Hitachi ABB Power Grids, BHEL Commission one of India’s Longest UHVDC Transmission Links for PGCIL

Hitachi ABB Power Grids in India in consortium with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has successfully commissioned one of India’s longest ultra-high voltage direct current (UHVDC) transmission links for Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL).

In 2016, the consortium of Hitachi ABB Power Grids and BHEL won the order from PGCIL.

Further, Hitachi ABB Power Grids has been responsible for delivering the UHVDC converter stations, including design, engineering, construction, installation, and commissioning, as well as major equipment, including 800 kV converter transformers, converter valves, high-voltage products and control and protection technology.

The +/-800 kV, 6,000 MW link has the capacity to meet the electricity needs of over 80 million people and stretches 1,800 kms to connect Raigarh in Central India to Pugalur in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

Thus, reliable power can now be transmitted in either direction depending on demand, with exceptionally low power losses and minimal environmental footprint, the company said in a statement.

It further added that the company worked with the customer, government agencies, local authorities and suppliers to deliver the link during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Responsible project execution with health and safety at the forefront were key to this achievement.

Commenting on the project, N Venu, Managing Director and CEO of Hitachi ABB Power Grids in India, said “with the commissioning of this groundbreaking UHVDC link, we have kept our promise to enable more clean and reliable power for millions of people, helping to build a future where electricity will be the backbone of the entire energy system. During the entire project, the health and safety of our customers, employees and partners remained our top priority.”

The link strengthens grid resilience and stabilizes the power infrastructure by combining traditional and renewable power generation. It enables further development and integration of sustainable energy, supporting the government’s goal of reaching 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030.

Using HVDC helps to conserve the environment by only occupying about one-third of the land compared to a traditional AC link. 

In this case, that amounts to a saving of approx 130 square kilometers – equal to a quarter of the area of Mumbai.

Hitachi ABB Power Grids has an impressive HVDC track record in India. Raigarh-Pugalur is the company’s 6th HVDC project in India and the 2nd UHVDC installation, following the multi-terminal North-East Agra link.