The Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), in association with ABB, has bagged an order from Power Grid Corporation of India Limited.
BHEL’s work is valued at Rs1,360 crore for establishing a + 800 kV, 6,000 MW high voltage direct current (HVDC) link between the western region grid (Raigarh, Chhattisgarh) and the southern region grid (Pugalur, Tamil Nadu).

Notably, this is the second ultra-high voltage direct current (UHVDC) transmission project contract for the BHEL. The Mahartana enterprise is presently executing North-East Agra 6,000 MW, multi terminal HVDC link, jointly with the ABB.

A release issued by BHEL stated that the enterprise takes pride in associating with the project as it would bring relief to the power deficit southern grid. The HVDC link is expected to be established by 2019.

For this project, among other equipment and systems, BHEL will significantly contribute by supplying converter transformers, shunt reactors, filter bank capacitors and instrument transformers from its Bhopal Plant and thyristor valves from its electronics division, Bengaluru.

These valves will be used to convert AC Power generated at the IPPs at Raigarh into DC power for transmitting it over a HVDC transmission line of over 1800 kms and then converting it back into AC at the Pugalur end for interconnection with the Southern Grid.