Adani Energy Solutions (AESL), via its subsidiary Adani Electricity Mumbai Infrastructure (AEMIL), has initiated a 1GW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission link in Mumbai, India.
The project will enhance grid stability and energy security throughout the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), decreasing reliance on local generation and minimising the risk of outages.
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The new link spans a 30km overhead line and a 50km underground corridor between Kudus and Aarey.
It also includes the world’s first compact HVDC substations designed for densely populated urban settings.
Following the October 2020 blackout in Mumbai, which highlighted the city’s power vulnerabilities, the project was conceived to boost grid strength and reliability.
This transmission link allows increased electricity intake from external sources including renewable energy, thereby improving the flow and capacity of power into the city.
By adding 1GW of capacity, the project reduces reliance on in-city power generation, enhances grid resilience and lowers the likelihood of large-scale power outages.
The project forms part of AESL’s strategy to develop modern transmission infrastructure to integrate India’s growing renewable energy resources into urban grids.
The deployment of Voltage Source Converter (VSC)-based HVDC technology allows for more precise power flow control, increased voltage stability and reliability in urban environments where space is limited.
This link aims to provide key operational advantages such as dynamic voltage support and reduced losses over long-distance transmission.
The Kudus-Aarey link ranks among the largest urban HVDC infeeds worldwide and is projected to boost the proportion of power supplied from outside Mumbai, alleviating the load on local generation and enhancing grid stability as demand rises across the MMR.
AESL CEO Kandarp Patel said: “With the commissioning of the Aarey-Kudus transmission line, Mumbai now has a modern power corridor capable of integrating large-scale renewable energy with high reliability. It is one of the fastest HVDC projects ever commissioned which is powered by advanced VSC-based HVDC technology.
“The project enhances grid stability, decongests existing networks and strengthens the city’s energy security. This marks a significant step towards a cleaner, more resilient energy future for Mumbai.”
In February this year, AESL secured long-term financing from Japanese banks for a 950km HVDC transmission project in India, designed as a green evacuation corridor with a capacity of 6,000MW, connecting Bhadla in Rajasthan to Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh.
