Private sector entities – led by Sterlite Power and Adani Power – are expected to dominate the addition of new 765kV lines in FY23, a special study by T&D India based on official statistics indicates.
According to a recent report by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), India is expected to see the addition of 1,658 ckm (circuit km) of new 765kV lines during FY23. Out of this, private sector companies are expected to commission 1,372 ckm, or nearly 83 per cent of the total. Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) will see the addition of 273 ckm, while the remaining 13 ckm will be from the state government sector.
Disaggregated information reveals that much of PGCIL’s addition will be related to the 212-ckm 765kV line, related to the reconfiguration of the existing line between the Bhuj and Lakadia pooling stations in Gujarat. The small addition by state government utilities mentioned above is expected to come from Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation.
Speaking of the private sector, Sterlite Power is expected to add as much as 805 ckm of 765kV lines while the corresponding metric for Adani Power stands at 567 ckm.
Most of Sterlite Power’s contribution to the country’s 765kV transmission line infrastructure in FY23 will derive from the 668-ckm Lakadia-Vadodara transmission line in Gujarat.
This line is a key component of the Western Region System Strengthening scheme, officially denoted as “WRSS – XXI I (Part B)”. This TBCB project is being implemented by project SPV “Lakadia Vadodara Transmission Project Ltd”, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sterlite Power.
According to information available, as of May 31, 2022, stringing on the line was completed to the extent of 428 ckm. Out of the total 812 transmission tower locations, foundations were completed with respect to 760 towers, while 722 towers were erected in all. This line was originally scheduled for completion in August 2021. However, COVID-related restrictions resulted in delays beyond the control of the developer. It is now learnt that the line would be commissioned by September or October 2022.
As far as Adani Power is concerned, it is expected to commission two 765kV lines in FY23, aggregating 567 ckm, both located in Gujarat. The two lines are Bhuj PS – Lakadia PS (215 ckm) and Lakadia PS – Banaskantha PS (352 ckm), both TBCB projects. According to information available from CEA, both these lines are currently in advanced stage of completion, albeit delayed from their original commissioning schedule.
Also read: Jyoti Structures To Build 765kV Line For Adani Transmission
765kV in perspective
As discussed in a separate earlier story, FY23 is likely to see the addition of 21,098 ckm of transmission lines – across all voltages and ownership groups. 765kV lines are expected to account for less than 8 per cent of the total line addition. Besides, there are no HVDC lines envisaged in the current year. Bulk of the addition will be coming from 400kV lines (45 per cent of the total ckm) and 220kV with a 47 per cent share.
