Transmission Infrastructure Plan of Kerala - TransGrid 2.0

With the objective of ensuring 24x7 quality power to the consumers in the State and to enable constraint-free transportation of bulk power from generating stations and ISTS nodes by minimizing the transmission losses, KSE Board had approved a Long Term Transmission Plan (LTTP) up to the year 2023 in December 2014. Considering the peculiar geographical shape of the State, a 400 kV backbone transmission network from the northern part of the State to the southern part was proposed in the plan with intermediate substations at 220 kV and 110 kV voltage levels to cater to the load requirement of various load centers.

The above LTTP was formulated with the information on demand and supply options available at that period. Major capacity addition proposals in the generation and transmission, especially in the central sector, such as the 2000 MW Pugalur-Madakkathara HVDC link was materialized subsequently, which will increase the inter-state transmission capacity of Kerala by about 5800 MW by 2021. The intra-state transmission system strengthening works/capacity addition works required for the evacuation of this additional power was not envisaged in the earlier LTTP. Further, constraints in obtaining new RoWs and new technological advancements in line construction such as narrow-based towers, high capacity conductors like HTLS, etc., it was felt prudent to plan new 400 kV and 220 kV lines through the RoW of existing sub-transmission lines using multi-voltage multi-circuit towers instead of acquiring new RoWs. Also, the State’s large scale capacity addition plan in the renewable sector necessitated additional transmission infrastructure required for integration of these renewables into the grid.

Taking into consideration the above factors, a revised long TermTransmissionPlannamedTransGrid 2.0 was approved by KSEBL in 2016, with a mission to enhance system reliability and security and to reduce system losses with minimum disturbance to the environment and the public and a green vision for better energy management. The new long term transmission plan spanned the period 2016-32 with an approximate financial outlay of Rs.10,000 crore. It is expected that the implementation of the projects envisaged in TransGrid 2.0 will bring about a reduction in peak load system loss of about 107.8 MW and corresponding annual energy savings of 522.21 MU.

The TransGrid 2.0 projects are planned for execution in two phases. The elements which are critical to the system for relieving congestion and for constraint-free power evacuation from the HVDC and other ISTS/Generation nodes are included in Phase-1 and will be completed by 2021-22. The works pertaining to the evacuation of power from renewable resources are proposed to be carried out under Green Energy Corridor project funding and are planned to be completed along with Phase-1 projects. Phase-2 works are to be taken up in coordination with the completion of Phase-1 works so that the seamless integration of the planned elements is achieved for strengthening the network. The Phase-1 and Phase-II projects are being funded by KIIFB.

Total number of Planned Substations in TransGrid 2.0

List of Interconnected 400 kV and 220 kV Substations in KSEBL Grid