Exclusive: PowerGrid can start work on Leh-Kaithal Green Energy Corridor only by 2026

Tests have to be conducted on how every equipment that will be deployed by HVDC players will perform in such high altitude sub-zero climatic conditions, PGCIL officials said.

The construction of India’s ambitious Green Energy Corridor (GEC) for evacuation of 13 GW renewable energy from Ladakh will begin only in the calendar year 2026 due to extensive engineering studies required for the high-altitude mega transmission project, officials from the Powergrid Corporation of India (PGCIL) told Moneycontrol.

The project received its final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on October 18. The transmission line for evacuating green power from the under construction renewable energy park in Ladakh will start from Pang (Ladakh), and will pass through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, after which it will end in Kaithal in Haryana, where it will be integrated with the national grid.

PGCIL is the implementing agency of the project, which will entail setting up of 713 km of transmission lines - including 480 kms of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) lines and five GW capacity of HVDC terminals each at Pang (Ladakh) and Kaithal (Haryana).

The project is targeted to be set up by FY 2029-30, with a total estimated cost of Rs 20,773.70 crore, which includes a financial grant of Rs 8,309.48 crore by the central government. The remaining cost of Rs 12,464.22 crore will be borne by PGCIL.

The update on the project

Moneycontrol took stock of the project through PGCIL and found that the central public sector undertaking (CPSU) is yet to get formal communication from the central government on the modalities of how the financial grant would be given.

“Once we get the communication on the modalities of the grant from the central government, we will take it up for investment approval. But, we (PGCIL) have already started the studies of front-end engineering design for the marquee project,” said a senior official requesting anonymity.

PGCIL has appointed two HVDC players for one part of the two-part study. The first part, currently ongoing, is expected to be completed by March-April, which will provide the first report of this one-of-a-kind project. After that the CPSU will begin the second phase of the study, and only once both are complete, will it go for bidding of the project.

“So, work for the project will be awarded either in the last quarter of FY25 or the first quarter of FY26,” said another official, requesting anonymity.

Challenges - high terrain, sub-zero temperatures

According to PGCIL officials, this GEC-Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) will be one of the most challenging projects undertaken by it so far.

“This is why the studies have to be thorough. We are talking about laying long transmission lines in high altitudes of 4,700 metres above sea level with sub-zero temperatures. Tests have to be conducted on how every equipment that will be deployed by HVDC players will perform in such high altitude sub-zero climatic conditions,” said the official.

Besides, the working conditions there (Ladakh) will be conducive for hardly 5-6 months a year. “So, it will take at least five years from the time the work is awarded.”

The project is a major step toward India's target of achieving 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030, besides contributing towards ensuring energy security for the country. It will also generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled personnel in power and other related sectors, especially in the Ladakh region.

Queries sent to PGCIL for an official comment on the matter remained unanswered.