ADB funds Indian renewable energy transmission system

Will provide US$500 million for this project.

The Asian Development Bank said the system will deliver electricity from wind and solar power projects in Rajasthan in northwest India to the state and national grids. The new renewable energy transmission system will involve 1,850 kilometers of transmission lines, mostly in west Rajasthan; three new 400 kilovolt substations and nine new 220 kilovolt grid substations. The funds will also be used to boost the transmission capacity of seven existing substations.

Apart from serving the Bhadla park, the infrastructure supports solar and wind power developments in west Rajasthan. The Bhadla park in west Rajasthan is the first solar park under development by the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation, the state’s renewable energy agency.

The park is part of Rajasthan’s aim to install 8,000 MW of solar and wind generation capacity by 2018. Work has already begun on 75 MW of solar power at the Bhadla park. A further 200 MW will be added annually starting 2014.