Network Planning Group under PM Gati Shakti Gives Nod to Infra Project on Renewable Energy

At its 45th session, the Network Planning Group (NPG) under PM Gati Shakti reviewed an infrastructure project on renewable energy.  The project is for the ISTS (Inter-State Transmission System) for renewable energy project in Ladakh, which is said to be an important one.

In 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had revealed about the establishment of the 7500 MW solar park in Ladakh and the transmission project. The said project facilitates evacuation as well as grid integration of 13 GW renewable energy by way of a 5 GW transmission system. This is said to be a a first of its kind system worldwide, where a transmission utilization of 76% is expected. This project comprises state-of-the-art voltage source converters based high voltage direct current terminals. These are at Pang in Leh and Kaithal in Haryana with a 350 kV HVDC line. The project will make employment opportunities locally while also contributing to Ladakh's economic development.  The project will curb carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of 26 Million Tonnes per year.

The session saw the presence of senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Power, NITI Aayog, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy among others.

Ladakh is seeing various policy measures to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles and solar energy. In October last year, Ladakh welcomed a solar-powered charging plaza for electric vehicles established by the government-owned company Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL).