• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the project on Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II – Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) for 13 GW renewable energy project in Ladakh.

• The project is targeted to be set up by the financial year 2029-30 at an estimated cost of Rs 20,773.70 crore. It will have 40 per cent central financial assistance (Rs 8,309.48 crore).

• In his Independence Day speech, PM Modi had announced setting up a 7.5 GW Solar Park in Ladakh. 

• After an extensive field survey, the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) prepared a plan to set up a 13 GW Renewable Energy (RE) generation capacity along with a 12 GWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Pang, Ladakh. 

• For evacuating this huge quantum of power, it will be necessary to create an inter-state transmission infrastructure.

• The transmission line for evacuating this power will pass through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab up to Kaithal in Haryana, where it will be integrated with the National Grid. 

• An interconnection is also planned from this project in Leh to the existing Ladakh grid so as to ensure reliable power supply to Ladakh. It will also be connected to Leh-Alusteng-Srinagar line to provide power to Jammu & Kashmir.

• This project is in addition to Intra-State Transmission System Green Energy Corridor Phase-II (InSTS GEC-II).

Green Energy Corridor

• In order to facilitate integration of large-scale renewable generation capacity addition, the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) in FY 2015-16, approved the creation of Intra-State Transmission System Green Energy Corridor scheme in renewable energy rich states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

• The scheme includes establishment of grid sub-stations at different voltage levels with aggregate transformation capacity of approximately 22,600 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) and installation of approximately 9,700 circuit kilometers (ckm) of transmission lines in these eight renewable energy rich states. 

• The creation of the Intra-State Transmission System under the scheme will facilitate the evacuation of approximately 24 GW of power from renewable energy generation stations to load centers. 

Green Energy Corridor Phase-II

• The second phase of Green Energy Corridor Intra-State Transmission System was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on January 1, 2022.

• The scheme includes establishment of grid sub-stations at different voltage levels with aggregate transformation capacity of approximately 27,500 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) and installation of approximately 10,750 circuit kilometres (ckm) of transmission lines in seven states, namely Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. 

• The creation of the Intra-State Transmission System under the scheme will facilitate the evacuation of approximately 20 GW of power from renewable energy generation stations to load centres.

• The scheme is targeted to be set up by FY 2025-26 with a total estimated cost of Rs 12,031.33 crore.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store