The Silicon Review ^Asia

Renewable energy is the need of the hour to protect the environment from further destruction, India’s mega plans to expand transmission infrastructure to support upcoming and planned renewable energy projects continues to take shape.

Recently, the government-owned REC Transmission Projects Company Limited (RECTPCL) approved to setup seven transmission projects to support renewable energy parks in various parts of the country. The company has also approved plans to set up seven special purpose vehicles to set up these transmission projects.

One project will support Maharashtra’s to 1 gigawatt of renewable energy capacity. Another project in Madhya Pradesh for 2.5 gigawatts of capacity. Two projects, each of 2.5 gigawatts, in the southern state of Karnataka. Three projects will be located in Rajasthan to support the transmission of 8.1 gigawatts of capacity from renewable energy projects.

These projects are considered to be the part of the green energy corridors program through which the government plans to set up dedicated infrastructure for renewable energy projects. These projects would come up near regions with high potential of solar and wind energy generation.

Once these SPVs are created, RECTPCL will likely float tenders for setting up these projects. The tenders will be open to public as well as private sector companies. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), a government-owned company, is the most dominant transmission company in India. However, some private sector companies, too, have bagged some projects recently.