The order forms part of Lot-6 under PGCIL’s bulk procurement package for 765 kV and 400 kV class transformers and reactors. The contract covers the supply of 27 reactors across 50 MVAR, 63 MVAR and 80 MVAR ratings. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Kanohar Electrics Limited and Siemens Energy India Limited also participated in the tender.
Inside Torrent Power’s FY26 report: renewables, storage and transmission plans
Torrent Power Limited is advancing a major expansion programme across renewable energy, pumped storage, thermal generation and transmission infrastructure, according to its FY 2025-26 Integrated Annual Report. The company had around 4 GWp of renewable projects under construction and 3 GW of pumped storage projects under development as of March 31, 2026, backed by a planned investment of around Rs 27,830 crore. Torrent Power aims to reach 10 GW of renewable capacity by 2030 and has identified an additional 5.4 GW of pumped storage opportunities across four states. Its operational generation portfolio stood at 5.1 GWp at the end of FY26, with clean and green energy accounting for approximately 82% of capacity.
New transmission corridor to evacuate power from Gadarwara-II, Mandsaur RE
The Western Regional Power Committee (WRPC) has recommended two Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) schemes costing more than Rs 500 crore each. The first will support evacuation from NTPC’s 2×800 MW Gadarwara-II Thermal Power Station and an additional 1,500 MW of renewable energy capacity at Mandsaur, with commissioning targeted for December 2029. The second involves installation of three 1,500 MVA interconnecting transformers at the Dharamjaigarh substation in Chhattisgarh at an estimated cost of Rs 657.11 crore. The augmentation will facilitate power injection from Korba Power Limited’s 2×800 MW thermal project and Jindal Green PSP 1 Private Limited’s 2×600 MW pumped storage project.