The government of Tamil Nadu will now supply power to Raigarh-Pugalur 800 kV ultra-high-voltage direct current (UHVDC) transmission line.
As per the original policy, nearly 4,000 MW (total capacity of line is 6,000 MW) of power from pit thermal units in Raigarh was to be brought through this line to Pugalur and from there 1,000 MW was to be transferred to Kerala.
But recently the Centre decided to use the line to transmit 3,000 MW of wind and solar power from Tamil Nadu to western states to help them fulfill their renewable power obligations (RPO).
The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) has agreed to pay for using the line. The agreement also states that Tamil Nadu can use the line to bring thermal power during summer, when the power demand is high in the state, from the north.
It is ascertained by the Central Transmission Utility that the Raigarh-Pugalur HVDC corridor will be used for export 3,000 MW renewable energy to the western region.
Since the corridor is going to be used for exporting renewable power from the southern region to the rest of the country, it is requested that the corridor may be declared as strategic and of national importance.
