Substation capacity addition during the first eight months (April to November) of FY24 fell substantially short of the target, especially considering the 765kV voltage class.
According to latest statistics released by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), India could add 4,500 MVA of 765kV-based transformation (substation) capacity during the April-November period of FY24, which was just 30 per cent of the 15,000 MVA targeted. State government utilities were expected to add 7,500 MVA of 765kV substation capacity, accounting for half of the overall target. As against this, actual addition stood at nil. (See table).
Private sector entities did well to commission 3,000 MVA of transformation capacity of 765kV level during the first eight months of FY24. In doing so, they not only met the target set for the period but also attained the targeted quantum for whole of FY24.
Central government agencies (mainly Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd) could add just 1,500 MVA of 765kV-rated substation capacity as against the targeted 4,500 MVA.
It may be mentioned that the private sector also did well in terms of 765kV transmission line addition in the first seven months of FY24, as already reported by T&D India.
The overall performance of transformation capacity addition at lower voltage levels – 400kV and 220kV – was relatively better.
400kV
Across all ownership groups, a total of 24,500 MVA of 400kV-rated transformation capacity was targeted during the April-November period of FY24. As against this, actual addition was 16,740 MVA, resulting in 66 per cent achievement. In the 400kV category, Central PSUs performed the best, scoring an achievement rate of nearly 90 per cent.
220kV
The overall addition of 220kV substation capacity during April-November FY24 stood at 11,721 MVA, meeting 66 per cent of the targeted 17,664 MVA. Much of this addition, as expected, came from state government utilities.
Overall
Across all voltage categories, substation capacity addition in the first eight months of FY24 was 32,961 MVA, meeting just around 57 per cent of the targeted 58,064 MVA. For the whole of FY24, the targeted substation capacity addition is 78,109 MVA, which appears arduous, by current thinking.
Substation capacity addition, especially by state government utilities, should accelerate during the remaining months if the actual achievement were to come anywhere close to the annual target. In FY23, addition of transformation capacity stood at 75,902 MVA as against the target of 78,959 MVA. It should however be noted the stated target was arrived at after a substantial 17 per cent downward revision to the originally-envisaged 95,659 MVA.
Also read: Substation Capacity Addition Meets Just Half Of Target
Featured photograph (source: Linxon) is for representation only.
