The AP-Transco is gearing up to construct a green corridor in the next couple of years for evacuating the solar and wind energy being generated in the Rayalaseema region at a cost of ₹1,000 crore.
It is going to raise the funds – ₹400 crore (loan) from German development bank KfW and a grant for an equal amount from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy – by March 2019, and the remaining is to be chipped in by the State government. AP-Transco Joint Managing Director (finance and commercial) Dinesh Paruchuri told The Hindu that the project comprises one 400 kV and three 220 kV substations and connected lines measuring 836 circuit kilometres (400 kV – 252 CKM, 220 kV – 536 CKM and 132 kV – 48 CKM).
Two packages worth approximately ₹560 crore have already been awarded.
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‘Attractive proposition’
“With this, we will have no network constraints, which makes the setting up of solar and wind projects in the State an attractive proposition for renewable energy companies.
It is because we are among the first movers in the country, as far as realising the potential of the solar and wind energies is concerned. Only two-three States have such corridors as on date,” Mr. Paruchuri observed, asserting that even if the renewable energy projects did not take off on the expected scale in future, the investment was worthwhile as the system would be strengthened.
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Meanwhile, the AP-Transco is preparing to shift about 100 transmission towers in the capital region to the riverfront to facilitate construction of the government office and residential complexes.
The cabling in these areas will be underground as the government has decided to create the infrastructure that can withstand natural calamities such as cyclone Hudhud.
Micro grids
Mr. Paruchuri said priority was given to construction of micro grids as part of the 2nd generation of electricity reforms. A beginning has been made in Visakhapatnam district, where a 5 MW solar plant is under implementation by Greenko Group. It will be an integrated facility consisting of generation, storage, and consumption.