South Grid successfully synchronized with National Grid
According to a Press Release from the Ministry of Power on the eve of first day of new year 2014, the much awaited grid synchronization of south grid with National Grid has been successfully accomplished. This marks a major milestone in the history of Power Industry. With this. the long cherished dream of “One Nation One Grid” is now a reality.
With a single large grid operational in India, accommodating a huge power capacity of 232 GW, India’s national grid is one of the largest grid in the world. This step will largely benefit a power starved condition of the southern grid, which currently had inability to transmit surplus power to the national grid or draw power from national grid in case of power deficiency. A single grid bestows grid managers with even greater responsibility of efficient grid management. Lapses that caused grid failures in July last year, will now have fatal consequences, affecting the entire nation at once. On a brighter side, such synchronization, will further open up the power sector in India. The price discovery in short-term electricity markets will now witness a downward trend in southern region.
In achieving such a milestone, efforts of BHEL Limited are laudable, as it completed work on 765kV Raichur-Sholapur transmission link, months before schedule. A coverage by The Hindu, on this, can be read here.
In October 2013, CEA, through a letter had urged CERC to expeditiously switch to a new-narrowed frequency band, contemplating gird synchronization work to be finished in beginning of the new calender year. Our coverage on the same can be read here.
Relevant media reports can be read as below: