Eight states to offer Rs 5,000-crore green-grid projects

Eight states will issue tenders worth Rs 5,000 crore for projects in a renewable energy transmission network. Six of these states have issued notices for tenders, inviting companies to bid for parts of this green corridor.

Tamil Nadu, which issued the largest tender worth Rs 1,593 crore, has informed the renewable energy ministry it has awarded the contract. 

Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh will issue their tenders later this year. Rajasthan has awarded a contract worth Rs 383 crore and Andhra Pradesh has awarded a contract worth Rs 529 crore.

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“The grid can handle 30,000 megawatt (Mw) of renewable energy. An additional system for 10,000 Mw will be issued by September, 50 per cent has already been issued,” said an official of the renewable energy ministry.

The country’s renewable energy capacity is 40,000 Mw, of which wind power’s share is 26,000 Mw and solar power’s 7,000 Mw.

The green corridor, a Rs 40,000 crore transmission network for renewable energy, was envisaged by state-owned Power Grid Corporation in 2011. The project was divided into two parts to speed it up. 

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Power Grid is setting up the first corridor connecting states rich in renewable energy. Work is also on for a second corridor connecting solar parks in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Gujarat. 

The intra-state projects are worth Rs 11,000 crore. German bank KfW and the National Clean Energy Fund will pick up 40 per cent of the tab each and the states 20 per cent.

These projects will be awarded through transparent bidding to speed up transmission for upcoming solar parks. The move is in line with the government’s plan to open up power transmission to private investment.

Adani Power, Sterlite Power, Essel Infra and Tata Power are likely to bid for these projects. These companies won several transmission projects last year.