First stage of Raigarh-Pugalur UHVDC line energized

Hitachi ABB Power Grids India, along with consortium partner Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, has successfully energized the first stage of the +/-800kV Raigarh-Pugalur UHVDC line.

The bipolar line, connecting Raigarh in Chhattisgarh to Pugalur in Tamil Nadu, is owned by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.

When completed, the approximately 1,800-km two-way transmission line will have the capacity to meet the electricity needs of over 80 million people in India. This link will assist India on the journey towards increasing amounts of renewable power, by bringing large amounts of renewable energy to the high consumption centers. When wind strength is low, it will support electricity demand in the South, and when it is in excess, transmit clean energy to the north, according to a release issued by Hitachi ABB Power Grids India. The entity is listed on Indian stock exchanges as “ABB Power Products and Systems India Ltd.”

That is also one of the key initiatives of the Government of India to increase renewable energy capacity to 450 GW in the nation’s electricity mix, and is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal of affordable and clean energy, the release added.

Occupying one-third of the space of a traditional AC transmission, HVDC transmission links help to conserve land.

“This is a proud moment for us. We have been involved in this project since 2016. With the completion of the first phase of the 6,000 MW +/-800kV UHVDC project, braving difficulties posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, we will enable clean and reliable power for millions of people in the country. We are strongly committed to supporting the Government’s mission to bring 24/7 reliable power to all,” said N. Venu, Managing Director, Hitachi ABB Power Grids India. (pictured)

Occupying one-third of the space of a traditional AC transmission, HVDC transmission links help to conserve land. In the current case, that amounts to a saving of approximately 244 sqkm, which is about one-third the area of Bangalore. The mega project will also feature technologies selected to minimize the footprint of the transmission stations.

For Hitachi ABB Power Grids India , the Raigarh-Pugalur link is the company’s sixth HVDC project in India and the second UHVDC installation, following the multi-terminal North-East Agra link.

 Ordered in 2016

The consortium of Hitachi ABB Power Grids and state-owned engineering and manufacturing firm BHEL had won the order for the Raigarh-Pugalur 800kV UHVDC transmission link from Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd in 2016. The project encompasses design, engineering, supply, installation, testing, commissioning of complete UHVDC converter terminal stations as well as major equipment supplies including 800kV converter transformers, converter valves, cooling systems and control and protection technology.

(Note to readers: On September 8, 2020, on the basis of a filing by Power Grid Corporation of India, T&D India reported that the first pole and some elements of the Raigarh-Pugalur UHVDC were commissioned. Read full story.)

Featured photograph showing HVDC equipment by ABB is for representation only