INDIA - $29.6 billion plan to upgrade grid for clean power

As it plans to nearly triple its clean energy capacity by 2030, India has announced a $29.6 billion plan to develop transmission lines to connect renewable generation.

The project connects wind farms in Tamil Nadu and solar installations in the deserts of Rajasthan and Gujarat on the national power grid, according to a statement from the electricity ministry. Towards the end of the ten years, it will contribute to an increase in India's inter-regional transmission capacity of 112 gigawatts to 150 gigawatts.

Renewable electricity in India is limited by a shortage of transmission lines. This gap needs to be filled when the country moves towards net zero in 2070 so that there is clean energy can reach urban and industrial areas that are often far from sources of generation.

India currently generates 173 gigawatts of electricity from non-fossil fuel sources and by 2030 it will hopes to nearly triple that capacity to 500 gigawatts. The transmission strategy requires the building transformers, laying high-voltage lines and laying submarine cables to transport electricity generated by offshore wind farms.

The electricity grid sector welcomed the initiative, but warned against the contract method price. Contrary to the current practice of awarding some projects to the state-run electricity grid Corp. of India Ltd. without competition, private transmission companies have pushed for New Delhi to allocate all projects through competitive bidding.