In a significant development in India’s renewable energy transmission sector, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (Bhel) and Hitachi Energy India have jointly secured the contract for the prestigious Khavda Nagpur High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission project, awarded by Power Grid Corporation of India. The project aims to enhance the transmission of renewable energy from Gujarat to Maharashtra, marking a key milestone in the country’s commitment to achieving its renewable energy goals.
The project, which is part of Phase V of the Khavda Renewable Energy Zone in Gujarat, involves the design, supply, and execution of 800kV, 6,000 MW HVDC terminal stations over a span of 1,200 km, which will transport power from Khavda to Nagpur. This ambitious venture will facilitate the evacuation of renewable energy, supporting India’s transition to cleaner energy sources and bolstering its renewable energy capacity. Scheduled for completion by 2029, the Khavda Nagpur HVDC project is a critical component of India’s broader vision to achieve a 500 GW renewable energy capacity. This transmission system is designed to support the evacuation of 8 GW of renewable energy from the Khavda Renewable Energy Zone, one of the country’s key solar and wind power hubs.
The contract for this HVDC project was awarded through a tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) process. Notably, this marks the first-ever HVDC project tendered under the TBCB framework. As part of the implementation, the Bhel-Hitachi consortium will develop bi-directional parallel HVDC bipoles and associated AC substations to ensure efficient power evacuation and transmission. This project is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting India’s clean energy targets while strengthening the country’s transmission infrastructure to support a future reliant on renewable power. The successful execution of the Khavda Nagpur HVDC project will also enhance grid stability and integration of renewable energy into the national grid, propelling India towards its 500 GW renewable energy milestone.
