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A TRIUMPH FOR INDIAN INNOVATION : THE
1200 KV UHVAC POWER SYSTEM

IEEMA while clearly enthused by the huge august gathering stated that
the initiation of 1200 kV AC technology was the tipping point in the Indian
Transmission Technology. IEEMA, whose 25 members formed the bulk
total 35 participants actively involved in the project. According to IEEMA
"more such research and development initiatives are required in the
country, this initiative also offers a huge opportunity to the domestic
manufacturers to upgrade to 1200kV level and opens up the huge global
markets for such exports".
India's power system is poised for accelerated growth. Peak demand in
India is expected to increase to more than 500,000 MW by 2027 for which
installed generation capacity of about 700,000MW is required. Obviously,
electricity generated needs to be evacuated, transmitted & distributed
efficiently. Development of large transmission network for transfer of bulk
power over long distances poses various challenges including
environmental & technical, particularly in a country like India where
additional challenges like Right-of-Way (ROW), Environmental aspects
etc.too are thrown up. RoW today is a critical constraint, given the
reluctance of the landowners to part with their land. Further, majority of
the power is generated in the north eastern region of India while the
demand centers are primarily located in the more industrialized western,
southern and central regions, this situation is however changing slowly

with the planning & implementation of Ultra Mega power projects (UMPP)
across the country and near to coastal areas.

All these challenges with manifold increase of power transfer

requirement necessitate quantum jump in transmission voltage level.
The existing 400kV line can transfer about 600MW power whereas 800kV
line has loading capacity of 1200MW-2400MW. The transmission capacity
of 1200kV is between 6000 MW to 8000 MW and hence a much needed
solution for meeting above challenges. To meet the long-term power
transfer requirement, a large transmission network is being planned in
India interconnecting all the pocketed generating resources.
Taking into consideration the increased power transfer requirement to
meet the above challenges, an alternative 1200 kV AC transmission
system between various regions is also being explored. In a first such
initiative in the country, 35 manufacturers have joined hands with
Powergrid to establish a 1200kV UHV AC Test Station at Bina, Madhya
Pradesh, to initiate development of 1200kV transmission equipment
indigenously.
The test line is being constructed with two 1200kV test bays in which the
leading manufacturers are providing main equipments such as
transformers, surge arresters, circuit breakers, instrument transformers
and transmission line hardware and accessories. These test bays and test
line shall be used for various field tests/ trials so that the results and
feedback can be used for developing field proven equipment as well as to
gain initial operational experience. Powergrid is likely to construct 1200 kV
Transmission Lines between Wardha and Aurangabad to usher in 1200 kV
era in the country.
The test bays and the test line shall be used by the manufacturers and
Powergrid for various field tests so that the results and feedback can be
used for developing the proven equipment of 1200kV system in India as
well as gain initial operational experience. The test station is likely to be
commissioned in early 2011. This endeavor shall benefit the Indian Power

sector and manufacturers as availability of 1200kV class equipment within

the country will enable optimization of transmission cost and also help
during the operation and maintenance phase.

India is starved for electricity despite the Indian power system's

present installed capacity of about 162,000 MW. Demand for electricity is
growing at an accelerated pace. Peak demand is expected to increase to
more than 500,000 MW by 2027 for which installed capacity of about
700,000MW is required. To meet the growing demand, the government is
actively working on increasing generation capacity and encouraging new
investments in the sector especially through private participation through
Single window clearances for UMPPs - faster land acquisition &
environmental clearances etc, zero customs duty for project imports. This
is one part of the story.
The other part of the story is that electricity generated also needs to be
efficiently transferred over large distances and with minimum losses..
India being a large country the distances involved are quite long,
particularly when the bulk of the power is generated by the pocketed
generating resources in Eastern, North-eastern Regions and consumed in
the with bulk load centers in the other regions. To interconnect these
effectively and meet the long-term power transfer requirement, a large
transmission network is being planned in India. However it is faced with
many challenges like increased transmission losses, large short circuit
requirements, Right-of-Way(RoW) and resultant environmental issues.
Hence urgent solutions are needed to overcome these challenges.
After conducting extensive studies and in the given circumstances the
Indian transmission utility, Powergrid felt that a1200kV transmission line
would be the most apt for transfer of bulk power efficiently. The electricity
transmission capacity of 1200kV system is between 6000 MW to 8000 MW
- which is about twice as that of the 765kV system and is about 6 times
that of the currently widely used 400kV system.
To elaborate further, the existing 400kV lines on an average can transfer
about 600MW power whereas 800kV lines have loading capacity of
1200MW-2400MW. However, As already mentioned higher Transmission
voltage, has its own problems like requirement of wider transmission
corridors (Right-of-Way or ROW), bigger & higher towers, resulting
environmental impact due to larger use of space etc Increase in short
circuit level, reduction of losses etc.

We can get an idea about the Voltage vis--vis Right-of-Way requirements

from the table 1.1 below You will note that higher transmission voltages
increase the space required for creating a transmission corridor by almost
100% thereby increasing costs incurred in acquiring land (if it is first
available) & the resultant environmental impact but at the same time it
also enables bulk power transfer. 1200kV UHVAC system could the
panacea for our power transfer issues. So what are the other countries
doing? Let's checkout the scenario in ultra high voltage bulk transfer
systems elsewhere;

The First 1200 kV system was field tested & commissioned in USSR
in 1985 after 12 years of research, however it was unfortunately
discontinued after disintegration of USSR.
Japan started developmental work of 1000 kV UHV system in 1978.
Japan has also developed 1100kV test station which is in service
since 1993. Developmental tests are still continuing.
As usual China a late starter is catching up very fast. China started
their 1100 kV UHV system developmental work very recently i.e. in
2005. In January 2009, 1100kV transmission project was constructed
in China. Three (03) Numbers 1100kV Transmission Stations have
been constructed and are in operation almost for a year. Further
additional 1100kV Transmission project are under planning and
design stage in China for bulk transfer of power.
Other countries like USA and Brazil are also considering
development of UHV AC transmission system in their network.

Powergrid embarked on a historical journey and decided to set up a

1200kV National Test Station at Bina in Madhya Pradesh. Powergrid
although boldly opting for a 1200 kV UHVAC system faced a major
challenge - Lack of proven 1200kV technology, since even globally there is
very little experience on successful use of 1200kV technology. The
solution was to develop the technology indigenously which will also be
advantageous to the nation in the long term.

Powergrid decided to capitalize on the manufacturing and technology

skills of the mature Indian electrical equipment manufacturers and
decided to develop the required equipment with indigenous technology in
collaboration with CEA, CPRI, IEEMA and other equipment manufacturers.
(The Indian electrical industry over the last 6 decades has evolved into a
mature industry and acquired the necessary skills & technology to sustain
itself in the long term). In fact today we can proudly say that 95% of all
the equipment in India is of Indian make.
An initial corpus of Rs 100 crores was set aside to start the Test Station
initiative in 2007 with a final cost of about Rs 800 crores.
Establishment of 1200kV UHVAC Test Station at Bina (WR) - entails;

Construction of 2 nos. 1200kV Bays and 2 nos. 400kV bays along

with 2 nos. 1200/400/33kV 333MVA Transformers.
Construction of two nos. 1200kV Test Lines of one km length (one
single circuit and one double circuit)
Setting up of Test facilities

A Project Steering Committee under the leadership of Powergrid and

comprising of representative from Central Electrical Authority, electrical
equipment manufacturers, CPRI and IEEMA in 2007 was formed. Since
then 13 formal interactions have taken place, 33 leading electrical
equipment manufacturers have entered into MoU with Powergrid and have
got actively involved in this pioneering R & D project. With indigenous R &

D and innovations the manufacturers have succeeded in the design,

development, testing etc of the main 1200kV equipment like
Transformers, Surge Arresters, Circuit Breakers, Instrument Transformers,
Transmission Line hardware and accessories etc.
Insulation Co-ordination was the biggest challenge for selection of
technical parameters of various equipments like Surge Arrestors,
Transformers, Circuit Breakers, and Instrument Transformers etc. The
project is scheduled to be commissioned by end December 2010 and
slated to create history.
Once commissioned, these test bays and test line shall be used for various
field tests/ trials so that the results and feedback can be used for
developing field proven equipment as well as to gain initial operational
experience. POWERGRID is planning to construct the first 1200kV
Transmission Lines between Wardha & Aurangabad (Line length 400 kM,
Rs 800 Crores to usher in 1200kV era in the country.
More projects will follow based on the success of Test Station
In conclusion this Indigenous R & D effort in addition to providing help to
develop an efficient bulk UHVAC power transfer system in India will also
lead to;

Indigenous availability of equipment & proven technology

Optimization of cost
Ease of service.
Opportunity for Indian Manufacturers to become global leaders in
UHVAC technology.

1200kV transmission system initiative will help in the large scale efficient
evacuation of power in the 11th and 12th Plan period. The 1200kV system
is a step towards overcoming the challenges in the sector such as Right of
Way, environmental considerations, optimization of cost, faster project
implementation, co-ordinated development of transmission corridor
together with other infrastructure, transmission capacity enhancement
through upgrading, reduction of losses and integration of emerging
technologies. All in all a Win Win situation for all involved in the project.