From the integration of regional grids in 1992 to the achievement of ‘One Nation, One Grid, One Frequency,’ India’s transmission and distribution sector has evolved significantly. As the country’s global primary energy consumption share is projected to grow from 6% to 11% by 2040, the sector is embracing advanced technologies like smart grid, renewable energy integration, automation, energy management systems, Extra High Voltage (EHV) cables, High Tension-Low Sag (HTLS) conductors, subsea cables, OPGW etc. to ensure power efficiency, timely fault detection, and reducing operational losses. The growing emphasis on renewable energy integration and regional development signals a future that provides equitable, widespread, and sustainable energy access to the country, making it one of the leading nations in the power and energy sector.
As India closes in on a record-breaking year, complete with historical achievements, such as meeting an all-time peak power demand of 250 GW on May 30, 2024 to reducing energy shortages at the national level to a mere 0.1 percent, the third largest global consumer of energy looks forward to a promising future, banking on some of the largest innovations in energy generation, transmission and distribution, ensuring reliable, affordable and clean energy for all.
Government Initiative: National Electricity Plan
India intends to transform its power sector into a secure, adaptive, sustainable and digitally-enabled ecosystem that provides reliable and quality energy for all with active participation of stakeholders. The country estimates its peak electricity consumption to reach 458 GW by 2032. In order to meet this peak demand, as well as integrate 500 GW of Renewable Energy installed capacity by 2030 and over 600GW of RE installed capacity by 2032 into the grid, the Government of India has finalised the National Electricity Plan from 2023 to 2032 for both Central and State transmission systems, worth INR 9,15,000 crore.
As per NEP, more than 1,91,000 ckm of transmission lines and 1,270 GVA of transformation capacity will be added during the 10-year period from 2022-23 to 2031-32 (at 220 kV and above voltage level). In addition, the country intends to add nine HVDC bi-pole links of 33 GW capacity, along with upgradation of maximum operating voltage to 1200 kV AC. The country aims to increase its inter-regional transmission capacity to 143 GW by 2027 and further to 168GW by 2032, from the present level of 119 GW.
The transmission network of 335 GW will evacuate 280 GW of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) to the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) by 2030. Transmission schemes corresponding to 50.9 GW capacity have been approved with a total estimated cost of INR 60,676 crore.
For transitioning large industrial consumers currently participating in the energy efficiency reduction regime (Perform Achieve Trade Scheme) to a GHG emissions reduction regime, a framework for an Indian Carbon Market has been established. It will enable the pricing of GHG emissions reduction and the trading of carbon credit certificates. The government intends to operationalise the trading of certificates of mandatory sectors by October 2026 and of voluntary sectors by April 2026.
A new Central Financial Assistance (CFA) scheme has been approved to support the development of 15 GW of hydro capacity in the North Eastern States. Under this scheme, the central government will provide equity assistance of up to 24 percent of the project equity, with a maximum of INR 750 crore per project, to encourage participation from North Eastern States. This will facilitate investments and create significant direct employment opportunities for locals. The implementation period is from 2024-25 to 2031-32. The total cost is INR 4,136 crore.
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Need for T&D Upliftment
India’s global primary energy consumption share is expected to increase from 6% to 11% by 2040. The country’s demand for energy is expanding considerably due to increasing industrialization and population growth.
Power and energy demands are no longer confined to metropolitan areas, but are expanding to other remote regions.
The government’s vision to integrate over 500 GW of renewable energy into the smart grid by 2030, coupled with ongoing development in the Northeast and other remote regions underscores the potential of the T&D sector.
The energy resources like coal, hydro and renewable are unevenly distributed in India. Coal reserves are mainly available in the Central and Eastern part of the country, whereas hydro energy resources are primarily available in the Himalayan Range in the Northern and North-Eastern parts. Renewable resources like wind and solar potential are concentrated in states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat & Ladakh. The skewed distribution of resources necessitated development of a robust transmission and distribution system.
The country faces a plethora of power distribution challenges like insufficient infrastructure and electrification gaps, significant transmission and distribution losses, power theft, fluctuating demand and load management, and unequal integration of renewable energy. As a result of these issues, the energy industry is exploring new technologies to improve the grid’s efficiency, sustainability, and security.
The Evolution in T&D Sector
The transmission system plays an important role in supply of power to the consumers through the vital link between the generating stations and the distribution system. The growing emphasis on renewable energy and regional development signals a future that provides equitable, widespread, and sustainable energy access to the country, making it one of the leading nations in the power and energy sector.
The sector is embracing advanced technologies like smart grids, renewable energy integration, automation, energy management systems, Extra High Voltage (EHV) cables, High Tension-Low Sag (HTLS) conductors, subsea cables, OPGW etc. to ensure power transmission efficiency, timely fault detection, and reducing operational losses.
Smart Grid
With the intensification of global warming and fossil fuel supplies becoming scarcer, the national grid in India intends to restructure the energy system. Scientists and academics around the world grapple with issues like high transmission and distribution losses, short circuits, and frequent blackouts that are associated with conventional grids.
By implementing a smart grid, that is, an enhanced electric grid that incorporates renewable resources, communication technologies, and various sensors to make the grid more responsive, seems to be a potential answer to these challenges.
The smart grid is a turning point in the energy sector contributing to the system’s intelligence and ensuring a secure, scalable, and sustainable electric grid. It is capable of increased productivity, scalability, and security of transmission and distribution of energy and power, aiming to achieve higher societal and environmental goals.
Smart grid solutions contribute to reduction of T&D losses, peak load management, improved quality of service, increased reliability, better asset management, renewable integration and better accessibility to electricity.
Sterlite Technologies has come up with Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) technology that facilitates enhanced data capabilities and grid intelligence, ensuring reliable communication within the power infrastructure. The company has an existing manufacturing capacity of 22,000 kms for OPGW, with aim to continue investments in overall capacity expansion of the company in different innovative products , positioning themselves to meet the rising demand in the advanced transmission solutions.
SCADA
The distribution grids span hundreds of thousands of kilometres, providing a reliable system between all end points and the control centre. However, the flow of power in these transmission systems may vary from time to time (low and high voltage power transmission). Additionally, faults are only identified when consumers report an outage. Only after the reporting of the issue, the assigned staff identify and fix the issue.
However, this conventional model is transforming with time and the National Smart Grid Mission is modernizing the distribution grid with sophisticated automation and control capabilities. The grid features a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System, also known as SCADA.
This is a control system architecture comprising computers, networked data communications and graphical user interfaces for high-level supervision of machines and processes.
SCADA systems significantly enhance electrical distribution by enabling timely fault detection, preventing equipment damage, and reducing downtime through continuous remote monitoring and control. They improve service continuity by swiftly restoring power after faults and optimizing voltage profiles via automatic power factor correction and VAR control. SCADA also reduces labor costs by automating operations and meter readings while providing access to historical data for informed decision-making. These capabilities streamline operations, improve reliability, and lower overall costs.
Tata Power is among the first Indian discoms to adopt cutting-edge technologies like Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), smart grids, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and service reliability. Universal Cables too have installed its VCV lines with SCADA for online monitoring and control of dimensions and process parameters, to ensure quality product with consistent quality.
Energy Management Solution (EMS)
Energy management systems can efficiently increase the balance between supply and demand of power (electricity) while reducing peak load during unscheduled periods. The energy management system can handle distributing or exchanging energy among the many energy resources available and economically supplying loads in a stable, safe, and effective manner under all power grid operating situations.
The genuine and reliable transmission of electrical power is the main element for a nation’s economy. As the world today is switching to renewable energy sources (RESs), replacing traditional fuel and integrating battery energy storage systems (BESSs) or energy storage systems (ESSs) into the current network has become a vital transformation, addressing the exponential growth of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
In the smart grid, energy management guarantees supply and demand balance while adhering to all system restrictions for cost-effective, dependable, and safe electrical system operation. It ensures energy optimization, and reduces power generation costs by grouping all systematic procedures, the EMS maintains and reduces the quantity and price of energy required for a particular application to the lowest.
Battery Energy Storage System
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are an essential element to maximize the impact of microgrids using the transformative power of energy storage. By decoupling production and consumption, BESS allows the use of energy whenever and wherever it is most needed. It is an essential element to speeding up the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy. Battery energy storage systems play an increasingly pivotal role between green energy supplies and responding to electricity demands.
Energy generated from renewable sources is not constant. There are peaks and troughs of energy supply and managing it is a much more challenging task. The ability to capture this energy and purposefully deploy it can increase the value of this clean energy; by increasing production and potentially reducing costs.
Intelligent battery software uses algorithms to coordinate energy production and computerised control systems are used to decide when to store energy or to release it to the grid. Energy is released from the battery storage system during times of peak demand, keeping costs down and electricity flowing.
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Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) has also revolutionized grid management by enabling predictive maintenance, optimizing operations, and enhancing asset management. These technologies can process vast amounts of real-time data from sensors and grid infrastructure, predict failures, detect anomalies, and improve decision-making. Additionally, AI and ML can forecast energy demand patterns, ensuring smarter grid planning and resource allocation.
Tata Power-DDL is one Indian manufacturer that has pioneered the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for energy system modelling and forecasting in 2021, setting new benchmarks for predictive analytics and decision-making in the power sector.
The Role of Cables
A significant evolution in the transmission and distribution sector is the Extra High Voltage (EHV) cables. These cables are engineered with advanced materials and innovative designs, ensuring superior electrical performance, lower transmission losses, and high thermal stability. The use of water-blocking compounds, low smoke zero halogen compounds, water-soluble tapes, improved conductor compactness, and corrosion-resistant materials enhances product performance.
Indian wire and cable manufacturers are coming up with innovative products to further strengthen the transmission and distribution of power and energy in India for efficient and reliable transmission over long-distance.
KEI Industries specializes in EHV cables ranging from 1.1 kV to 400kV. These cables are designed for efficient and reliable power transmission over long distances, catering to the demands of urbanization and industrialization. In recent years, KEI Industries has secured several prestigious orders for their EHV cables including metro rail projects, smart city initiatives, supplier for the new Parliament building and Jewar airport projects, all showcasing the company’s demand to meet the demands of high-stakes projects.
Universal Cables have championed the EHV XLPE cable in India using the most updated Vertical Continuous Vulcanization (VCV) technology. These cables ensure perfect concentricity, and longitudinal stability of insulation desired for cable quality and long service performance. Universal Cables is also the first company in India to install VCV lines. The company also offers higher copper cross section EHV cables which further enhance the current carrying capacity of cables.
Dynamic Cables too has introduced XLPE cables that have high thermal efficiency that transmit high voltage supply while minimizing energy losses. Further, their EHV cables and conductors are designed for a lifespan of 30–40 years, depending on operating conditions and maintenance practices.
APAR has developed ultra-high strength aluminium clad steel wires that offer superior durability, ensuring optimal performance under high loads and improving line reliability.
High Performance Conductors
High-performance conductors (HPCs) are transforming the T&D sector by enhancing transmission capacity, reducing line sag, and minimizing energy losses. These advanced conductors not only improve grid efficiency but also support the transition to a greener, more sustainable power system. These conductors easily integrate renewable energy assets at a faster rate and at a lesser cost as compared to traditional conductors.
In India and globally, many T&D companies are coming up with high-performance conductors that offer a cost-effective solution for upgrading existing transmission networks, eliminating power transmission constraints while significantly lowering emissions and environmental impact.
CTC Global has come up with ACCC conductors that have become an industry standard due to its exceptional thermal stability, energy efficiency and mechanical strength. One of the fundamental characteristics of the ACCC conductor is that they can be quickly deployed on existing towers and roughly doubles the capacity of the given circuit.
APAR has developed advanced HTLS conductors, as well as twisted pair conductors, ideal for specialized applications, providing reliable and durable solutions for high tensions and specific environmental conditions, thereby reducing line cost by permitting lower sag or longer span. The company has developed advanced conductor design like POWR-ZAD which features Z-shaped interlocked wires. It provides superior aerodynamics and reliability, preventing power line collapse during extreme weather conditions.
Dynamic Cables have come up with next-generation HTLS conductors with advanced composite cores for higher current carrying capacities and reduced sag. These conductors enable higher power transmission without requiring new infrastructure, significantly reducing capital expenditure.
Emergence of Subsea Cables in India
There has been an emergence of subsea cable technology in India. On June 19, 2023, TRAI issued the recommendations on ‘Licensing Framework and Regulatory Mechanism for Submarine Cable Landing in India’, recommending two categories of Cable Landing Station (CLS) locations – (a) Main CLS and (b) CLS Point of Presence (CLS-PoPs).
NEC India has successfully completed the flagship optical submarine cable system connecting Chennai and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N Islands) for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a Government of India Enterprise.
Spanning approximately 2,300km with 100Gb/s optical waves, the cable system connects Chennai to Port Blair and the islands of Havelock, Little Andaman (Hutbay), Car Nicobar, Kamorta, the Great Nicobar Islands, Long Island and Rangat.
India has undertaken several other significant projects to enhance its global connectivity. Meta has chosen the country as a key location for the 2Africa subsea cable, which will land at a Cable Landing Station (CLS) in Mumbai. In addition, Reliance Jio is supporting the IAX and IEX subsea cables, which are part of global efforts to improve the country’s connectivity across regions. India’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean has made it a key player in the expansion of submarine cable infrastructure.
The country has made the initial move in the segment, there is still a long way to go. Although NEC has established the first domestic optical submarine cable system, the subsea cable for power transmission is still a distant dream.
Moreover, for India to take a leading role in global submarine cable network connectivity and resilience, a regional approach is needed. Such an approach would consider bolstering India’s indigenous cable manufacturing capacity, considering seabed geopolitical incident responses and investing in Indian Ocean connectivity.
To strengthen its submarine cable security, it needs to extend beyond infrastructure maintenance and repair, and should consider indigenizing its submarine cable manufacturing and supply chain, which currently relies on foreign suppliers. This move toward domestic manufacturing will not only enhance India’s self-reliance but will also mitigate risks associated with supply chain disruptions and foreign influence.
Additionally, India needs to develop a strategy to secure its submarine cables in the face of a seabed geopolitical crisis. This includes increasing monitoring and sensing of critical cable routes, enhancing maritime defence capabilities that will play a key role in the development and long-term sustenance of this segment.
As India’s submarine cable infrastructure continues to expand, addressing the challenges of repair capacity, landing station diversification, and domestic cable connectivity is critical for its 360-degree success.
International Companies Eyeing Indian T&D Market
India’s transmission and distribution (T&D) sector holds immense growth potential but faces a gap in innovative technologies. Recognizing this opportunity, several global companies are entering the Indian market, introducing advanced, localized solutions that enhance efficiency and performance. Government initiatives like the National Electricity Plan (NEP) and the rising power demand are further driving this expansion, making India an increasingly attractive destination for international players in the sector.
LAPP is one such company that is making its way into the Indian market. The steady growth of India’s GDP and the growing investments in the automotive sector, which have led to an increase in wire and cable demand, have turned LAPP’s focus to India. The company is setting its Bhopal unit as the single largest manufacturing facility for LAPP globally.
Further, LAPP is focusing on putting the right kind of manufacturing and engineering capabilities in place, including investments in new capacities. It aims to increase the amount of Indian-manufactured products owing to the Make-in-India campaign and work on value-added strategies, focusing on the sustainability paradigm—not just in terms of its products but also its operations.
Maillefer Extrusion, which centralizes 80 percent of its R&D around digitization and AI, observes that India is making huge investments in its T&D sector, building infrastructure for renewable energy. The company is in intensive discussion with Indian customers for new production lines in the sector and bringing technology to India that makes this integration process much easier and secure.
They have topography scanner technologies that can map the cable surface and can capture 360-degree images for regulatory checks and possible problems in the wire and cable segments. This technology can immediately detect problems, and corrective actions can be taken instantly rather than long delayed responses.
The Way Forward
As India intends to transform its power sector into a secure, adaptive, sustainable, and digitally-enabled ecosystem that provides reliable and quality energy for all, the transmission and distribution segment in the country is set for a boom with stupendous growth in the coming years, with wire, cable conductors, and technology manufacturers playing an important role in taking the industry on an upward trajectory.
According to a report by Jefferies, the power generation and transmission sectors of India are projected to rise 2.2 times during the period between FY24 and FY30, compared to FY17-23. The report expects annual power consumption growth of more than 7 percent and estimates capacity additions to rise significantly, especially in thermal power, where the annual addition rate is set to increase to 17 GW from the current 2.5 GW. Moreover, the annual capacity addition for renewables is expected to rise 3.5 times between FY24 and FY27, as compared to FY10-20.
With several transmission schemes under construction, bidding or in pipeline, the T&D sector provides the investors a massive investment opportunity of over INR 9,15,000 crore in the transmission sector till 2032.
One of the emerging sectors with great future potential is the submarine cable segment. Around 99 percent of the world’s trans oceanic international digital communications today transit through the global submarine cable networks. These undersea submarine cables are the backbone of today’s fast-paced global economy.
As per the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), during 2017-2021, submarine fiber design capacity on major routes increased at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.2 percent, including upgrades and a new system build. The global submarine communication cables market size is expected to reach USD 40.58 billion in 2028, registering a CAGR of 7.2 percent. India is set to register the highest growth in the Asia Pacific submarine cables industry, with the market size expected to reach USD 78.6 million by 2030.
Another sector boasting of sustainable growth over the past few years is the High Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) conductors. As per experts, India is one of the leading markets for HTLS conductors. The demand is rising globally due to installation of renewables and the refurbishment of aging grids.
India’s transmission and distribution (T&D) sector holds significant potential, driven by continuous innovation and infrastructure upgrades. With a strong focus on modernization and self-sufficiency, the country is enhancing its power capabilities to meet growing demand. Government initiatives, technological advancements, and increasing investments are propelling India toward more resilient and efficient power grid solutions, ensuring long-term energy security and sustainability in the country.
The country estimates its peak electricity consumption to reach 458 GW, and integrate 600 GW of Renewable Energy capacity by 2032. India’s global primary energy consumption share is expected to increase from 6% to 11% by 2040.
