India’s Power Transmission Line Expansion Slows Down Amidst Monsoon Season
India’s progress in expanding its power transmission lines has been hindered by a wet monsoon season, resulting in a significant drop in new additions compared to the previous year. The country added 4,762 circuit kilometers (ckm) of transmission lines during the April-October period, which is approximately 47% lower than the 7,026 ckm added in the same period last year. This slowdown in transmission line expansion raises concerns about the stability of power supply, especially with the increasing capacity of renewable energy sources in the country.
Monsoon Season Impacts Transmission Line Expansion
The wetter-than-usual monsoon season in India has been identified as the primary reason for the decline in power transmission line additions. The heavy rainfall during the monsoon season slowed down construction work, leading to a lower number of transmission lines being added. The data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) reveals that only about a third of the target of 15,253 ckm for the ongoing fiscal year has been achieved so far. However, experts anticipate that the execution of transmission line projects will pick up in the remaining months of the year, as observed in the previous fiscal year.
Importance of a Strong Transmission Network
A robust transmission network with sufficient storage capacity is crucial for ensuring a stable power supply, particularly with the growing reliance on renewable energy sources. India’s plans to connect its grid with the national transmission networks of countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, and Singapore under the One Sun One World One Grid initiative further emphasize the need for a strong domestic network. The current slowdown in transmission line expansion highlights the importance of accelerating the development of a reliable transmission infrastructure.
Transformation Capacity Gains Momentum
While the addition of transmission lines has been affected by the monsoon season, the expansion of transformation capacity has shown positive momentum. In the current fiscal year, 33,265 mega volt ampere (MVA) of transformation capacity has been added, compared to 29,521 MVA in the previous year. Transformation capacity plays a vital role in ensuring a smooth and stable flow of high-voltage power within the transmission system. Both transmission lines and transformation capacity are essential for India to achieve its target of 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil fuel power capacity by 2030. India’s power transmission line expansion has been significantly impacted by the wet monsoon season, resulting in a slowdown in new additions compared to the previous year. The country’s efforts to achieve a robust transmission network and meet its renewable energy targets require accelerated progress in transmission line construction. The government and relevant authorities must address the challenges posed by the monsoon season and expedite the development of a strong transmission infrastructure to ensure a stable and sustainable power supply for the nation’s growing energy needs.
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