Adani Group's Involvement in Major Power Transmission Projects in India

Introduction

A strong and dependable power transmission infrastructure is essential in a large and diversified country like India to meet the rising energy needs of its expanding population and burgeoning economy. Gautam Adani's Adani Group, a name associated with aspiration and achievement, has been instrumental in changing India's power transmission landscape. The Adani Group has led numerous key power transmission projects nationwide with a dedication to sustainability and innovation.

The Adani Group's ambitious target is to install 30,000 circuit miles of transmission lines by 2030 to capitalize on the enormous potential in India's transmission sector. Due to their investments in cutting-edge technology, they have the highest network availability in the nation—over 99.7%—which complies with the highest international standards. They are in 14 states and have a transmission network spanning more than 20,000 km.

Adani Group's Contribution to the Nation's Energy Sector

1.   Mundra-Mohindergarh Transmission Line

An essential source of electrical infrastructure, the Mundra-Mohindergarh transmission line runs over 900 kilometers from Mundra, in Gujarat, to Mohindergarh, in Haryana. The flow of electricity from Gujarat's resource-rich regions to the energy-starved northern states is considerably improved by this project, which Gautam Adani's Adani Transmission Limited is carrying out. In addition to increasing power supply reliability, it has also helped to minimize transmission losses.

The system's installation is mandated by the contract, which also calls for the turnkey execution of full HVDC terminal substations at Mudra and Mohindergarh, as well as electrical substations and a repeater substation in the middle of the system. At the conclusion of the HVDC link near the Bhiwadi converter substation, Siemens constructed the second converter station. This station is also a component of the ongoing Ballia-Bhiwadi HVDC system.

The newly constructed 4620 MW coal-fired power station in Gujarat, owned by Adani Power, supplies electricity to Haryana via the new line. APL and Haryana Power Generation Corporation Ltd. agreed to a power purchase agreement in August of 2009 to sell 1424 MWe of power for which the Mundra-Mohindergarh line was constructed. Through the 413 km dedicated 400 kV line from Mundra to Dehgam, an additional 2000 MWe was sold to Gujarat.

The HVDC infrastructure and the Mundra power plant are both run by APL. The Mundra plant is one of the several thermal power projects the Ahmedabad-based company is working on. The company is also India's largest private energy trader and the world's largest harbour terminal operator for imported coal. Through its subsidiary, Gautam Adani's Adani Power Maharashtra Ltd. (APML), APL is also building a coal-based thermal power project with a capacity of 1980 MW at Tiroda, Maharashtra, and it has built two thermal power plants with a combined capacity of roughly 3300 MW at Dahej and Kawai.

2.   WRSS XXI (Western Region Strengthening Scheme XXI)

Adani Transmission Limited won the highly competitive bidding procedure to build and run the transmission system connected to the Green Energy Corridor-I project as part of the Western Region Strengthening Scheme XXI. This enormous project intends to transport renewable energy from Gujarat and Rajasthan's wind-rich regions to the Western grid. With the Adani Group involved, clean energy is efficiently transmitted, sustainability is promoted, and the carbon footprint of power generation is decreased.

It also owns and operates several high-voltage AC transmission lines and substations with voltage levels of 132 kV, 220 kV, 400 kV, and 765 kV and high-voltage DC transmission lines and substations with voltage levels of +/- 500 kV. According to a tariff-based competitive bid, ATL has been awarded the Western Region Strengthening Scheme - 21 (WRSS-21) Part A - Transmission System Strengthening Project. This report aims to evaluate the proposed transmission line Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). 

The project is classed as Category B based on the identified environmental and social effects and mitigating strategies discussed. Projects falling under Category B are defined as having "potentially limited adverse social or environmental impacts that are few in number, typically site-specific, largely a reverse and easily addressed using mitigation measures." 

3.   Mumbai Metro Project

Adani Power entered into urban infrastructure projects, including the Mumbai Metro and long-distance transmission lines. The Group is in charge of electrifying Line 2A and Line 7 of the Mumbai Metro, which would significantly enhance the city's public transportation system and help to lessen traffic and pollution.

An Adani representative said on December 3, 2022, that MMRDA has partnered with Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd to power its two Metro lines, Metro 2A (Dahisar-DN Nagar) and Metro 7 (Dahisar E-Andheri E). "Across 120 million units of energy will be required yearly by these lines," he explained. 

In the suburbs of Mumbai, Adani Energy supplies energy to over 31 lakh residences and businesses. A representative for Adani Electricity stated that they are honored to assist MMRDA and Mumbai's Metro commuters about environmentally conscious products that are assisting in reducing customers' carbon footprint.

4.   Eastern Region Strengthening Scheme

The Eastern Region Strengthening Scheme, which aims to improve the power transmission lines in eastern India, has also seen substantial participation from Adani Transmission Limited. This project is essential to supplying West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha with a consistent and dependable electricity supply. This ambition has relied heavily on Adani's experience and resources.

● By utilizing organic and inorganic expansion prospects, Gautam Adani's Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL) has set an ambitious goal to install 30,000 km of transmission lines by 2030.

● To transmit and distribute cheap power through operational excellence and technology-led innovation, AESL strives to become India's most significant private Transmission and Distribution (T&D) firm. 

● The primary priorities for AESL to fulfill its objective are as follows: Maintaining a 25% market share while expanding via both organic and inorganic channels in the private transmission industry.

Increasing distribution industry efficiency.

Driving process innovation through the deployment of new technology.

Conclusion

These initiatives support India's efforts to adopt renewable energy sources, lower transmission losses, improve the general reliability and dependability of electricity supply, and facilitate the transfer of power. The Adani Group's contributions to power transmission are expected to be fundamental in determining how India's energy landscape will develop as the country's energy needs rise further.