Healthy substation capacity addition was witnessed in the first eight months (April to November) of FY25.
According to latest statistics released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the total transformation (substation) capacity addition during the April-November period of FY25 stood at 38,805 MVA. This was not only 17.7 per cent higher than the 32,961 MVA added in the same period of FY24, it also exceeded the planned addition of 36,235 MVA by 7 per cent.
Ownership
Nearly half of the substation capacity added in the first eight months of FY25 was from Central government utilities, mainly Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL). This ownership group added 18,960 MVA (as against the planned addition of 14,645 MVA) thereby accounting for 48.8 per cent of the total addition. The state government sector followed closely with 16,525 MVA (42.6 per cent share in total) and then by private utilities with 8.6 per cent.
State government utilities were predominantly active on the 220kV and 400kV voltage classes, while Central agencies were seen building new infrastructure on the 400kV and 765kV categories. In fact, the entire addition of 10,500 MVA on the 765kV side came from PGCIL through substation augmentations in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Voltage class
Most of the transformation capacity addition in the April-November period of FY25 came from the 400kV class, which accounted for 42 per cent of the total addition. This was followed by 220kV with 31 per cent and by the 765kV category with 27 per cent. There was no addition of HVDC-based transfer capacity, and for that matter, even HVDC lines.
ISTS vs InSTS
It is noteworthy that 21,335 MVA (or 55 per cent) out of the total 38,805 MVA added during the first eight months of FY25 was on the interstate transmission system (ISTS) network. The remaining 17,470 MVA was on the intrastate transmission system (InSTS).
Given that PGCIL is scheduled to commission new transformation capacity of over 51,000 MVA in the whole of FY25 (out of which 18,960 MVA has been commissioned in the first eight months), it strongly appears that ISTS-based substation capacity addition would surpass that on the InSTS side during FY25. This would be in contrast to the situation in FY24 and FY23 where substation capacity addition was largely on the InSTS grid. [PGCIL’s transmission infrastructure is predominantly on the ISTS network, except for a small addition that could come from InSTS-TBCB projects or those in joint venture with state utilities.]
Cumulative status
As of November 30, 2024, India’s total transformation capacity stood at 1,289,885 MVA (or around 1,290 GVA). Of this, 42 per cent (or 5,37,885 MVA) was on the ISTS network with the majority 48 per cent (or 7,52,000 MVA) on the intrastate grid.
As of given date, the 400kV and 220kV had an almost equal share, of 37 per cent each, in the total transformation capacity. The upcoming 765kV class accounted for 24 per cent – a share that could potentially rise in the coming years in view of aggressive transmission capacity addition on the ISTS network.
Also read: Substation capacity addition meets only 43 per cent of target
(Note: This report takes into account substations of 220kV and above only. The 220kV category also includes 230kV. Financial year FY25 runs from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.)