The total transmission
capacity of the National
Grid, consisting of inter-regional
transmission links, stood
at 27,750 mw as of March 31, 2012,
according to information tabled in
Parliament. At present the National
Grid consists of transmission grids
of respective state transmission
utilities and interstate transmission
system (ISTS) grid.
From the operational point of
view, the ISTS grid is divided into
five regional grids—Northern
Region (NR), Western Region
(WR), Southern Region (SR),
Eastern Region (ER) and North
Eastern Region (NER) grids. These
regional grids have been interconnected
to form a national power
grid that is being developed in a
phased manner. By now, all the
regional grids have already been
inter-connected. Four regional grids
of the national grid viz. NR, WR, ER
and NER grids have been
interconnected synchronously and
the SR grid is connected
asynchronously with the rest of the
national power grid. This has been
done through HVDC links and
radially-operated AC links.
The Southern Region is also
planned to be synchronously
interconnected with the rest of the
national power grid through two
765kV single circuit lines between
Raichur (Karnataka, SR) and
Solapur (Maharashtra, WR) by
2014. The additional links between
the Southern and Western regions
would enable increased transfer of
power between southern states and
other states. Such augmentation of
inter-regional capacity shall also
facilitate integration of large
renewable generation in southern
region with rest of the country, the
Parliament reply noted. |