Tamil Nadu To Get Four New Substations Under Green Energy Corridor Phase 3

The Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation Limited (Tantransco), with financial support from the Centre, will establish four new substations under Phase 3 of the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) project, reported The New Indian Express.

According to officials cited in the TNIE report, Saliyamangalam in Thanjavur will get a 400 kV substation, while Chidambaram, Thakkalai and Papanasam will each get a 230 kV substation.

“The purpose of this project is to strengthen the transmission network so that renewable energy from wind, solar and hydro plants can be evacuated smoothly to the main load centres across the state,” a senior Tantransco official was quoted as saying by TNIE.

This comes as Tamil Nadu plans to add 100 billion units of green energy, which demands more substations and transmission lines.

These facilities are critical to transfer surplus wind power generated in the western and southern districts to northern and delta regions.

Officials said the corporation has already identified possible substation points in delta districts, but feasibility studies are ongoing.

Land acquisition, however, remains a major hurdle.

Another official stressed the importance of expanding transmission in the delta to serve farmers’ rising electricity needs.

The official noted, “Nearly 8 lakh-10 lakh consumers are connected to the grid across the state every year. Currently, the discom has 3.5 crore consumers, out of which more than 25 lakh belong to the agriculture sector. During peak hours, thermal power costs over Rs 10 per unit depending on demand, while renewable energy is available in the market for less than Rs 5 per unit.”

The official added that if renewable power is supplied to the farm sector, the financial pressure on the discom will come down sharply.

The official also pointed out that renewable energy would also ensure reliable power for farm pump sets during peak irrigation seasons.

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