Advancements in T&D systems necessary for resilient power

The power sector is undergoing a shift with the integration of renewable energy, modern grid technologies, and advanced transmission and distribution (T&D) systems. These advancements are crucial to meeting the rising demand for reliable, uninterrupted, and sustainable energy. From automation and large-scale energy storage to government-backed infrastructure expansion and grid modernisation, the focus is overcoming challenges like intermittency, grid stability, and operational inefficiencies. As the industry gathers momentum, platforms like ELECRAMA 2025 offer invaluable opportunities to explore innovations, foster collaborations, and discuss pathways to a resilient, efficient, and future-ready energy ecosystem. Ankit Saboo, Executive Director of Electrolytes, shares more insights.

How can advanced T&D systems and automation improve grid reliability amidst renewable energy integration challenges?

Renewable Energy integration brings major flexibility into the system and decentralises the sources of power. This sector needs to provide 24/7 uninterrupted quality power. However, with such great power comes the challenges of overvoltages, undervoltages, short-circuit level mismatches, overloading of certain parts, frequency irregularities, and so on.

Advanced T&D systems, such as reclosers, fault indicators, fault-current limiters, etc., can help scheme out the integration so that there is better segmentation, which can help isolate the faulty areas in smaller segments rather than the complete system. These can also help in predictive maintenance and raise alarms before the event takes place.

It’s 2025, and automation is everywhere! In the T&D systems, it is important to isolate the fault sections and restore power in the healthy sections as soon as possible. A combination of load break switches, auto-reclosers, sectionalisers, and fault indicators is used to do this. The RDSS scheme incorporates these very well for the overhead lines, and RMUs carry out the same function for the underground lines.

How can pilot projects evaluate the efficacy of large-scale energy storage in T&D networks supported by government infrastructure expansion?

Integrating large-scale energy storage systems into transmission and distribution (T&D) networks is crucial to mitigate the intermittency of renewable energy sources. A few ways to do this could be through Grid-scale batteries, Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS), Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES), and smart inverters.

This is a relatively new area, and a few pilot projects must be taken up to understand the efficacy and reliability of each system under various conditions.

The government has pumped in immense capital through the RDSS schemes, with CEA and other bodies’ support at the policy level. This work must continue for the next 10-15 years if we are to set up a strong base to further boost the T&D infrastructure.

What are your expectations from this year’s Budget, and what are your plans for ELECRAMA 2025?

Rather than expectations, I would say that we hope that R&D funds are allocated specifically for pilot projects to solve clearly laid-out problems. We also hope that grid modernisation and privatisation of distribution companies are further emphasised.

ELECRAMA is a melting pot for the industry. We are looking forward to learning what is new in the technology space for the T&D sector.