Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Corporation Limited (APEPDCL) is laying special focus on its ongoing project of constructing indoor substations, post-Hudhud.
The project has been there for the last few years, but post-Hudhud the emphasis has increased, primarily due to the reason that they are all-weather installations, according to Chief General Manager of APEPDCL (projects) V. Vijaya Lalita.
So far the Discom has constructed 12 indoor substations of 33 kv capacity across the city and another nine are in the pipeline. It has been targeted to complete the nine in the next two years.
Talking about the efficacies of indoor substations, the CGM said, “They are not only all-weather installations, but require less amount of land, will reduce the load in the existing outdoor substations and serve as an alternative supply source in times of emergency. And essentially the technology is modern,” she said.
In general, an outdoor substation requires at least 45/35 sq mts of land, whereas an indoor one can be accommodated in just 20/15 sq mts of land. While the cost for constructing an outdoor one, which is prone to vagaries of nature, is about Rs. 1.5 crore, an indoor one will cost about Rs. 2.5 crore.
In the city as of now there are 62 substations of 33 kv (including the 12 indoor ones), seven 132 kv and three 220 kv.
While the outdoor ones will continue to exist, the indoor substations are likely to get phased out in the long run.
Cabling project
According to Ms. Vijaya Lalitha, the indoor sub-stations will also aid the Discom in the upcoming underground cabling project.
As of now PFC (Power Finance Corporation) has been told to prepare a DPR for the World Bank-funded underground cabling project and the report is expected in a couple of months.
