India–Sri Lanka HVDC Interconnection

India–Sri Lanka HVDC Interconnection
Location
CountryIndia, Sri Lanka
Coordinates09°07′00″N 79°29′00″E / 9.11667°N 79.48333°E / 9.11667; 79.48333
General directionEast - West
FromMadurai, India
Passes throughGulf of Mannar
ToAnuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Runs alongsidePalk Strait
Ownership information
OwnerIndia & Sri Lanka
PartnersPGCIL, CEB
OperatorIndia & Sri Lanka
Construction information
Manufacturer of conductor/cableTBA
Installer of conductor/cableTBA
Cable layerUnder Planning
Manufacturer of substationsTBA
Installer of substationsTBA
ContractorsTBA
Construction startedTBA
Expected2030
Construction cost340 to 430 Million dollars
CommissionedNIL
Technical information
TypeSubsea cable with Back to Back HVDC Scheme
Type of currentHVDC
Total length285 km (177 mi)
Power rating1,000 MW
AC voltageUnder Planning
DC voltageUnder Planning

The India – Sri Lanka HVDC Grid Interconnection is a proposed project to link the national grids of India and Sri Lanka. The project involves the construction of a high-voltage direct current (HDVC) connection between Madurai in southern India, and Anuradhapura in central Sri Lanka, through the Palk Strait. The link would measure 285 kilometres (177 mi) in length, including 50 kilometres (31 mi) of submarine cables, and would take more than three years to construct. It would be implemented by the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited and Ceylon Electricity Board.[1]

India's grid is connected to Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. This project will link Sri Lanka with the rest of the South Asian grid.[2]

Having been contemplated since 1970, the project has four implementation alternatives in consideration:[3]

  • Madurai–Anuradhapura
  • Thoothukudi–Puttalam
  • Madurai–Puttalam
  • Madurai–Anuradhapura (with back-to-back HVDC)

The connection will be developed in two phases, of which the first phase, scheduled to complete in the near-future, would enable the transmission of 500 MW between the two countries. The second phase would enable a 1,000 MW transmission capacity, the target capacity.[1]

It is expected to reach a total development cost of approximately US$800,000,000. Such a connection between the two countries would enable the nations to sell excess energy, thus saving valuable resources.[4]

In February 2016, Damitha Kumarasinghe, Director general of Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, announced that pre-feasibility studies on the project had been completed.[5]

Additionally, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in collaboration with Ceylon Electricity Board completed an operational analysis of the HVDC connection for one year of operations.[6]

But due to the ongoing 2019 economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the already planned 55 km under sea cable HVDC link is redesigned to be constructed as a over sea cable HVDC link, and the project is planned to be completed within 2030 from Madurai to Anuradhapura with the help of the World Bank.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "India-Sri Lanka 285-Km Power Transmission Link By 2013". RTT News. Global Energy Network Institute. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Indo - Lanka power link to benefit country".
  3. ^ "Mutual Benefits of an Indo-Lanka Transmission System Interconnection" (PDF). South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Cooperation and Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2010. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ "MOPE Projects" (PDF). Ministry of Power & Energy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 July 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2010. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ "Sri Lanka-India power link pre-feasibility complete: Kumarasinghe". 2 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ Kumar, Rahul (7 June 2023). "India, Sri Lanka to link grids as South Asia thinks big on energy". Indianarrative. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Sri Lanka president reiterates power grid connectivity plans with India". EconomyNext. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.