Key highlights and Speaker insights
Opening remarks:
Saurabh Kumar, Consulting Editor at The Economic Times, set the stage with a historical perspective on India’s power sector evolution. “From the first demonstration of light bulbs on the streets of Calcutta in 1879 to the power demand spike to 250 gigawatts last month, India’s journey has been remarkable,” he said.
Special address:
Hitesh Mundhada, Vice President of CTC Global, emphasised the critical moment in the power sector amid global energy transitions. “India has made significant investments to improve energy access, promote renewable energy adoption, modernise grid infrastructure, and support energy efficiency and rural electrification,” Mundhada stated.
Panel discussions:
The ‘Investment Opportunities and Vision for India’s Energy Transmission and Distribution Landscape’ was Moderated by Saurabh Kumar. The panel featured Dr. Aditya Prakash, IAS, Debajyoti Das, Manju Gupta, Rishika Sharan, S K Agarwal, and Stephen Fernandes. Kumar highlighted the extensive investment opportunities in the sector, valued at around $91.26 billion.
Debajyoti Das, Managing Director, Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited: “For Assam, strengthening the existing transmission system requires exploring additional funds, which are currently insufficient at the state government level.”Rishika Sharan, Chief Engineer & Member Secretary, National Power Committee, Central Electricity Authority: “Funding will come from both public and private sectors. Initiatives like the Power System Development Fund and schemes like RDSS are critical for reconductoring and new projects.”Dr. Aditya Prakash, Managing Director, Bihar State Power Transmission Company Limited: “In Bihar, our experience with reconducturing highlights the need to see the power system as a whole, upgrading grid substations and related infrastructure to accommodate increased power.”
Manju Gupta, Executive Director, Powergrid: “Powergrid can form JVs with state utilities to enhance transmission investments. New technologies and advanced planning are essential for optimising transmission lines and addressing sector challenges.”
S.K Agarwal, Senior Vice President, Apar Industries: “Manufacturers are ready and thriving, with ample production capacity to support national growth.”
Stephen Fernandes: “Goa relies heavily on central allocation, with transmission lines being our biggest challenge. Improving right-of-way policies is crucial.”
Following the panel discussion, a fireside chat took place on the topic ‘Pioneering Climate-Conscious Grid Modernisation,’ focusing on strategies for modernising grids to support renewable energy integration.
J.D Sitton, CEO, CTC Global: “In India, reconductoring projects are completed in 18 months or less, while similar projects in the US take five-seven years, and new line projects can take up to 10 years.”
Manish Agarwal, visionary industry leader: “The gestation period for transmission line projects in India has been reduced to two-three years, thanks to strong government support, policy changes, and coordination with state governments. In contrast, similar projects in the US, Europe, and Australia take eight-ten years.”
The last panel of the conclave focused on ‘Driving RE Integration: Overcoming Challenges and Harnessing Advanced Technologies’ was moderated by Girishkumar Kadam and featured Avinash Nimbalkar, B B Mehta, David Chiesa, Manish Shrivastava, Dan Millison, and Devanand Pallikuth.
Girish Kadam, Senior Vice President & Group Head, Corporate Sector ratings, ICRA Limited initiated the discussion by stating, “Currently, India’s renewable energy capacity stands at 145 gigawatts, with a target of 500 gigawatts by 2030. Due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy, strengthening transmission infrastructure at both interstate and intrastate levels is crucial. Today, we will discuss insights, challenges, and technological options to enhance our transmission network.”
B B Mehta, Director (SLDC & Operations), Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd: “Grid integration isn’t just about transferring power to the nearest station. The real challenge lies in managing intermittent and variable generation. Addressing this requires practice and effective modeling.”
Avinash Nimbalkar, Director Projects, Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company: “In Maharashtra, urbanisation limits new transmission line construction, making HTLS technology essential for replacing conductors and optimizing existing infrastructure.”
Manish Shrivastava, Senior Vice President, Sterlite Power: “Technology should be evaluated and acquired based on its value, not just its cost. Focusing solely on the cost can prevent the adoption of essential innovations. It’s crucial to consider the overall value and benefits that technology brings.”
David Chiesa, Vice President Global Sales and Business Development, CTC Global: “The aging US transmission system needs rapid upgrades to increase capacity, learning from India’s speed in implementation.”
Dan Millison, Consultant, Asian Development Bank: “Advanced conductors are crucial for integrating renewables. More solar and wind capacity necessitates increased storage and grid capacity.”
Devanand Pallikuth, Chief (Tech Services & PSCC), TATA Power: “Transmission players face two main challenges: right-of-way (ROW) issues and optimising transmission planning. To address this, we are using insulated cross-arms to eliminate clearance issues.”
The Transmission and Distribution Conclave highlighted the critical role of technology and innovation in the energy sector’s future. With insightful discussions and expert perspectives, the event provided a roadmap for advancing grid infrastructure, integrating renewable energy, and achieving sustainable energy goals. As businesses chart their path in transmission and distribution, the conclave’s insights will serve as a guiding light for future developments.
