India Expands Work On Renewable Energy Transmission Network

India is progressing well along its ambitious renewable energy transmission network program. 

Power Grid Corporation of India has operationalised the second phase of the green corridor program, and has allocated a transmission project in Andhra Pradesh, while completing the tendering process for projects in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.

All these transmission projects will carry electricity generated from the ultra mega solar power projects set to be developed in these states. The auction of projects under the ultra mega solar power projects sector is yet to start, but all three states have already allocated several hundred megawatts of traditional solar power capacity through auctions under their respective state-wide solar power policies.

The first phase of the program is designed to allocate 33 GW of solar and wind power, while the second phase will cater to 22 GW capacity. The Indian government is planning to establish large-scale solar and wind power projects, including some hybrid power parks as well.

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has already identified over two dozen sites for setting up ultra mega solar power projects that will contribute around 20 GW of installed capacity. The main objective behind the green corridors program is the supply of renewable energy from states rich in such resources to states that are deficient, which will enable all states to meet the renewable energy purchase obligations notified by the government.

India aims to have a 15% share of renewable energy in total power consumption by 2022, including a 3% target specifically for solar power. While solar power resource are distributed nearly uniformly throughout the country, availability of land is a critical factor in the development of large-scale solar parks, and as a result, the installed solar power capacity is currently concentrated in one or two states only.