Adani Energy Solutions commissions Khargar-Vikhroli transmission line; stock rises

Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL), earlier known as Adani Transmission Limited (ATL), has commissioned the Khargar-Vikhroli transmission line, which would help meet Mumbai’s growing and future electricity demand. Reacting to the news, AESL shares rose as much as 0.85% to ₹815.9 on the BSE against the previous closing price of ₹809 on the BSE. The market capitalisation stood at ₹90,751 crore at the time of reporting.  

“Kharghar Vikhroli Transmission Limited (KVTL), which will enable additional power to be brought into Mumbai and thus enable in meeting the city’s growing and future electricity demand, is commissioned,” AESL said in a release on Sunday.

Built by AESL, the energy solution, transmission and distribution arm of the Adani group, the project is critical for Mumbai as the existing capacity of the transmission corridor is not sufficient to carry further power into the city.

The release noted that Mumbai witnessed grid failure twice in recent times - on February 27, 2022, and on October 12, 2020 - localities across the metropolis went dark for a considerable period. The Kharghar-Vikhroli line will bring additional 1,000 MW reliable power to Mumbai city as a solution to mitigate any such incidents in the future, it said.

“With this project’s commissioning, Mumbai gets a 400 KV grid within its municipal geography, bringing enhanced import capability within its electricity grid and improving reliability and stability. For consumers, it provides much more sustainability to commuting through bullet trains, Metro Rail and city railways, as also for commercial and residential establishments,” it added.

KVTL comprises around 74 circuit kilometres of 400 kV and 220 kV transmission lines, along with a 1,500 MVA 400kV Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) at Vikhroli, the first 400KV substation of its kind in Mumbai. Occupying approximately 9,500 sq m area, it has the most compact design when it comes to 400 KV substations. Its unique design vertically stacks 400kV and 220kV GIS, thus minimising space requirements.

Adani Group company said that it braved a number of challenges while laying the line, mainly in surmounting difficult terrain, but these were overcome with the use of technology and innovation. For instance, six towers were constructed in creeks using heavy rigs on floating barges. In urban areas, height restrictions in some locations were overcome by adopting special horizontal configuration towers.

The KVTL project starts in the Kharghar area of Navi Mumbai, traverses through its urban locations and terminates at Vikhroli in Mumbai city. The project includes major elements such as 400 kV/220 kV GIS Vikhroli substation, having 1500 MVA transformation capacity; air insulated system switchyard at Kharghar; 400 kV double/multi circuit Kharghar-Vikhroli line; 400 kV loop in loop out (LILO) on Talegaon-Kalwa line at Vikhroli; and 220 kV LILO on Trombay-Salsette line at Vikhroli.

AESL is the country’s largest private transmission company with a cumulative network of 18,875 circuit kilometres, of which 14,279 ckm are operational and 4,596 ckm are in various stages of construction. ATL also operates a distribution business, serving 12 million+ consumers in Mumbai. 

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed by investment experts on fortuneindia.com are either their own or of their organisations, but not necessarily that of fortuneindia.com and its editorial team. Readers are advised to consult certified experts before taking investment decisions.