www.IndiaCore.com is pleased to announce the International Conference on 'Present & Future Trends in Transmission and Convergence' being organised by Council of Power Utilities under the active guidance of Ministry of Power, Government of India from December 3- 5, 2002 at New Delhi, India to commemorate thr centenary of Electric Power Transmission in India.

IndiaCore.com on behalf of The Council of Power Utilities extends cordial invitation to worldwide Manufacturers of transmission equipment, Private Project Developers, Utilities, IPPs, SEBs, PSUs, Transmission Companies, Distribution Companies, EPC Contractors, Equipment Suppliers, Financial Institutions, Lenders, Investors, Consultants, Law firms, IT firms, Telecommunication Cos and organisations with interest in the Transmission & Convergence sectors to participate in the Conference to share our moment of pride. The Conference would offer a unique opportunity of three days full of informative and innovative conference sessions, and many networking opportunities. It would provide direct access to policy makers, decision taking authority and senior executives of power sector and various utilities as also manufacturers & consultants.

Background

Transmission of electricity through high voltage cables was first carried out in Germany in 1882 by transmission of continuous electric current. In 1886, the first commercial system for using alternating current was built by an American Engineer in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and a similar plant was built in Buffalo, NY. The American inventor George Westinghouse patented an improved transformer run on AC. Later in 1890, Sebastian Z. de Ferranti of England transmitted 10,000-volt alternating current (AC) over a 6.5 mile long cable between Deptford and central London. Before this, cable was limited to voltages of no greater than 3000 volts. Ferranti's cable demonstrated that the use of AC could greatly increase the distance over which electricity could be transmitted.

India is credited to have first constructed and put into operation the longest High Voltage Overhead transmission lines on commercial basis in early twentieth century. The 92 mile (147 KM) 78 KV Sivasamundram- Kankanhalli-Sarjapur-Kolar Gold Field OH Ttransmission line was constructed in the then Mysore State in 1902.

The growth of Transmission System thereafter, particularly in the post-independent India, for more than half a century, has been spectacular both in size and quality, in line with the growth of power generating capacity to take electricity to distant areas of the country.

The highest transmission voltage in the country in the early fifties was 132 KV. The first 220 KV line was commissioned in 1959 and first 400 KV line in 1977. The decision to adopt 800 KV as the next higher voltage was taken in 1987.

Existing Transmission Scenario

With the increase in generating capacity from about 1800 MW in 1950 to nearly 1,00,000 MW by the end of year 2000, the transmission system in the country has also witnessed phenomenal growth. It is estimated that today there are more than 5.3 million ckt. Km. Lengths of transmission lines in operation in India. These include about 37,000-ckt km. of 400 KV, about 82,000-ckt km. of 220/230 KV, about 105,000 ckt. km. of 132/110/90 KV and about 5 million ckt km. of 78/66 KV and below including distribution lines upto 500 volts, besides 2036 ckt. km. of + 500 KV, HVDC lines and approximately 600 ckt kms. of 800 KV, S/C, AC lines, already commissioned by Powergrid.. This transmission network consists of generation project linked evacuation lines, inter-State/inter-regional lines, besides system strengthening lines for overall system improvement. Further, keeping in view the serious right-of-way problems and increasing need of transfer of bulk power over longer distances across the country, a number of 800 KV tansmission lines are also under execution.

Future Scenario

With the required uniform annual capacity addition of nearly 13,000-14,000 MW and also with the increased private sector participation in the power development programme of the country, the need for high voltage transmission system will also increase. Power Grid Corporation of India, which is responsible for growth of EHV transmission system in the country, has plans for development covering the following major areas :

(a) Establishment of transmission system for evacuation and dispersal of power from Central sector generating stations.

(b) Strengthening of the transmission system to remove present weakness and to add adequate margins.

(c) Interconnection of regions leading to formation of National Grid.

(d) Establishment of unified load dispatch schemes for better control and operation of the grid.

Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has already been formed for regulating power transaction from one system to another, formulation of tariff, preparation of grid code etc. Similarly, State Electricity Regulatory Commission has been constituted in a number of States and in the case of others; they are in different stages of constitution. Power Trading Corporation has also been formed for trading of power between generators and consuming utilities.

Future Trends

Transmission System

Future trends of Transmission System would depend on the outcome of investigations into new areas and innovative measures to improve transmission capacity like Flexible A.C. Transmission system (FACT), High Phase Order Transmission, HVDC Transmission and Ultra High Voltage Transmission, etc.

Research and Development activities would also play an important role into the use of new materials and designs for improved efficiency and reduce the overall costs like new all-Aluminum Alloy Conductors (AAAC). Self-damping conductors, new types/configurations of Towers, new types of insulators and strings and improved insulator hardware and conductor/earth wire accessories.

Telecommunication

Information Technology, Telecommunications and switching have become the backbone for management of Infrastructure of Core Sectors including Power all over the world.

Power utilities have a critical need for a data network, serving remote locations. Electrical transmission system traverses vast distances often far from electrical power resources. Monitoring of these transmission facilities and ability to take action to control their operation are important for regulatory, inventory and safety reasons. In the energy transmission industry SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is a critical activity.

In remote locations a very small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite networks are reliable and cost effective solution for SCADA installations.

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