The Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) has awarded a $640 million transmission project to ABB, a power and automation technology group. The project involves developing an ultra-high-voltage direct current (UHVDC) 1,830 km transmission link between Raigarh, Chhattisgarh to Pugalur, Tamil Nadu. The link is expected to have transmission capacity of 6,000 MW and provide seamless power supply to 80 million Indian households. The project is expected to be complete in 2019.

The two-way link will integrate thermal and wind energy for transmission of power to high consumption centers located thousands of kilometers away, supporting electricity demands in the south, when wind strength is low, and transmitting clean energy to the north, when there is excess wind power, stated ABB.

The link will be used for transmission of power from all sources and will be a much needed boost for renewable energy as the UHVDC transmission link will allow for easy evacuation from intermittent energy sources, said an official at PGCIL. If transmission improves, a quarter of India’s power problems can be solved because there will be less power loss and it will also allow commissioned projects to function at maximum capacity, added the PGCIL official.

Mercom has previously reported on the progress of Green Energy Corridor being developed by PGCIL to enable evacuation and transmission of power generated from renewable energy sources across the country.

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