Alstom T&D bags Power Grid's Rs 226 cr contract to supply gas-insulated substations

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (Power Grid) has awarded Alstom T&D India a contract worth approximately Euro 34 million (Rs 226.6 crore) to supply two gas-insulated substations (GIS) at Betul in Madhya Pradesh and Navsari in Gujarat. Both substations will be completely manufactured in India, making this Power Grid’s first ‘Make in India’ 400 kV GIS.
 
The first 400/220 kV GIS substation constructed at Betul will transmit power generated from the Mouda Super Thermal Power Plant – II. The second installation at Navsari, will carry power generated at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station. Both substations will feed power to the national grid.
 
The contract scope includes design, engineering, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of the GIS at Betul including supply and erection of two 400/220/33 kV, 315 MVA auto transformers. The Navsari substation, which currently has eleven GIS bays, will be extended to include two additional bays. All equipment will be manufactured and supplied from Alstom T&D India’s manufacturing facilities in India.
 
Rathin Basu, managing director, Alstom T&D India, said, “Since building the first local GIS manufacturing plant at Chennai in 2009, we have supplied over 300 bays, the largest number of GIS equipment made in India, to Indian customers. It is good to see Power Grid adopting the ‘Make in India’ programme, awarding its first made in India GIS order to Alstom.”
 
Gas-insulated substation is gaining popularity as the preferred technology in India. It is compact and encapsulated, ideal for use in restricted areas. It is also suitable to be used in locations with severe weather conditions (high temperatures, altitudes, near the sea) and industrial environments (toxic areas or corrosive environments). The footprint of a typical GIS is generally 10 times smaller than an air-insulated substation (AIS). As land becomes scarce in India, GIS has become a more commercially viable solution.