MODERNISATION OF EHV SUBSTATION IN URBAN AREAS THROUGH INNOVATIVE BUSINESS MODELS

POWER SUBSTATION
An Extra High Voltage (EHV) Substation receives electricity from generating station via transmission lines
and sends out power at lower voltage through outgoing high voltage/medium voltage lines. Substations
are integral parts of a power system and form important links between the generating stations,
transmission systems, distribution systems and the load points. EHV substation basically consists of:
Incoming feeders
Outgoing feeders
Transformers
Reactors
Circuit Breakers along with associated equipment for each of the line bays (incoming and
outgoing), transformer bays and reactor bays
Relay & Protection system
Control Room
CURRENT SCENARIO
As of September 2013, the number of substations of different capacities is as mentioned below:
220kV (Capacity MW/MVA)
At the end of 220 kV
Central State JV/Private Total
6
th
Plan 500 36791 0 37291
7
th
plan 1881 51861 0 53742
8
th
plan 2566 81611 0 84177
9
th
plan 2866 113497 0 116363
10
th
plan 4276 152221 0 156497
11
th
plan 6436 215771 1567 223774
12
th
plan (up to
September, 2013)
7716 237911 1567 247194

The total number of substations of 220 kV in India up to September, 2013 is 247194 (MW/MVA).
In India, most of the EHV substation (132 kV/110 kV, 220kV, 400kV) are air insulated substations (AIS)
built in large pieces of land. EHV substations built around 20-25 years ago outside the urban areas are in
urgent need for modernization as they have old types of circuit breakers and analog relays.
Other difficulties with AIS are:
Pollution when in close proximity to industrial or coastal areas
Insufficient space for expansion to accommodate new transmission lines
GIS
Gas Insulated Substations (GIS) are used where there are constraints for space or land is very expensive.
The overall size of a GIS is about 10% of the comparable AIS. Adding on to it, there are various
advantages of GIS over AIS, such as:-
GIS is more reliable and safer
It is aesthetically superior to AIS
GIS is not affected by atmospheric pollution
GIS required very low maintenance
Business Case for conversion of AIS to GIS:

World over all new substations in urban areas are being constructed as GIS. Existing AIS in urban areas in
India are now in prime locations which has huge commercial value. If these are converted to GIS, lion
share of the land can be freed and that can fund the cost of the substation modernization. Moreover the
commercialization of the excess land can bring in alternate revenue streams for the utilities.

It is proposed to undertake a detailed cost-benefit analysis to estimate:

1. Land available in a typical 220kV, 132kV and 66V substation in urban areas
2. Land required for conversion to GIS and cost of such conversion
3. Value of the surplus land and its commercialization options
4. Project schedule
5. Financing plan