Power infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh Capital region is in for a major upgrade with demand expected to go up substantially in the next 10 years prompting a commensurate growth in the generation capacity.

Environmental clearance for expansion of Narla Tatarao Thermal Power Station (NTTPS) by 800 MW that was given a couple of days ago will give a major boost to the sector by 2017 when it is expected to be completed. In addition, the APTransco and Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (SPDCL) have lined up series of proposals for erecting a large number of sub-stations and transmission lines in the region.

The SPDCL has sent the proposals for the upgrade as the load growth in the region is anticipated to cross 2,000 MW within a decade.

According to official sources, the southern DISCOM has, in a letter to Chief Engineer of AP-Transco recently, projected an ‘abnormal load growth of 1000 MW’ in the core Capital region alone and suggested that a detailed plan be worked out jointly for meeting immediate requirements.

The population, according to SPDCL officials, is likely to increase to grow to 1.20 crore in the Capital in 20 years and there would be an abnormal load growth for the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors.

Five Gas-Insulated Substations (GIS) have already been sanctioned for Vijayawada and Guntur cities and a host of indoor substations are on the anvil at other places in the region. They are in advanced stages of implementation.

Meanwhile, Fuji Electric, which has come forward to lend its expertise for establishing a Smart Grid in Vijayawada, reportedly offered to the SPDCL Chief Engineer to set up a demonstration project in the SPDCL Zonal office building near PWD grounds for replicating it at the macro level in the due course.

Necessary steps are being taken for this and the SPDCL has already installed energy efficient lights and fans at its zonal office.