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					</table><p>The Power Grid Corporation of India (<a href="https://www.powergrid.in/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POWERGRID</a>) has commissioned the transmission project for the 2,500 MW solar energy zone in Bidar, Karnataka, on October 5, 2026.</p>
<p>The project was entrusted to POWERGRID Bidar Transmission, a wholly owned subsidiary of POWERGRID, which was amalgamated with POWERGRID Khavda II-C Transmission in March 2026.</p>
<p>The original scheduled commercial operation date for the project was February 2026.</p>
<p>The project involved laying the Bidar (PS)-Maheshwaram (PG) 765 kV D/C line, establishment of Bidar PS 3&#215;1500 MVA, 765 kV and 5&#215;500 MVA, 400/220 kV ICTs. It also comprised 765 kV line bays at Maheshwaram (PG).</p>
<p>The commissioning of the transmission project enables the evacuation of solar energy generated in the state and strengthens grid stability.</p>
<p>POWERGRID had <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/powergrid-bids-evacuate-2-5-gw-solar-karnataka" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids to set up a transmission line package for the pooling station associated with the transmission program for the solar energy zone in May 2023.</p>
<p>In September this year, the Ministry of Power <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/power-ministry-approves-transmission-line-to-integrate-3-gw-renewables" target="_blank" rel="noopener">authorized</a> POWERGRID to lay an overhead transmission line for the integration of additional renewable energy potential at Davanagere and Bellary in Karnataka. The line is being laid under the ‘Transmission system strengthening for integration of additional RE potential at Davanagere (0.25 GW) and Bellary (2.75 GW)’ project.</p>
<p>The project covers the Bellary-Davanagere second 400 kV (Quad) double-circuit line.</p>
<p>As of June 2026, India’s transmission infrastructure comprised approximately 509,603 circuit kilometers of transmission lines and 1,478 gigavolt-amperes of transformation capacity, according to Mercom&#8217;s <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/indias-transmission-pipeline-sufficient-for-2035-renewable-growth-execution-key" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State of Transmission Infrastructure in India report</a>.</p>
<p>The country&#8217;s transmission network has grown significantly over the past decade. However, transmission infrastructure remains unevenly distributed across the country, with constraints becoming increasingly evident in regions with high renewable energy penetration.</p>
<p>Rajasthan and Gujarat are among the states with substantial renewable energy installations face very high conditional curtailment exposure if critical transmission infrastructure and grid-strengthening projects are delayed.</p>
<p>On the regulatory front, initiatives have been introduced to address land acquisition and right-of-way challenges that delay transmission infrastructure development. Recently, the Ministry of Power <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/power-ministry-revises-row-compensation-rules-for-transmission-lines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduced</a> a market-based valuation mechanism to determine compensation for land affected by right-of-way requirements for electricity transmission lines. The guidelines apply to transmission lines above 66 kV and certain interstate transmission system lines below 66 kV.</p>
<p>Official data in June flagged schedule slippages in 36 critical ISTS corridors. Disputes over RoW and compensation for landowners were cited as the key reasons behind the delays.</p>


POWERGRID Commissions Project to Evacuate 2.5 GW Solar Energy in Karnataka


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					</table><p>Japan-based <a href="https://www.sumitomocorp.com/en/global" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sumitomo Corporation</a> will invest in a 500 MW solar and wind project with a co-located 200 MWh battery energy storage system in Bidar, Karnataka, being developed by Hero Future Energies (<a href="https://www.herofutureenergies.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HFE</a>), the renewable energy arm of the Hero Group.</p>
<p>Power generated by the project will be sold to SJVN under a 25-year power purchase agreement. Some of the surplus electricity generated will be sold via the energy exchange market.</p>
<p>Sumitomo Corporation will acquire a 49% stake in Clean Solar Power (Baniyana), the project company, while Hero Solar Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of HFE, will hold the remaining 51%. Commercial operations are expected to begin in March 2027.</p>
<p>The development comes months after infrastructure debt fund IL&amp;FS Mutual Fund <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ilfs-mutual-fund-commits-%E2%82%B91-25-billion-investment-in-hero-solar-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">committed</a> an investment of ₹1.25 billion (~$13.63 million) in Hero Solar Energy. The fresh capital will be used for refinancing the company&#8217;s debt and support the expansion of its renewable projects.</p>
<p>In October last year, HFE <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/hero-energies-secures-%E2%82%B919-8-billion-funding-from-sbi-canara-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secured</a> a loan of ₹19.8 billion (~$221 million) from the State Bank of India and Canara Bank for the development of a 120 MW wind-solar hybrid project with energy storage systems.</p>
<p>The same year, HFE <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/hero-future-gets-%E2%82%B910-billion-funding-from-sbi-for-60-mw-hybrid-power-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secured</a> 10.24 billion (~$115.43 million) in funding from SBI for a 60 MW hybrid project in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district. The project, which combined solar, wind, and storage and was contracted with the Solar Energy Corporation of India.</p>
<p>Global solar companies <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/solar-corporate-funding-jumps-56-yoy-to-16-9-billion-in-1h-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised</a> $16.9 billion in corporate funding during the first half (1H) of 2026, a 56% year-over-year increase from $10.8 billion in 2025, according to Mercom Capital Group’s 1H and Q2 2026 Solar Funding and M&amp;A Report. The number of corporate funding deals increased by 23%, from 78 in 1H 2025 to 96 in 1H 2026.</p>


Sumitomo Corporation to Invest in Hero Group’s 500 MW Renewables Project


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					</table><p><a href="https://ntpcrel.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NTPC Renewable Energy</a>, a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC, has invited bids for a land and power evacuation package to develop a 1,000 MW ISTS-connected solar project in Bidar, Karnataka.</p>
<p>The last date to submit the bids is November 8, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day.</p>
<p>The scope of work is as follows:</p>
<p><strong>Land-Related Works</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Arrangement of government/private land (5 acres/MW) on a freehold/leasehold basis near the Bidar Pooling substation (ISTS). The lease period will be a minimum of 29 years and 11 months.</li>
<li>An approach road to the pooling substation, including any interconnection between the plots by self or state machinery.</li>
<li>Topography survey for land parcels and any cutting/filling with 95% compaction per the standard Proctor density test to maintain an average slope of 10% to install the tracker-based MMS. (Tracker system is not included in the scope). The slope of land should preferably be in one direction for at least 100m in the N-S direction.</li>
<li>Geotech investigation for the pooling substation and the transmission system only as required to design foundations.</li>
<li>Fencing of the offered land, including entry/exit gates (at least two per plot) and security cabins.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Power Evacuation-Related Works</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Arrangement of grid connectivity with the ISTS substation in Bidar.</li>
<li>Design, engineering, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of an<br />
AIS Pooling substation (400 kV or 220kV as per quoted capacity) with Tie Transformers (400kV/33kV or 220kV/33kV- suitable quantity and rating in line with CEA standard specifications) and associated SAS and Protection;<br />
33 kV pooling switchgear for quoted capacity; and the design and construction of terminal bay at ISTS end;<br />
Associated civil work for substation, including Control Room Building and Pooling Switchgear building.</li>
<li>Telemetry system for data communication.</li>
<li>Design and construction of the EHV transmission line from the pooling substation to the ISTS substation per technical specifications and relevant standards, including arranging for the transmission line&#8217;s &#8220;Right of Way.&#8221;</li>
<li>Design and construction of terminal bay at ISTS end.</li>
</ul>
<p>The successful bidder must operate and maintain the pooling substation and associated equipment, the EHV transmission line, and the terminal bay at the ISTS end for three years from the project commissioning date.</p>
<p>NTPC REL intends to finance the project using its resources/borrowings.</p>
<p>The cost of the bidding documents is ₹22,500 (~$268.78).</p>
<p>The minimum capacity to be quoted by a bidder will be 300 MW and, in multiples of 100 MW beyond 300 MW.</p>
<p>Bidders should have completed grid-connected solar/wind projects/parks with a cumulative capacity of 100 MW or more, including at least one project/park of 50 MW or higher capacity. They should have arranged land and obtained technical feasibility approval for power evacuation through the STU/ISTS substation.</p>
<p>Bidders must have executed an industrial project of a minimum cost of ₹235.4 million (~$28.12 million) for capacities in the range of 50 MW – 300 MW and ₹785,000 (~$9,379) per MW for capacities more than 300 MW in the power/steel/oil and gas/petrochemical/fertilizer/cement/coal mining sectors in the last ten years.</p>
<p>Bidders must have also executed at least one 33 kV or higher electrical substation, including circuit breakers and power transformers.</p>
<p>The bidders&#8217; average annual turnover should be ₹235.4 million (~$28.12 million) for total quoted capacities in the 50 MW – 300 MW range in the last three financial years.<br />
The turnover for capacities over 300 MW should be ₹785,000 (~$9,379) per MW.</p>
<p>If bidders do not satisfy the annual turnover criteria, their holding companies must meet the stipulated turnover requirements, provided that their net worth is equal to or more than their paid-up share capital.</p>
<p>Bidders should have a positive net worth as of the last day of the previous financial year.</p>
<p>In August, NTPC REL <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-rel-tenders-land-and-solar-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids for land and power evacuation packages to develop 1,000 MW solar power projects in the Mandsaur region, Madhya Pradesh.</p>
<p>Subscribe to Mercom&#8217;s <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker</a> to stay on top of real-time tender activity.</p>


NTPC Floats Land and Power Evacuation Tender for 1 GW Solar Project

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