Enabling Power System Reliability & Sustainability Through Automation
Enabling Power System Reliability & Sustainability Through Automation
Before you peruse the complete article, watch the intriguing video on India’s sustainable energy future:
The video below gives you a glimpse into India’s growing power requirements and Hitachi’s state-of-the-art technologies to strengthen this critical sector. Read the entire article to get a complete picture of India's advancements in clean energy and power transmission & distribution, while learning about Hitachi's array of energy solutions that are contributing to industry's and nation's sustainable growth.
Electricity consumption in India has reportedly almost tripled over the last two decades due to rapid urbanization and rising incomes. Significantly, more than half a billion people have been connected to the power grid over the last decade, with the Government stepping up its mission to ensure Power for All.
Apart from significant domestic consumption, commercial industry, agriculture, infrastructure, and utility sectors are also major power consumers driving demand year after year.
The peak power demand met or the maximum supply for a day on June 30, 2021 reached 191.51 gigawatts (GW), an increase of 16 percent from the 164.98 GW observed in June 20201, as per reports. Many analysts believe that electricity demand will outstrip the overall energy requirement in the coming years.
Ramping-up Power Generation, Transmission & Distribution
To meet the surging power demand and expedite development, the Government has taken several initiatives to boost power generation capacity across thermal, hydropower, nuclear, and renewable sources. In addition to improving existing operations, it is also focusing on adding new hydroelectric and thermal projects.
Nevertheless, the key underlying theme of the present electricity policy is to move towards clean, renewable energy sources such as water, wind, and solar, thus reducing dependency on fossil fuels to secure a carbon-neutral future.
According to Central Electricity Authority (CEA) data, the national electric grid had an installed capacity of 383.37 GW as of 31 May 2021, of which 95.65 GW was generated using renewable sources, including small hydro projects, biomass power, urban & industrial waste power, solar and wind energy3.
However, despite an impressive all-India installed capacity in power stations today, many consumers still grapple with intermittent electricity supply and outages during peak periods. Among various factors, transmission and distribution losses are also significant causes of under-served power demand.
Reliability, Technology & Sustainability: 3 Keys to Electricity Security
The Government’s drive for private investments and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) has certainly put power infrastructure and capacity building, adoption of advanced power products and technologies on a fast track.
As India pursues a robust, reliable, and more sustainable power future, global automation, and technology pioneer Hitachi Energy, continues to play a pivotal role in transforming India’s power paradigm.
Driven by Social, Environmental, and Economic values, Hitachi Energy has created a bevy of avant-garde grid automation, grid integration, high-voltage components, and high-tech transformer solutions that are proving to be revolutionary.
Offering an optimal solution, Hitachi Energy’ compact indoor and underground substations are multi-faceted and aesthetically designed to merge into their immediate environment.
Hitachi Energy’ hi-tech, space conserving substation solutions
Underground Substation
Occupy minimal above ground area. 98% of the installation volume can be hidden.
Avant-garde technologies ensure noise reduction.
Provides all the functionality of a conventional substation.
Indoor Substation
Substation size can be shrunk by up to 70%.
Aesthetically designed to fit into architecturally attractive multi-level buildings.
Power-intensive industries such as steel plants, aluminium smelters, and chemical units usually resort to auto-producing for this reason. Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd (BALCO), one of the largest aluminium producers in India, has built its captive power plant at Korba in Chhattisgarh to power up its operations, for instance.
Looking to bolster its mission-critical power infrastructure, BALCO has entrusted Hitachi Energy to support realizing a more robust, reliable, and intelligent power distribution system for the Korba power plant. Ideal for confined spaces for optimal substation layout and improved switchgear performance, gas insulated switchgear (GIS) technology from Hitachi Energy not only simplifies operations but also conserves space.
Hitachi Energy engineers GIS solution for BALCO captive power plant
Metal-encapsulated GIS comprises high-voltage components like circuit breakers & disconnectors. Hitachi Energy’s innovative GIS technology uses an eco-efficient insulating gas mixture to shield key components: breakers, switches, contacts & conductors.
Furthermore, the state-of-the-art substations are equipped with MicroSCADA automation technology to allow real-time grid monitoring and control. Inspired by the Make-in-India initiative, all the equipment are being manufactured domestically for this project.
Powering a Better Tomorrow
Notably, the commercial and industrial electricity consumption in 2020 posted a sharp drop due to pandemic-induced shutdown, while domestic demand soared. However, the power ministry data reveals that power consumption in India grew 25 percent in the first week of May 2021 to 26.24 BU4, indicating a steady improvement in commercial and industrial demand.
Regardless of any unforeseen disruptions, India, a vibrant nation of 1.39 billion people, is committed to uplifting its economy and living standards. Since electricity is the future of energy, the country is steadfast in building a reliable, safe, and sustainable power paradigm.
Powering good, Hitachi Energy is leveraging its OT x IT and digital technology expertise to boost power systems for improved industrial efficiency and productivity, modernize infrastructure, agriculture, and utilities while limiting environmental impact. The innovations and solutions aim to accelerate India’s economic and social progress in line with its sustainable development vision.
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