New transmission lines to boost India’s Green Energy Corridor

Our Transmission & Distribution experts in India have a role to play in the Government of India’s target to reach 450 GW of renewable capacity by 2030. To help achieve this goal, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) have identified roughly 66.5 GW of solar and wind capacity in various renewable resource-rich states across the country. A total of 28 GW of renewable energy capacity have been identified in western India, including three sites in the northern Madhya Pradesh state. Among these is the 1 GW Neemuch site, for which Tractebel has landed the first project in the country under the new Tariff Based Competitive Bidding guidelines in the role of Independent Engineer (IE).

Tractebel secures first of a series of projects to strengthen the Green Energy Corridor

The Neemuch project is part of the Green Energy Corridor, the Government of India’s initiative to deliver renewable energy from solar and wind sources to the grid. As Independent Engineer, Tractebel’s teams in India will supervise the construction of substations, transmission lines, underground cables and communication systems. Securing the Neemuch project paves the way for Tractebel’s involvement in upcoming projects.

The Neemuch 400 kV line

Neemuch substation to evacuate 1 GW of renewable energy (solar) to the grid

The current scheme is for evacuation of 1 GW of power from potential solar energy zones (SEZ) in the Neemuch area through a new 2 x 500 MVA, 400/220 kV pooling station which will be interconnected with Chittorgarh (state of Rajasthan), 50 km to the southwest, through a 400 kV D/c line. The Neemuch pooling station is also planned to be interconnected to Mandsaur, over 70 km to the south, via a 400/220 kV substation through another 400 kV D/c line. This will establish the Chittorgarh – Neemuch – Mandsaur inter-regional power transmission corridor, which will enable evacuation of solar energy to the grid during high production periods.

The project started in January 2023 and is expected to be completed by July 2024.

The Neemuch to Mandsaur line

New guidelines to improve network planning and meet COP21 commitments

Evacuation of renewable energy requires power transmission infrastructure, for which both public and private sector investments will be necessary. To increase competition and promote investments in the power transmission sector, the Government of India introduced Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) guidelines back in 2006 under which the projects were awarded to the bidder quoting lowest transmission charge. The first such project was awarded in 2009, and up to 2021, 62 projects were awarded under TBCB. In 2021, the Ministry of Power introduced new TBCB guidelines to reduce bidding timelines, improve transmission network planning and to meet India’s commitment to the COP21 climate change treaty (Paris Agreement). In the revised guidelines, the Central Transmission Utility of India Limited (CTUIL) is responsible for all projects leading up to commissioning. Mandating an Independent Engineer for each project is now mandatory to ensure proper supervision and monitoring of execution.

 “By evacuating power from the renewable-rich states of India, this project strengthens the country’s Green Energy Corridor. Winning the first mandate for Independent Engineer opens the door for similar opportunities for Tractebel, while providing a platform to showcase our expertise in successful completion of transmission projects with the highest quality standards.”

Pratap Kumar Swain, Project Director, and Sairam Janardhan, Project Manager, Tractebel in India

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