Rajasthan’s RE Evacuation to Get Major Infrastructure Boost

Renewable energy evacuation from Rajasthan is now all set to see a filip with the Fatehgarh and Barmer transmission regions set to see an infrastructure boost. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has moved closer to awarding a transmission licence to Fatehgarh II and Barmer I PS Transmission Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Power Grid Corporation of India, for a critical infrastructure project aimed at boosting power evacuation from renewable energy zones in Rajasthan.

The proposed project — titled "Augmentation at Fatehgarh-II PS, Fatehgarh-IV PS (Section-II), and Barmer-I PS" — will be executed on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis and is part of a wider strategy to address power flow reliability and integrate large-scale renewable capacity.

Key Project Elements

The augmentation involves three major components with distinct timelines:

• Fatehgarh-IV PS (Section-II): Installation of 3x500 MVA, 400/220 kV interconnecting transformers (ICTs) with associated bays, scheduled for commissioning by November 7, 2026. The Central Transmission Utility of India Limited (CTUIL) said this is essential for evacuating 5.5 GW under Rajasthan REZ Phase IV (Part-2) and ensuring N-1 compliance.
• Barmer-I PS: Installation of 2x500 MVA ICTs with associated transformer bays, also targeted for November 7, 2026, for evacuating 3,050 MW of connected power capacity.
• Fatehgarh-II PS: Addition of a 1x1500 MVA, 765/400 kV transformer with associated bays, due by December 21, 2026, to address N-1 non-compliance amid growing renewable connectivity (5,310 MW).

Competitive Bidding Outcome

The transmission licensee was selected through a Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) process managed by PFC Consulting Ltd. Two companies — Power Grid Corporation and Apraava Energy — submitted bids.

While Apraava initially quoted the lowest price of ₹647.10 million per annum, Power Grid won the project by quoting ₹569.31 million during a reverse e-auction held on February 7, 2025. The Bid Evaluation Committee confirmed that the process adhered to the Ministry of Power’s guidelines.

CERC’s Key Observations

• Delay Condoned: The petition for the license was filed six days late, attributed to a procedural issue with fee reflection on the e-portal. CERC accepted the explanation and condoned the delay.
• CTUIL Support: The transmission utility backed the project, highlighting its importance for ensuring compliance and power evacuation at key pooling stations.
• No Public Objections: Required notices were published on April 8, 2025. CERC confirmed that no objections were received from the public.
• Technical Compatibility: The Commission found no mismatch between the planned augmentation and the upstream/downstream network elements and noted the alignment of commissioning dates with generation connectivity.
• Prima Facie Clearance: CERC stated its preliminary view that the applicant met all conditions required under Section 15 of the Electricity Act for the grant of an inter-state transmission licence.

Next Steps

CERC has directed the publication of another public notice to solicit additional comments or objections, with the deadline set for July 25, 2025. The matter is scheduled for hearing on July 29, 2025.

Meanwhile, the project developer has committed to adhering to the Transmission Service Agreement, technical standards of the Central Electricity Authority, and Indian grid codes. CERC reminded that compliance with Indian Standards and BIS codes is mandatory across all components.

The decision will be crucial for supporting India's renewable energy ambitions, particularly the integration of large-scale solar and wind power in the western region.