Important Facts For Prelims
One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency: National Grid
- 01 Jan 2022
- 2 min read
Why in News
Recently, the Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd (PGCIL) celebrated the anniversary of operationalization of One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency i.e National Grid.
Key Points
- Evolution of National Grid:
- The national grid management on a regional basis started in the sixties.
- The Indian Power system for planning and operational purposes is divided into five regional grids.
- The integration of regional grids, and thereby establishment of National Grid, was conceptualised in the early nineties.
- Initially, State grids were interconnected to form a regional grid and India was demarcated into 5 regions namely Northern, Eastern, Western, North Eastern and Southern region.
- In 1991 North Eastern and Eastern grids were connected. Further, in 2003, Western region grid was connected with it.
- In august 2006 North and East grids were interconnected thereby 4 regional grids are synchronously connected forming a central grid operating at one frequency.
- On 31st December 2013, the southern Region was connected to the Central Grid. Thereby achieving 'One Nation, One Grid, One Frequency’.
- All possible measures are taken to ensure that the grid frequency always remains within the 49.90-50.05 Hz (hertz) band.
Importance of One Frequency
- Maintaining a consistent electrical frequency is important because multiple frequencies cannot operate alongside each other without damaging equipment.
- This has serious implications when providing electricity at a national scale.
- Capacity of National Grid:
- Presently, the country has a total inter-regional transmission capacity of about 1,12,250 MW which is expected to be enhanced to about 1,18,740 MW by 2022.
- Benefits of One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency:
- Matching Demand-Supply: Synchronisation of all regional grids will help in optimal utilization of scarce natural resources by transfer of Power from Resource centric regions to Load centric regions.
- Development of Electricity Market: Further, this shall pave the way for establishment of a vibrant Electricity market facilitating trading of power across regions.
