State transcos will need to speed up upgrade in H2 of FY21

State transmission utilities need to accelerate their infrastructure upgrade programme in the second half of FY21, if annual targets for FY21 need to be achieved, statistics from CEA suggest.

State government-owned transmission companies (transcos) are expected to add a total of 7,964 ckm of new transmission lines and 35,970 MVA of transformation (substation) capacity in FY21. However, with half of the year already over, their overall achievement stands at one-third in the case of lines and just about one-fourth in terms of substation capacity.

 

One third of the total substation capacity envisaged for addition in FY21 by state transcos has been added in the first half of FY21.

 

According to latest statistics released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the total addition of transmission lines by state transcos stood at 2,650 ckm during the first half of FY21, which is April 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020. This was 33.3 per cent of the annual target. Similarly, the total substation capacity added in the given period was 9,240 MVA, which was just 25.7 per cent of the annual target.

 

Pick-up in Q2

In many cases, the COVID-linked nationwide lockdown during the first quarter of FY21 was responsible for slow project implementation. This is evident from the fact that out of the 2,650 ckm of transmission lines added in the first half of FY21, only 27 per cent were added in the first quarter (April to June) while the remaining 73 per cent was realized in the second quarter (July to September). Similar was the case with respect to substation capacity. Of the total 9,240 MVA added in the first half of FY21, achievement in the first quarter was 2,380 MVA (or roughly one-fourth) while the predominant three-fourths came in the second quarter.

 

Transmission upgrade picked up in Q2 of FY21 from Q1, but pace will need to pick up further if annual targets of FY21 have to be met.

Transmission Lines

The state-wise distribution of the overall target also throws up some interesting observations. Madhya Pradesh has targeted to add the most transmission lines in FY21, at 1,403 ckm. This is followed by Tamil Nadu with 1,038 ckm and Jharkhand with 837 ckm. Coming next in order is Rajasthan with 791 ckm. These four states together accounted for over 50 per cent of the collective target of states for FY21. It may be observed that in the case of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, in particular, state transcos are aggressively putting up green energy evacuation infrastructure linked to upcoming mega solar parks.

Tamil Nadu, it may be mentioned, has been able to achieve only 14.5 per cent of its annual target in the first half of FY21, while Jharkhand has done much better with an achievement metric of 80.3 per cent. Rajasthan appears to be moving slow, having added only 85 ckm in the first half of FY21, as against its annual target of 791 ckm.

 

Two intrastate 765kV lines are envisaged for commissioning in FY21, both in Tamil Nadu.

 

Substations

Tamil Nadu has planned the highest transformation capacity addition in FY21, standing at 6,400 MVA. Out of this, only around 5 per cent was achieved in the first half. Uttar Pradesh has also targeted to add a significant 5,020 MVA in FY21. This northern state has also done well to have already installed 2,160 MVA (or 43 per cent of the annual target) in the first half itself. Madhya Pradesh has added only 690 MVA of substation capacity, which is 23 per cent of its annual target of 2,955 MVA.

It is interesting to observe that Andhra Pradesh where 2,880 MVA of transformation capacity has been envisaged for addition in FY21, there has been no actual addition in the first half of theyear.

 

765kV lines in state sector

It is very encouraging to note the percolation of 765kV infrastructure in the intrastate power transmission space. Two such 765kV lines are expected to commission in FY21, and both of them are being implemented by state agency Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation Ltd. One of these lines Ariyalur to Thiruvalam (double circuit, 347 ckm) is in fact expected to commission very soon. While the physical work on the line is fully complete, the line will be energized after the under-construction 765kV Ariyalur substation is commissioned. The second line – North Chennai Pooling Station to Ariyalur (double circuit, 542 ckm) – is under execution and is scheduled to commission by December 2020. Tower erection is almost complete, while stringing is 95 per cent done.