The Next Big Surge in India’s Power Story
When India met its all-time peak power demand of 241 GW on June 9, 2025 without any shortage, it wasn’t just a technical achievement—it was a declaration. A declaration that India is no longer just coping with energy demands, but preparing to lead the future of global power infrastructure.
Behind the scenes, this seamless grid performance hints at something transformational: the coming of Ultra-High Voltage Alternating Current (UHVAC) transmission lines. Touted as the arteries of India’s “Grid 2034” vision, these 1,100 kV superhighways are expected to radically rewire the way energy is moved, stored, and shared across the nation.
But are we truly ready for a 1,100 kV leap? And will these giant lines be the gamechanger India’s renewable-driven future demands?
Understanding UHVAC: What Is It, and Why Now?
As the name implies, Ultra High Voltage AC transmission describes electric power lines operating at 1,000 kV and over. UHVAC can transfer great amounts of electric power, or thousands of megawatts, over long distances and with limited energy losses, resulting in cost savings over time.
In a country like India, where renewable generation is geographically concentrated (solar in Rajasthan, wind in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, hydro in the Northeast and Uttarakhand), transmitting that power to major demand centers in cities requires long-distance, high-efficiency solutions.
UHVAC answers that need.
India’s UHVAC Goals: Vision for Grid 2034
Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal, while addressing the press on June 10, 2025, outlined a landmark vision for India’s power sector. Among the several announcements, one stood tall: the rollout of nine UHVAC transmission lines (1,100 kV) and ten ultra-high voltage substations by the year 2034, backed by a planned investment of ₹53,000 crore.
This vision is supported by the Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) who already has use-case testing facilities and simulation tools in place to ensure safe, reliable, and systematic integration of UHVAC components.
The aim? A fully interconnected, loss-minimized, and renewable-ready national grid.
The Infrastructure Edge: Why UHVAC Is a Gamechanger
- Higher Capacity with Fewer Corridors
A single UHVAC transmission corridor can transmit more than 6,000 MW—equivalent to several 765 kV lines. This dramatically reduces land requirements and eases Right-of-Way (RoW) issues—historically a major roadblock in infrastructure development. - Lower Transmission Losses
Every percent of power lost in transmission is a financial and environmental cost. UHVAC systems reduce these losses significantly, especially over distances exceeding 800 km. - Future-Ready Grid
With India targeting 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, we’ll need an intelligent, responsive grid. UHVAC lines can handle intermittent renewable flows better by distributing loads more evenly and flexibly.
Tech Backbone: Indigenous R&D Is Already Powering the Transition
India isn’t starting from scratch. In 2012, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) and BHEL developed and tested the world’s first 1,200 kV UHVAC transformer at Bina, Madhya Pradesh.
Over the last decade, India has successfully built:
- A 1,200 kV single-circuit test transmission line,
- Advanced GIS-based substations for high voltage handling,
- Indigenous transformers and insulators for super high voltages.
This homegrown tech capability gives India an edge: cost-efficiency, strategic autonomy, and export potential.
Global Inspirations: Learning from China’s UHVAC Leap
China’s spending on UHVAC equipment has made the country a dominant force in the world of long-distance renewable power transmission, amassing more than 30,000 km of UHVAC and UHVDC lines to transmit hydro supply from Tibet, solar supplies from Gansu, and wind supply from Inner Mongolia to its industrial core.
India appears to be building out a vision inspired by that story, but unlike China, it is building a transmission backbone, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and grid-level AI-powered automation.
Storage + UHVAC = A Power Couple
- In addition to Grid 2034, the government has launched the ₹5,400 crore Viability Gap Funding (VGF) as part of its initiative for 30 GWh of battery energy storage projects.
- Together with pumped hydro (like the newly commissioned 250 MW Tehri PSP), these storage technologies will ensure that UHVAC isn’t just about transporting power—but managing it intelligently.
- Add to this the waiver of ISTS charges for storage projects till June 2028, and it becomes clear: India is thinking not just transmission, but transformation.
Challenges on the Horizon
No infrastructure revolution is without hurdles:
- Complex relay protection and system coordination are required at 1,100 kV.
- High initial capital costs and the need for a uniform regulatory framework.
- Land acquisition and RoW delays despite revised compensation policies.
However, with policy will, public-private partnerships, and indigenous manufacturing strengths, these challenges are surmountable.
Reimagining India’s Power Highways
Grid 2034 is not just a transmission project—it’s a national ambition. An ambition to support massive renewable growth, to ensure every household has 24×7 power, and to make India a global leader in smart grid infrastructure.
UHVAC won’t be the only solution—but it may be the most powerful one.
As India rewires itself for the next decade, Ultra High Voltage AC won’t just carry electricity—it will carry the future.
