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RECPDCL Floats ISTS Tender to Enable Evacuation of 6 GW Solar Power from Rajasthan

REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL) has issued a tender to develop an inter-state transmission system (ISTS) aimed at evacuating 6 GW of solar power from the Barmer-II pooling substation in Rajasthan, further strengthening the state’s renewable energy evacuation infrastructure.

The deadline for bid submission is April 1, 2026, with bid opening scheduled for the same day.

Financial Requirements for Bidders

Interested bidders are required to furnish a bid security of Rs2.86 billion and a contract performance guarantee of Rs7.16 billion. The project will be awarded on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis.

Substation and Transmission Scope

The project scope includes the establishment of a 400/220 kV substation with six 500 MVA transformers near the Barmer-II substation, along with two 125 MVAr bus reactors. Provisions have also been included for future expansion, such as 400 kV line bays, switchable line reactors, bus reactors, and associated bays.

The successful developer must also provide for a future 400/220 kV interconnecting transformer (ICT), 400 kV sectionalisation bays, 220 kV line bays, and additional infrastructure including synchronous condenser (syncon) units and a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) at the 400 kV level.

Transmission Lines and HVDC Infrastructure

The scope further covers line-in and line-out works for both circuits of the 400 kV Fatehgarh-IV–Barmer double-circuit line at Barmer-II, as well as the construction of a 400 kV double-circuit line between Barmer-II and Barmer-I substations.

A key component of the project is the development of a 6,000 MW, 800 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) terminal station near Barmer-II, along with a matching 6,000 MW, 800 kV HVDC terminal station at South Kalamb. The two terminals will be connected through an 800 kV HVDC bipole transmission line.

Additionally, the project includes augmentation of the South Kalamb substation and installation of two synchronous condenser units at the 400 kV level at Barmer-II.

Project Timeline and Execution

The entire transmission system must be completed within 54 months from the date of project allocation. The scope covers design, engineering, construction, erection, testing, commissioning, operation, and maintenance, along with surveys, preparation of a detailed project report, project financing, and overall project management.

The selected bidder will also be responsible for securing all statutory approvals, clearances, and permits required for project execution.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, bidders must have executed infrastructure projects with a cumulative capital expenditure of at least Rs143.2 billion over the past ten years, including at least one project with a capex of Rs28.64 billion. Alternatively, bidders may qualify based on aggregate payments received for infrastructure development of the same value thresholds.

Eligible bidders must also demonstrate a minimum net worth of Rs57.28 billion over the last three financial years and retain at least 51 percent equity ownership in Barmer HVDC Power Transmission for a minimum of one year following commissioning.

Renewable Evacuation Outlook in Rajasthan

RECPDCL noted that grid connectivity for around 6 GW of capacity has already been granted at the Barmer-II substation, with the proposed transmission system designed to support an additional 6 GW of solar power injection.

Recently, the company had also invited bids for upgrading the Kankani substation from 400 kV to 765 kV to evacuate 2.8 GW of renewable energy in Rajasthan.

According to Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam, the state currently has up to 13 GW of spare transmission capacity available for future renewable projects in FY 2026, which is projected to decline to 1.9 GW by FY 2029.