Cabinet Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal, on Monday, launched the National Electricity Plan (Transmission).

The CEA, with the aim of transmitting 500 GW of Renewable Energy installed capacity by the year 2030 and over 600 GW of Renewable Energy installed capacity by the year 2032, prepared the detailed Nation Electricity Plan (Transmission) in consultation with various Stakeholders.

The plan was launched by the minister in the presence of dignitaries during a two-day brainstorming conclave organised by the CEA during 14-15 October 2024 in New Delhi.

As per the National Electricity Plan, over 1,91,000 km of transmission lines and 1270 GVA of transformation capacity are planned to be added during the ten-year period from 2022-23 to 2031-32 (at 220 kV and above voltage level). In addition, 33 GW of HVDC bi-pole links are also planned. The inter-regional transmission capacity is planned to increase to 143 GW by the year 2027 and further to 168 GW by the year 2032, from the present level of 119 GW.

The Transmission Plan also covers cross-border interconnections with Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka as well as probable interconnections with Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc.

The transmission plan highlights new technology options in the transmission sector like Hybrid Substations, Monopole Structures, Insulated Cross Arms, Dynamic Line Rating, High-Performance Conductors, Upgradation of maximum operating voltage to 1200 kV AC as well as skill development in the Transmission Sector.

With several transmission schemes under construction, several transmission schemes under bidding, and several other transmission schemes in the pipeline, the transmission Plan provides visibility to the investors of the massive investment opportunity of over INR 9,15,000 Crores in the Transmission Sector till the year 2032.

The Plan has also taken into consideration the requirement of storage systems viz 47 GW of Battery Energy Storage Systems and 31 GW of Pumped Storage Plants to be developed along with Renewable Energy.

The transmission system has also been planned for delivery of power to the Green Hydrogen/Green Ammonia Manufacturing hubs at coastal locations like Mundra, Kandla, Gopalpur, Paradeep, Tuticorin, Vizag, Mangalore, etc.