Raidurg Substation
Electricity has become one of the most essential needs of human beings. According to the government agency, NITI Aayog, India ranks third in power generation and fourth in power consumption. There is no doubt that the electricity demand will continue to rise due to the increasing urbanization and industrialization in the country.
The MEIL is driving away the darkness and lights up people’s lives. The company is paving the way for development with cutting-edge technology. It is making its mark in the sector by introducing modern technology.
Earlier electricity was needed only after sunset. However, today, it is needed round-the-clock. Electricity is needed for everything, starting from domestic needs to industrial needs, and now even for vehicles. With an increase in the use of power, there is a huge responsibility on the distribution companies to strengthen their transmission systems.
A substation is the heart of a power distribution system. These can range in capacity from 32 kV to 400 kV or 765 kV, depending on the requirements of the end-user. Huge transmission towers are set up to connect substations to power grids. A common 400 kV substation would require nearly 80 acres to be acquired for being constructed. However, it is difficult to find and utilize such a place in a metropolis like Hyderabad. Due to this, the problem of meeting the electricity requirement arises.
To avoid the problem of land acquisition, the MEIL has adopted the advanced technology of a Gas-Insulated Substation (GIS) in Raidurg, Hyderabad. The company is setting up a 400 kV GIS on just five acres. The MEIL executed this unique GIS project for TS Transco. It is the first substation in Hyderabad to be built with the GIS technology.
Conventional substations are called Air-Insulated Substations (AIS). The conductors need to be placed at a distance of a few meters to avoid a short circuit. Whereas, in a GIS, the distance between the conductors is only a few centimeters, due to the eco-friendly SF6 gas, used as an insulator. A GIS is highly advantageous where there is a land constraint. Compared to an AIS, it is very reliable and requires little maintenance.
For transmission of electricity, generally, huge conventional 400-kV towers, called lattice towers, going up to a height of 60 meters, are used. These towers can be set up on clear landscapes only. The Raidurg project is in the heart of the city, where lattice towers cannot be erected. The MEIL built distinct 400-kV monopoles exclusively for the Raidurg GIS project. Though the monopoles also are 60 meters high, the bottom width is only 2.3 meters wide, reducing the need for huge tracts of land, thereby avoiding acquisition. In addition, the monopoles weigh 6.7 percent less than the traditional lattice towers.
Project Status: Completed