Interregional power transfer up 23 per cent in first two months of FY22

 

The quantum of interregional electricity transfer was up 23 per cent in the April-May period of FY22, according to latest statistics released by National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC).

According to the NLDC report, the first two months of FY22 saw interregional transfer of 38,629 million units (MU = million kwh = Gwh) as against 31,368 MU in the same period of FY21.

This increase of 23 per cent should also be seen against the fact the months of April and May 2020 were those with the most stringent lockdown, nationally. Thus, there could be a “low base” effect to this high year-on-year growth.

Interregional power transfer refers to the electricity transferred seamlessly between the five regional grids of India – North (NR), West (WR), South (SR), East (ER) and Northeast (NER).

Nearly 36 per cent of the interregional transfer in the first two months of FY22 was from WR to NR. At 13,819 MU, this was also 44 per cent higher than the comparable 9,620 MU in the April-May period of FY21.

Transfer from WR to SR rose 22.1 per cent from 5,112 MU in the April-May period of FY21 to 6,244 MU in the like period of FY22. It may be mentioned that the 800kV bipolar HVDC Raigarh-Pugalur link is an important interregional line for bulk transfer from WR to SR. Currently, this line has transfer capacity of 3,000 mw with two out of the four poles commissioned. Its full rated capacity is 6,000 mw.

 

Also read: Interregional Grid Capacity To Cross 118 GW By FY22

 

NR and SR: Net importers

Interregional transfers are not strictly unidirectional. For instance, even as the deficient NR imports electricity from WR and ER, there can be transfers in the opposite direction also, depending on the requirement. For instance, though 13.819 MU was transferred from WR to NR in the first two months of FY22, there was also a reverse transfer of 3,822 MU.

All the same, NR and SR are always net importers, while the power generation centres – WR, ER and NER – are net exporters.

NR imported a total of 17,298 MU that represented 44 per cent of the total interregional transfer in the first two months of FY22. (See table) This quantum of was also nearly 32 per cent higher than that in the corresponding period of FY21. SR imported 12,732 MU in April-May FY22, 8 per cent higher than in the like period of FY21.

Imports by NR and SR together accounted for nearly 80 per cent of the total interregional transfers in the first two months of FY22.

 

Interregional capacity

As of May 31, 2021, India’s total interregional transfer capacity stood at around 106,000 mw, out of which Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) accounted for 85 per cent.

 (Note: It follows mathematically that aggregate of imports by all regions equals aggregate of exports by all regions, which also equals the total interregional transfer.)