Centre plans to invest Rs.9.1 lakh crore to expand power transmission network by 2032

Inter-regional transmission capacity is expected to rise to 143 GW by 2026-27

November 28, 2024

Massive infrastructure push aims to strengthen India’s energy grid

The Union Ministry of Power has unveiled an ambitious plan to invest Rs.9.12 lakh crore to upgrade and expand the country’s power transmission infrastructure by 2031-32.

The initiative, as revealed by Minister of State for Power Shripad Yesso Naik in the Rajya Sabha, seeks to enhance the country’s electricity grid, ensuring a robust and future-ready energy network.

According to the National Electricity Plan (Transmission), the expansion will include the addition of 1.91 lakh kilometers of transmission lines and an impressive 1274 Giga Volt Ampere (GVA) of transformation capacity at 220 kV and above. Furthermore, 33.25 GW of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) bi-pole links are set to be integrated into the network, helping to boost efficiency and stability.

The inter-regional transmission capacity is expected to rise to 143 GW by 2026-27, and further to 168 GW by 2031-32, up from the current capacity of 119 GW. These upgrades are poised to significantly strengthen the grid’s connectivity across regions.

The plan also emphasizes the adoption of new technologies in transmission and the importance of cross-border interconnections with neighboring countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

In a separate update, Minister Naik informed the Rajya Sabha that 28 hydroelectric projects (HEP), totaling 13,997.5 MW, and five pumped storage projects (PSP) with a capacity of 6,050 MW are currently under construction across India.

Additionally, detailed project reports for 28 HEPs (19,460 MW) and four PSPs (4,100 MW) have already been approved by the Central Electricity Authority.

On the coal front, 29,200 MW of coal-based capacity is under construction, while another 18,400 MW has been awarded, with 47,240 MW of capacity still under consideration.

Meanwhile, India’s renewable energy sector continues to gain momentum, with 1,27,050 MW of renewable capacity under implementation and 89,690 MW in the bidding process.

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