Recently, the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) celebrated a significant milestone, the anniversary of the One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency initiative, also known as the National Grid. This initiative marks a significant evolution in the distribution and management of power across India.
The Evolution of National Grid
The administration of the national grid began regionally in the 1960s. In an effort to optimize planning and operations, the Indian Power system was divided into five regional grids. The concept of integrating these regional grids to create a National Grid was first conceived in the early nineties.
The implementation process started by interconnecting state grids to form a regional grid. India was then demarcated into five regions, namely, Northern, Eastern, Western, North Eastern, and Southern. The first interconnection occurred in 1991 between the North Eastern and Eastern grids. This was followed by the connection of the Western region grid in 2003.
In August 2006, a significant step was taken when the North and East grids were interconnected. This led to the formation of a central grid, operating synchronously at one frequency across four regional grids. Finally, on 31st December 2013, the Southern Region was incorporated into the Central Grid, thereby accomplishing the ‘One Nation, One Grid, One Frequency’ objective.
To ensure seamless operation, stringent measures are implemented to maintain the grid frequency strictly within the 49.90-50.05 hertz (Hz) band.
The Importance of Maintaining One Frequency
Maintaining a consistent electrical frequency is critical for the smooth functioning of the grid. Multiple frequencies operating simultaneously can cause severe damage to equipment. This is particularly important when providing electricity on a national scale, which could potentially affect thousands of consumers and industries.
Capacity of the National Grid
Currently, India has an inter-regional transmission capacity of approximately 1,12,250 MW. Plans are underway to enhance this capacity to about 1,18,740 MW by 2022.
Benefits of One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency
One of the key advantages of synchronizing all regional grids is the optimal utilization of scarce natural resources. Power can be effectively transferred from regions abundant in resources to regions with high demand.
Moreover, One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency initiative paves the way for the development of a robust electricity market. This will facilitate trading of power across different regions, promoting efficiency and contributing to the economy.
In conclusion, the evolution and implementation of the One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency initiative by the Power Grid Corp of India Ltd (PGCIL) signify a giant leap towards efficient energy management in India.
Source: PIB
