Govt accepts expert panel report on smart electricity transmission system in India

Source: Financial Express, 07 March 2023

The power ministry on Tuesday said that the government has accepted a report of a task force or expert panel, which paves the way for modern and smart electricity transmission system in India.

The country will soon have a modern and smart power transmission system with features such as real-time monitoring and automated operation of grid, better situational assessment, capability to have increased share of renewable capacity in the power-mix, enhanced utilisation of transmission capacity, greater resilience against cyber attacks as well as natural disasters, centralised and data-driven decision-making, reduction in forced outages through self-correcting systems etc., a power ministry statement said.

These and other recommendations are part of a report of a task force set up by the power ministry in September 2021 under the chairmanship of POWERGRID chairman and managing director to suggest ways for modernisation of transmission sector and making it smart and future-ready, it stated. The other members of the task force included representatives from state transmission utilities, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), central transmission utilities, MeiTY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology), IIT Kanpur, NSGPMU and EPTA.

The report of the committee was accepted by the government after deliberations with Union power minister R K Singh last week, it stated. During the meeting, the minister emphasised that a modern transmission grid is vital to achieve the government’s vision to provide 24×7 reliable and affordable power to the people and also meet sustainability goals.

Singh said that a fully automated, digitally controlled, fast responsive grid which is resilient to cyber attacks and natural disasters is the need of the hour. The minister said that such a system should ensure isolation of specific areas in case of any contingency, so as to protect the grid and prevent larger outages.

Appreciating the efforts of the task force, Singh directed the CEA to formulate necessary standards and regulations for adoption of identified technological solutions and set benchmark performance levels so as to build a robust and modern transmission network in the country. The task force in its report has recommended a bouquet of technological and digital solutions, which can be adopted to make the state transmission grids future-ready.

These recommendations have been clubbed under categories of modernisation of existing transmission system; use of advanced technology in construction and supervision, operations and management; smart and future-ready transmission system; and up-skilling of workforce.

The task force has recommended centralised remote monitoring, operation of substations including SCADA, flexible AC transmission devices (FACTs), Dynamic Line Loading system (DLL), Wide Area Measurement System (WAMS) using PMUs and data analytics, Hybrid AC/HVDC system, predictive maintenance technique using AI/ML algorithms, HTLS conductors, process bus based protection automation and control GIS/Hybrid substation, cyber security, energy storage system, and drones & robots in construction/inspection of transmission assets.

The use of robots is expected to not only minimise human intervention and life risks/hazards but also save time while ensuring accuracy during construction and maintenance. The task force also recommended benchmarks for transmission network availability and voltage control based on the performance of global transmission utilities. While the short-term to medium-term recommendations will be implemented over 1-3 years, the long-term interventions are proposed to be implemented over a period of 3-5 years, it stated.

India, US making fresh efforts for practical cooperation in civil nuclear energy sector

Source: Financial Express, 19 February 2023

In the face of growing global concerns over energy security triggered by the Ukraine conflict, India and the US are giving a fresh look at exploring practical cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector after failing to move forward since inking a historic agreement over 14 years back for partnership in the area.

Ways for bilateral cooperation in areas of clean energy including nuclear commerce under the framework of the India-US nuclear agreement of 2008 figured prominently in the talks US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey R Pyatt had with Indian interlocutors in Delhi on February 16 and 17.

In an exclusive interview to PTI, Pyatt described India as a very crucial partner for the US in ensuring global energy security in view of serious disruptions in supplies of fossil fuel resulting from Russia’s “brutal” invasion of Ukraine.

Pyatt said the US supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “incredibly ambitious” energy transition goal of having 500 GW (gigawatt) of energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.

“I am very focused on how we can develop opportunities for future civil nuclear cooperation, recognising that if we are stuck at issues, we have to work them through, the famous liability question,” he said.

“The business model of the civil nuclear industry is changing. In the US, we made a huge commitment to small and marginal reactors which could be particularly suitable to the Indian environment as well,” he said without elaborating further.

Pyatt served at the US Embassy in New Delhi as Political Counselor from 2002 to 2006 and as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2006 to 2007, a period that saw intense negotiations between the two sides on the civil nuclear pact.

The actual cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector eluded in the last over 14 years primarily due to differences between the two sides over liability rules relating to seeking damages from suppliers in the event of an accident.

“It was the first big thing that our two governments did together. It was so powerful for the rest of the world,” Pyatt said about the 2008 pact.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy said the “civil nuclear renaissance” that the people were talking about got derailed to some considerable degree following the accident at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011.

However, he said Japan is now reconsidering the importance of nuclear power as part of its overall response to the “incredible disruptions of the global energy markets that (Russian President) Vladimir Putin has caused with his invasion of Ukraine,” he said, adding the climate crisis is another reason for preferring clean energy.

Pyatt suggested that New Delhi is very keen to take forward civil nuclear energy cooperation as part of the overall bilateral energy ties.

“The US-India energy and climate agenda is one of the most important that we have anywhere in the world,” he said.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy said overall energy cooperation between India and the US will form a major part of the strategic ties between the two sides.

“When I look at where our strategic relationship is going, I see the issues that I am now responsible for as being right at the centre of the picture because there is so much potential to build on the strong foundation to do even more,” he said.

Pyatt said the US is keen on forging strong cooperation with India in areas of green hydrogen energy as well.

India on January 4 approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission with an outlay of Rs 19,744 crore to develop a green hydrogen production capacity of five million tonnes a year by 2030.

“The US investment in hydrogen compliments the Indian investment in hydrogen and what I am interested in right now is to build bridges between our respective efforts so that we can leverage each other’s expertise,” he said.

To a question, Pyatt said there is significant scope for joint projects between the companies of the two countries in the area.

Pyatt said just like Reliance Industries is looking at green hydrogen in India, ExxonMobil Corporation, an American multinational oil and gas corporation, has also made a big commitment to the clean energy source.

He said India and the US can work in areas of hydrogen fuel cells, and how to scale up storage mechanisms for hydrogen energy and green shipping.

“There is fantastic scope for it. The market is going to have to decide how we use this product,” Pyatt said.

The American diplomat said the US is looking at possible energy cooperation under the framework of Quad as well.

“Quad is a fundamental organising principle for us. If you look at the different ways in which our four governments are active – all four have made a big commitment to hydrogen (energy). Australia has a big hydrogen programme, India has a large commitment. Our hydrogen ecosystem is going to grow very fast, the Japanese have a long-standing interest in hydrogen (energy),” he said.

Besides India and the US, the Quad comprises Japan and Australia.

The top diplomat further added: “This visit is focused on how to build up the US-India bilateral strategic energy partnership. But I think as that partnership becomes stronger and moves into the future-oriented areas, there is a natural opportunity to go from there into the Quad setting,” he said.

The senior diplomat said the Russian invasion of Ukraine has created an incentive, particularly in places like Europe, to accelerate the energy transition.

“It is important to understand that Putin thought he could bring Europe to its knees by holding back gas resources, (but) that has failed and now that it has failed, he cannot play that card again. We have to make sure that he is never in a position to do that to anybody else,” Pyatt said.

Sterlite Power bags orders worth Rs 3,800 cr in Apr-Dec

Source: Economic Times, 23 January 2023

New Delhi: Sterlite Power on Monday said it has bagged orders worth Rs 3,800 crore in the first three quarters of this fiscal, which is 90 per cent higher than a year ago. The orders were bagged by the ‘solutions’ business unit in the domestic and international markets during the first three quarters FY23, showing a growth of 90 per cent growth compared to the same period of FY22, a company statement said.

Sterlite Power is a leading power transmission developer and solutions provider.

The new order wins are for the uprate of existing power transmission lines for 132 kV, 220 kV and 400kV of Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) and state utilities like Meghalaya Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (MePTCL), and West Bengal State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (WBSETCL), it said.

For Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd (HVPNL), the company will supply and install OPGW for fiberization of the state’s existing transmission network for 66 kV, 132 kV, 220 kV and 400kV.

In the products business, the company bagged prestigious orders for conductors and OPGW from large customers in India, Americas, SAARC, and MEA region, the statement said.

Orders include supplies for major green energy transmission projects in India and abroad.

The company has also acquired strategic orders for the supply of Extra High Voltage (EHV) cables to state utilities like Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL) and Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (RVPNL).

The company has also been marking its presence in Turnkey EHV Cable Projects including Substation at various Utilities i.e., UPPTCL, OPTL & MPPTCL.

Manish Agarwal, Director & CEO India Transmission Business, Sterlite Power, said in the statement, “With power utilities facing increased pressure due to a rapidly growing population, increased demand and ageing infrastructure, there is an urgent need for uprates and upgrades.”

Laying the groundwork for an energy-independent India

Source: Financial Express, 15 January 2023

By Pradeep Lala

Energy independence, the word that defined energy economics over the past few years, has gained prominence with India making significant steps towards becoming an energy-independent country by 2047. This vision is driven by sustained efforts to mitigate the effects of rising global temperatures by aligning with carbon neutrality clauses. By utilising the force of clean technology and renewable sources to drive change, green buildings, which evolved as a response to India’s rapid and ongoing trend towards being energy efficient, have gradually transformed and enhanced energy requirements.

The indigenous nature of clean sources gives local economies an advantage. Countries across the globe have been able to diversify their economies, protect themselves from the unpredictable price fluctuations of fossil fuels, promote inclusive economic growth, and generate employment by utilising renewable sources of energy. By 2030, electricity generated from renewable sources can account for 65% of the world’s total electrical production. This could decarbonize 90% of the power sector by 2050, massively cutting carbon emissions and helping to lessen the harmful effects of climate change.

India is now ranked fourth in the world in terms of renewable energy generation. Our current solar capacity is around 61.79 GW, up from 2.6 MW eight years ago. The contribution of renewable energy sources is about 40.7% (166.36 GW) of the total installed capacity. In line with various initiatives and policies introduced by the government, it encourages investment in the clean energy industry. India currently has a capacity for non-fossil fuel-based clean energy and includes nuclear plants of 6.78 GW, totaling up to 173 GW of clean energy, and projects with a capacity of 80 GW are being built to meet its goal of producing 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030.

Organizations across industries are establishing more stringent Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals to reduce their environmental impact, effectively address consumer concerns and expectations, and support corporate commitments to reduce carbon emissions while managing financial risk and upholding accountability. This delineates an organisation’s goodwill and long-term environmental stewardship toward all stakeholders, including customers, employees, and the public. Many organisations have discovered that using solar energy is the simplest and most cost-efficient way to swiftly achieve major environmental and sustainability related ESG goals.

Today, the trend of sustainability and renewable energy is quite prevalent in the real estate sector. To support India’s NDC, this sector needs to decarbonize by integrating renewable energy and energy-efficient strategies. Nearly 40% of annual global CO2 emissions come from this sector, and older infrastructure often makes a bigger contribution. Businesses can minimise their net carbon emissions and contribute towards mitigating the effects of climate change by implementing clean and sustainable facility management solutions.

For organisations to achieve their net-zero emission goals, the facility management sector will need to take a holistic and strategic approach that includes waste reduction, sustainable transportation, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. This includes retrofitting the building envelope and HVAC system, installing energy-efficient lighting, and using smart building technology to optimise energy use.

Additionally, the facility domain can also build on-site renewable energy equipment, such as solar photovoltaic panels and wind turbines, to provide clean, renewable energy and explore the potential of green power. An integrated facility management organisation has several facets: its operations, investments, management, and services intertwine, making sustainability the core of its operations. Green buildings that employ renewable energy often experience a 10% reduction in operating expenses in the first year. Planning preventive maintenance increases cost-effectiveness, equipment lifespans, and sustainability in a conducive manner.

An extraordinary evolution up and down the entire energy value chain is necessary to realise India’s vision of energy independence. As efforts are being undertaken to achieve this vision, businesses need to be cognizant of their carbon production and emission levels, as well as deploy smart and scalable facility management solutions that address this gap. The facility management sector will continue to play an instrumental role in empowering India’s commitment towards becoming a carbon-neutral economy.

900-megawatt power plant to be set up in Haryana’s Yamunanagar

Source: Economic Times, 23 November 2022

A 900-megawatt power plant will be set up in Yamunanagar, Haryana, said an official statement here on Wednesday. It said the chief minister has given the green signal to the proposal to set up another power plant at Yamunanagar and soon its site selection and detailed project report (DPR) will be approved.

At present, Yamunanagar also has a thermal power plant.

Haryana has continuously progressed in the power sector since it was carved out as a separate state in 1966, with an increase in the electricity availability from 343 megawatt at that time to 13,106.58 MW at present, the statement said.

It has become self-sufficient in terms of power availability in the state in the last eight years, the statement added.

Many power reforms were carried out by the power corporations and the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), which was constituted in August 1998.

“When Haryana was carved out as a separate state from then joint Punjab in 1966, at that time Haryana had an acute shortage of resources. It was a big challenge before the then governments to provide basic facilities like roads, electricity, and water to the public. But in 1970, electricity was brought to every village,” it noted.

The statement said that Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar believes that all the previous governments have contributed to the development of the state, “but, the work done in the last eight years (under the BJP govt) overshadows the work done in the last 48 years (1966-2014)”.

In the field of power reforms, Haryana has taken a giant leap in these eight years, the statement said.

Meanwhile, it added that in 1966, there were 20,190 tubewells used for agriculture in Haryana, which increased to over 6.64 lakh in 2022.

“In 1966, there were only 9,749 industrial area electricity connections in the state, which have now increased to over 1.18 lakh in 2022.

“The per capita consumption of electricity was 48 units in 1966, which has now increased to about 1,805 units. Today, the number of electricity consumers is 73.82 lakh,” the statement noted.

Under the state’s ‘Mhara Gaon-Jagmag Gaon Yojana’ scheme, at present 5,681 villages, that is 84 per cent of villages of the state, are being given 24-hour power supply in comparison to only 538 villages in October 2014, it added.

Also, in October 2014, the recovery of electricity bills from rural areas was less than 50 per cent, which has now increased to more than 90 per cent.

GE Steam Power inks USD 165 mn pact to supply 3 nuclear steam turbines to BHEL

Source: Financial Express, 21 June 2022

GE Steam Power on Tuesday said that it has inked a USD 165 million pact with state-run engineering firm BHEL to supply three nuclear steam turbines. GE Steam Power has signed a USD 165 million contract with BHEL for the supply of three nuclear steam turbines out of six units for NPCIL’s domestic nuclear program- phase 1 being developed at Gorakhpur, Haryana (units – 1 to 4 (GHAVP)) and Kaiga (Kaiga-5&6) Karnataka, a company statement said. This domestic program includes 12 units of 700 MWe being developed by NPCIL with their own nuclear reactor technology i.e., Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR). In total, it will represent 8.4GW of CO2-free electricity for the country, enough to power more than 14 million homes, it stated.

In 2018, GE and BHEL had signed a business cooperation agreement and a License and Technology Transfer Agreement to enable them to manufacture nuclear steam turbines of 700 MW. The two companies are well positioned to respond to the country’s needs for a lower carbon source of energy.

Supporting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative launched by the government of India, GE will manufacture the nuclear steam turbines at its facility in Sanand, Gujarat. These turbines are being engineered and manufactured with an improved design for enhanced output that will meet the requirements of the customer.”At GE Steam Power, we are proud to partner with BHEL and to continue to support NPCIL and India in its path to a reliable and lower carbon energy future. With our facility in Sanand, we have local manufacturing capability to deliver on the nuclear aspirations of India domestic programme,” said Frédéric Wiscart, Nuclear New Build Leader for GE Steam Power.

Today, GE’s steam turbine technology operates in 50 per cent of the world’s nuclear power plants, producing 200 gigawatts (GWs) for the global grid.The GE Steam Power has supplied nuclear steam turbines in consortium with BHEL for the ongoing NPCIL projects at Kakrapar (KAPP) and Rawatbhatha (RAPP), that will deliver 2,8GW of CO2 free energy once completed.

France’s EDF focusing on tech localisation with India

Source: Economic Times, 29 May 2022

French energy company Electricite de France SA (EDF), which is collaborating with Nuclear Power Corp. of India Ltd (NPCIL) on the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant (JNPP) in Maharashtra, is working toward localising the technology, chairman and CEO Jean-Bernard Levy told ET in an interview.

Levy was in India May 23-24 to build on the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Paris and met senior executives and representatives of NPCIL to expedite the project. “EDF and NPCIL are working intensively on the development of this project based upon the French EPR technology. The Jaitapur project is a key pillar of Indo-French strategic cooperation,” Levy said. “EDF is actively engaged in materialising the Make in India and Skill India national initiatives as part of its localisation plans… Major partnerships have been agreed upon with key Indian industrial companies.”

EDF is getting ready to launch its nuclear engineering platform to be located in Mumbai, the CEO said. “There is a significant potential for the Indian supply chain with already 200 Indian companies identified in all fields of engineering and procurement, and dozens of companies in the process of qualification for the project,” Levy said. “I am proud that EDF can humbly contribute to supporting India’s vision for a sustainable future and of all the successes and positive steps taken over the years, allowing my visit.”

Jaitapur illustrates India’s determination to decarbonise its economy and actively support the Paris agreement, Levy said. “As consistently recalled by President Macron and Prime Minister Modi, France and India are committed to strengthening their global cooperation, notably in the field of civil nuclear (energy),” he said.

‘Pricing Commercially Sensitive’
“During the recent visit of PM Modi in Paris on May 4, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the success of the Jaitapur EPR project for access to reliable, affordable and low carbon energy, and welcomed the good progress achieved over the last months. They called on EDF and NPCIL to move forward and achieve new progress, and this has been exactly the purpose of my visit to India,” he said.

Levy met representatives of the government, NPCIL and industrial partners such as Larsen & Toubro on his visit.

“EDF is fully in line with India’s pledge to reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45% by the end of the decade and net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. JNPP will enable India to make a major step forward on decarbonisation with 80 million tons of CO2 emissions avoided per year,” the CEO said.

EDF will be the supplier of technology while NPCIL will be responsible for the construction of the EPR.

When asked about the plant’s power tariffs, Levy said, “You will understand that pricing related matters are commercially sensitive in the context of the discussions we are currently in. I can confirm though that the project will bring significant socio-economic benefits to the Indian economy in the long run, that is to say during the approximately 15 years of construction of the six units but also in the subsequent 60 years of operation at the least.”

The Jaitapur plant has the potential to boost economic development, notably thanks to the involvement of the state-of-the-art and skilled Indian nuclear industry, Levy said.

“It is in our DNA to deliver our projects relying on long-term cooperation and on the industrial capabilities of the countries where our projects are located,” the CEO said.

Godrej & Boyce wins order worth over Rs 550 crore

Source: Economic Times, 08 February 2022

Godrej & Boyce on Tuesday said it has bagged orders worth over Rs 550 crore in the domestic T&D (transmission and distribution) market for its power transmission business.

“Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd, one of the pioneers in manufacturing, announced that its power infrastructure and renewable energy business unit has secured orders of over Rs 550 crores in the power transmission business,” a company statement said.

According to the statement, orders comprise 400kV new AIS substations, 220kV new GIS substations, 220kV transmission lines and 220kV underground cables in the domestic T&D market.

“We are enthused to have secured new orders amidst the challenging times. The current orders further strengthen our presence in Domestic T&D Market. With these orders, G&B has expanded its portfolio in EHV substation & transmission line projects across India,” Raghavendra Mirji, Senior Vice President & Head – Power Infrastructure & Renewable Energy (PIRE), Godrej Electricals & Electronics said.

Godrej & Boyce has been delivering a range of equipment, solutions and services aimed at driving efficient energy management across the industry value chain.

Godrej Electricals & Electronics, a business of Godrej & Boyce, forayed into the power transmission business in 2010 and has successfully commissioned several EHV substation projects up to 400kV across all territories in India and further aims to consolidate its position in 400kV and above segment.

Over the years, Godrej Electrical & Electronics has established itself as one of the most trusted EPC companies in the power transmission segment in India.

India’s solar capacity addition jumps over three-fold to 7.4 GW in January-September

Source: Economic Times, 09 December 2021

The solar energy generation capacity addition rose 335 per cent to 7.4 GW in the January-September period this year from 1.73 GW a year ago, said Mercom India Research.

“In the first nine months of 2021 (9M 2021), India added over 7.4 gigawatts (GW) of solar, a 335 per cent increase YoY (year-on-year) compared to the 1.73 GW installed in the same period in 2020,” according to Mercom India Research’s newly released Q3 2021 India Solar Market Update.

According to the update, India added 2,835 megawatts (MW) of solar in the third quarter (Q3 July-September) of the calendar year (CY) 2021, up 14 per cent compared to 2,488 MW installed in Q2 2021 (April-June). Year-over-year (YoY) installations in Q3 surged 547 per cent.

Installations grew despite market challenges, according to the report.

Increased raw materials costs, severe volatility in module availability and price, curtailment of power in several states, and high freight charges have added to the difficulties for the developers, it stated.

“Despite supply challenges, the Indian solar market is headed towards one of best years on record…

“We expect a strong 2022 despite the high price of components and uncertainties surrounding the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) related transmission issue in Rajasthan. An increase in GST, curtailment and payment issues are adding to the challenges facing developers and constraining growth,” said Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group in the statement.

There was a steep rise in the average selling prices of solar modules during the third quarter. Prices of mono PERC modules surged over 15 per cent q-o-q (quarter-on-quarter), with supply constraints after major manufacturers started cutting output in China. Freight charges peaked at around USD 9,000 per container in the quarter, according to the statement.

“Manufacturing capacity ramp-up continues at a brisk pace as domestic producers look to take advantage of the 40 per cent basic customs duty scheduled to be imposed from April 2022. “In the second quarter of next year, we can expect to see procurement strategies starting to change drastically, as imports become expensive,” said Prabhu.

According to the report, module prices have been increasing for six consecutive quarters, a trend not seen in the past ten years.

This quarter also saw the largest q-o-q increase in large-scale system costs by over 10 per cent attributed to the increase in raw material and component prices.

Tender announcements as of September increased 16 per cent and auction activity surged 181 per cent year-on-year.

Rajasthan is, now, the top solar state in India in terms of cumulative installed capacity, overtaking Karnataka, which had held the position since 2018, according to data from the report.

As of September, the top 10 states accounted for about 96 per cent of the country’s cumulative large-scale solar installations.

Rajasthan has been the top solar installer for three consecutive quarters by contributing about 63 per cent of the total large-scale solar installations in the country this quarter, followed by Gujarat with 19 per cent.

According to the report, India added close to 11.6 GW of power capacity in the first nine months of the current year.

Solar dominated capacity additions accounted for close to 60 per cent, followed by thermal power, which contributed 21 per cent. Renewables (including large hydro) made up 79 per cent of total power capacity additions in 9M 2021 (CY), it stated.

Power minister approves 23 new inter-state transmission projects worth Rs 15,893 cr

Source: Economic Times, 08 December 2021

Union power minister R K Singh has approved 23 new inter-state transmission system projects worth Rs 15,893 crore. The new inter-state transmission system (ISTS) projects comprise 13 projects with an estimated cost of Rs 14,766 crore to be developed under Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) and 10 projects with an estimated cost of Rs 1,127 crore to be developed under Regulated Tariff Mechanism (RTM), a power ministry statement said.

It further said that the Union Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy has approved new 23 ISTS projects “with an estimated cost of Rs 15,893 crore”.

The new transmission projects would inter-alia facilitate evacuation system for 14 GW of renewable projects in Rajasthan, 4.5 GW of RE projects in Gujarat, 1 GW Neemuch Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh and feeding areas near Akhnoor and Jammu region by establishing Siot Substation in Jammu.

These projects were approved after examining the recommendations of the National Committee on Transmission and in accordance with the National Tariff Policy 2016, notified by the central government, which provides that ISTS project is developed through TBCB, except for certain category projects, which are strategic, technical-upgradation or time-bound in nature, it stated.