INDIA IS IN THE NEXT PHASE OF TRANSMISSION AND SUBSTATION GROWTH

India's power grid is in the middle of a major upgrade, transmission corridors are being expanded, substations are going digital, and utilities are adopting smarter control systems, all with the single goal of ensuring reliable and efficient power delivery for growing India.

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Amajor overhaul is taking place in the transmission and distribution network.

This is being done in the wake of meeting peak power demand, along with the capacity expansion in the electricity flow. Transmission lines are being strengthened, substations modernised, and distribution networks upgraded through smart technologies such as SCADA systems, predictive maintenance, and automation. These improvements aim to ensure a reliable electricity supply, especially given the variability introduced by the high penetration of renewable energy sources, which now account for half of India's installed capacity. The T&D sector experts are optimistic about this overhaul, which could lead to a balanced electricity flow and make India a power hub.

T&D infrastructure

The renewable energy capacity is surging rapidly, and the transmission and distribution (T&D) network is undergoing a fundamental transformation to maintain stability and reliability. The integration of intermittent sources such as solar and wind has introduced new challenges in balancing supply and demand across the grid.

Kurang Panchal, Managing Director- Rajesh Power Services Limited, explains, “Renewable energy creates fluctuations in power generation, challenging grid stability. Utilities are responding by adopting stronger system designs, real-time monitoring tools, predictive fault analysis, substation automation, and load-balancing solutions.” He adds that utilities are increasingly deploying Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at critical points in the network to buffer these fluctuations and support protection mechanisms. Maintenance, too, has evolved from reactive to predictive. “Practices now focus more on anticipating issues, allowing quick detection and repair of faults, thus preventing disruptions from changes in solar and wind generation,” he notes.