Major Projects-TransGrid

Green Energy Corridor

As part of national Electricity Policy of GoI with an objective for development and promotion of non-conventional/ eco-friendly renewable energy resources for contributing to self sufficiency of power in future, Govt of Kerala has formulated policies and is being taken support measures to encourage direct investment in this sector including financial incentives. Accordingly, KSEBL has identified certain projects in Idukki, Palakkad and Kasaragod districts to harness the green energy through solar and wind resources. The regions of Attappady in Palakkad district and Ramakkalmedu in Idukki district, boast untapped green power potential of about 1050 MW, including 300 MW of wind power, 750 MW of solar power and various small hydro resources. In Kasaragod District, 50 MW solar plants each at Ambalathara and Paivalika (100 MW) are already in operation owned and operated by Renewable Power Corporation of Kerala Limited (RPCKL), a Special Purpose Vehicle formed by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and KSEBL. RPCKL has also identified about 1080 acres of barren land in Kasaragod district for setting up new solar projects. Based on GoI initiative to bringing up GE power to National Grid and for hassle free transmission, KSEBL has proposed three GEC projects named as North Green Energy Corridor (NGC) project, Attappady Green Energy Corridor (AGC) project and Ramakkalmedu Green Energy Corridor (RGC) project, to develop the transmission infrastructure in the aforesaid districts to flawlessly transporting power with minimum loss

1) North Green Corridor project (Rs. 911.80 Cr.) - Proposed as a power highway connecting Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad districts and then to Mysore/ Areekode (Kozhikode)/ Madakkathara (HVDC Thrissur) through the existing 400 kV lines, which will provide access to South Kerala. The project consists of the following :

i) Construction of a 400kV GIS Substation at Payyampally, Wayanad as LILO to existing 400kV Mysore - Areekode line.

ii) Construction of 125 km, 400 kV DC Twin HPC - ACSS (Quad Moose equivalent) line from 400 kV Substation at Payyampally, Wayanad to 400 kV Substation at Karindalam, Kasaragod

iii) Construction of 5.25 km 220 kV Multi Circuit line for making LILO arrangement of existing Kaniyampetta - Kadakola line to 400 kV Substation, Payyampally

2) Attappady Green Corridor project (Rs. 311.11 Cr.) - Attappady region of Palakkad district is energy rich and has an untapped green power potential of about 600 MW. M/s NHPC is setting setting up a 72 MW wind power project in this area and has already micro sited many windmill sites. Attappady Green Corridor project envisages the construction of a reliable power transmission corridor capable of transporting up to 200 MW of green power from the Attappady region to grid. This project consists of the following:

 i) Construction of 33/220 kV step up substation (GIS) at Agali

ii)  220/110 kV GIS Substation at Mannarkkad 

iii) Construction of 220 kV DC line from Vettathur tap point (as LILO to Madakkathara – Elankur 220kV feeder) to 220 kV Mannarkkad GIS substation and construction of 220 kV DC feeder from 220 kV Mannarkkad GIS Substation to 220 kV Kottathara substation 

3) Ramakkalmedu Green Corridor (Rs. 234.64 Cr.) – The Ramakkalmedu area in Idukki district has an untapped wind potential of around 100 MW and solar potential of about 350 MW, which makes the area ideal for hybrid generation ensuring power output uniformly throughout the year. The Ramakkalmedu Green Corridor project aims at constructing a reliable power transmission corridor capable of transferring the RE power from Ramakkalmedu/ Kattappana/ Vazhathope areas to Kuyilimala (proposed LILO location of 220 kV  Idukki - Pallivasal Single Circuit feeder) with minimum loss. The project has the following:

 i. Construction of 220/110 kV GIS at Niramla City as LILO to Idukki – Pallivasal 220kV feeder

 ii. Construction of 20 km, 220/110 kV MCMV line (upgradation) from Nirmala City (near Kattappana) to Kuyilimala LILO point and 5 km, 110 kV DC line from Nirmala City to Kattappana along the right of way of existing 66 kV SC line.

iii. Construction of 33/110 kV Step up substation (GIS) at Anakkaramedu (near Ramakkalmedu)

iv. Construction of 9 km, 110 kV DC line from Anakkaramedu to Nedumkandam Substation

v. Construction of 2 Nos 110 kV feeder bays at Nedumkandam and Vazhathope Substations

 

Kottayam 400kV GIS Substation is the first 400kV substation built-in GIS technology which significantly reduces the maintenance costs and disruptions, by installing two nos 220/100 KV, 315MVA transformers, meeting the power requirement of Ernakulam district as well as ensuring uninterrupted future power supply in Kottayam and Alappuzha districts, under Transgrid project. The substation requires only about 40% space requirement compared to the existing 400kV AIS substation. The project is intended to bring power from the Koodamkulam project to Central Kerala through the 400kV Tirunelveli - Kochi inter-state transmission line. On implementation of this substation, it is possible to utilize the power from the 2000MW HVDC Station, Madakattara economically and efficiently. With the establishment of the Kottayam 400kV substation and associated projects, the annual transmission loss will be reduced by approximately 119.65 million units.

220kV GIS Substations at Pathanamthitta and Kakkad are ongoing under Transgrid.

220kV Substation at Pathanamtitta

To eliminate the bottlenecks in power evacuation in the second largest Hydro Power Station in Kerala, the Sabarigiri with an installed capacity of 340 MW, the generation potential of this Power Station is not at all available in the Pathanamthitta district, a 220kV Substation at Pathanamthitta (220/110kV, 1x100MVA) with connectivity to Sabarigiri-Edamon line and 220kV Substation Edappon, is proposed to strengthen the supply position both in terms of availability and reliability in and around Pathanamthitta especially the pilgrim center, Sabarimala.

220kV Substation at Kakkad

Power generated from the Kakkad powerhouse (50MW) owned by KSEBL, Ullumkal (7 MW), Karikkayam (15 MW), and Maniyar (12 MW) of captive power producers, is evacuated to the grid through the 110kV Kakkad – Pathanamthitta feeder and further to Edappon 220kV substation through 110 kV Edappon – Pathanamthitta feeder. Any interruption from Edappon to Kakkad via Pathanamthitta would lead to the shutting down of all the stations in the Kakkad belt, and the idling of 84 MW hydel power. Hence to provide an alternate route for power evacuation for the Kakkad belt and to ensure power stability in the Pathanamthitta District, a 220kV substation at Seethathode adjacent to the Kakkad Power House is envisaged.