Tata Power’s fully-underground distribution substation in Mumbai is likely to commission soon, a top company official said.
Responding to a query at a recent media conference, Nilesh Kane, Chief – Mumbai Distribution, Tata Power, said that the underground distribution substation (DSS), currently under construction, is expected to commission in July this year.
By original thinking, the underground DSS was expected to commission in June but the project encountered minor impediments, especially the presence of underground cables. These cables are now being diverted and the substation is now expected to be fully commissioned in July 2023, Kane said.
The substation will be installed in the parking area of the Parel Receiving Station in south Mumbai and will support power demand load of high-rise infrastructure in the adjoining areas and ensure a continuous and reliable power supply to consumers during exigencies, including floods and storms.
According to information previously released by Tata Power, the substation will have specially designed 22kV submersible duty three-way ring man unit (RMU), 22kV/433V 400KVA transformer with accessories suitable for submerged operations. All terminations of the substation will also be suitable to work under submersion and will have touch-proof design technology.
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Nilesh Kane observed that while this will be the first underground substation for Tata Power in Mumbai, it is not the first for Tata Power as a group. In December 2021, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (Tata Power-DDL) commissioned what could be the first-of-its-kind submersible distribution transformer in the country, installed by any power utility.
This submersible power substation was commissioned by Tata Power-DDL in Gujranwala Town, New Delhi. In technical collaboration with Toshiba Transmission & Distribution Systems (India) Pvt Ltd, Tata Power DDL installed the 630KVA submersible transformer under the parking space of its substation building.
This substation is helping provide continuous and reliable power to key consumers during exigency, including consumers providing essential services.
Featured photograph shows a graphic representation of the underground substation of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd, also discussed in this story.