Construction Industry News
The Union Department of Energy launched a plan called "Transmission System to Integrate More Than 500 Gw RE Capacity by 2030" to support 500 Gw renewable energy (RE) capacity by the end of this decade.
The plan calls for an investment of Rs 2.44 trillion in transmission projects to connect mega solar farms and wind energy zones to the national power grid.
The mega plan envisages the construction of 8,120 circuit kilometers (ckm) of high voltage direct current transmission corridors (+800 kV and +350 kV), 25,960 ckm of 765 kV ac lines, 15,758 ckm of 400 kV lines and 1,052 ckm of 220 kV cable.
By 2030, 51.5 Gw of battery energy storage capacity is also planned for installation. This gives users constant access to power.
The strategy has identified key future non-fossil fuel generation centers across the country, according to a statement from the Department of Energy. In accordance with this, transmission networks are planned.
This includes the Rajasthani towns of Fatehgarh, Bhadla and Bikaner, among others; Khavda of Gujarat; Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur and Kurnool RE zones; the offshore wind potential of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat; and Ladakh's RE park.
Speaking at the launch, the Union Minister of Energy, New & renewable energy R K Singh stated, “We will not compromise on economic growth. We will also honor our climate agreements. We will meet our target of 500 Gw of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. The plan we are launching is in line with our commitments and will also pave the way for adding the necessary generation capacity.”
He also indicates that the ministry is considering giving developers of sustainable projects more room.
“Currently, you are awarded the project and then Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) signs a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for you after finding buyer states. But now we will give the freedom to build projects before PPA and sell on exchanges until buyers are found,” he said.
To prepare the report, a high-level committee chaired by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) met with representatives from SECI, Central Transmission Utility of India, Power Grid Corporation of India, National Institute of Solar Energy and National Institute of Wind Energy .
