It is learnt that recently in a meeting of national transmission committee presided by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to discuss issues related to power evacuation of wind power auctioned by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), the committee approved construction of power transmission infrastructure in two states — Gujarat and Tamil Nadu — to support wind energy projects allocated in SECI auctions.

The infrastructure is required for the 4,000 megawatts of wind energy capacity allocated in SECI auctions, and scheduled to be installed in Gujarat. Transmission infrastructure to support 900 megawatts of wind energy capacity, also auctioned through SECI and to be installed in Tamil Nadu, was also approved.

The meeting of this National Transmission Committee took place days after the fifth national-level SECI wind energy tender was abandoned due to poor response from project developers. Of the 2000 MW capacity on offer, project developers offered to set up just 1200 MW capacity raising concerns over the lack of transmission infrastructure to carry power generated.