Government approves GEC-II for 13 GW renewable energy project in Ladakh

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 18 October 2023 approved the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II – Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) project for 13 GW renewable energy project in Ladakh.

Estimated cost of the project:

• The estimated cost of this project, to be established by the financial year 2029-30, is Rs 20,773.70 crore.
• 40 per cent i.e. Rs 8,309.48 crore will be provided to the project as Central Financial Assistance (CFA).

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited Implementing Agency:

• Keeping in mind the complex terrain, adverse climatic conditions and sensitivity of defense boundaries of the Ladakh region, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) will be the implementing agency of this project.
• State-of-the-art Voltage Source Converter (VSC) based High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) system and Extra High Voltage Alternating Current (EHVAC) system will be installed.

Will extend from Pang (Ladakh) to Kaithal (Haryana):

• The power transmission line will pass through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to Kaithal in Haryana, where it will be connected with the national grid.
• Interconnection from this project at Leh to the existing Ladakh grid is also planned to ensure reliable power supply to Ladakh.
• It will also be connected to the Leh-Alusteng-Srinagar line to provide electricity to Jammu and Kashmir.

Pang (Ladakh) and Kaithal (Haryana) 713 km transmission line:

• The project will include setting up of 713 km transmission lines (including 480 km HVDC lines) and 5 GW capacity High Voltage Direct Current Terminal at Pang (Ladakh) and Kaithal (Haryana).
• This project will contribute to achieving the target of 500 GW installed power capacity from non-fossil fuels by the year 2030.

Benefits from the project:

• This will help develop the country's long-term energy security and promote ecologically sustainable development by reducing carbon emissions.
• This will create many direct and indirect employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled personnel in power and other related sectors, especially in the Ladakh region.
• This project is in addition to the Interstate Transmission System Green Energy Corridor Phase-II (STS GEC-II), which is already underway in the states of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh for grid integration and electricity to grid delivery. Is in order of.
• 20 GW of renewable energy is expected to be achieved by the year 2026.

Project Background:

• The Prime Minister, during his Independence Day speech on 15 August 2020, had announced the setting up of a 7.5 GW solar park in Ladakh.
• After extensive field survey, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) prepared a plan to set up 13 GW of renewable energy (RE) generation capacity along with 12 GW of battery energy storage system (BESS) at Pang in Ladakh.
• To extract this huge amount of power it would be necessary to build an inter-state transmission infrastructure.

Expected Questions for the Exams:

Q. 1. In October 2023, the government approved Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II for 13 GW renewable energy project at which place?

Answer- Ladakh

Q. 2. What is the estimated cost of Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II for the 13 GW renewable energy project to be set up in Ladakh?

Answer - The estimated cost of this project is Rs 20,773.70 crore.

Q. 3. When will the 13 GW renewable energy project to be set up in Ladakh be completed?

Answer - 2029-30

Q. 4. How much amount will be given as central financial assistance for the 13 GW renewable energy project to be set up in Ladakh?

Answer: 40%

Q. 5. Between which places will the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II of the 13 GW renewable energy project to be set up in Ladakh extend?

Answer - Will extend from Pang (Ladakh) to Kaithal (Haryana)