Ground-breaking ceremony for India’s first green energy corridor project

The ground breaking ceremony marked the beginning of work on India's first green energy corridor project with a ultrahigh-voltage direct current (UHVDC) link over 1800km to bring power to 80 million people. This link is also a key element of integrating renewable energy with the main grid. It will integrate thermal and wind energy for transmission of power to high consumption centers located thousands of kilometers away, supporting electricity demands in the south, when wind strength is low, and transmitting clean energy to the north, when there is excess wind power.

The project helmed by Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID) and being executed by ABB in partnership with BHEL, is in aligned with government's focus on renewable energy and 24x7 reliable power for all. HVDC technology has assumed greater significance worldwide due to the energy revolution and India is no exception, to transmit more power over longer distances minimizing losses.

This project is also a great example of the Make in India initiative where design, engineering, manufacturing of major components and project execution is done locally.

Key dignitaries present at the Raigarh-Pugalur (RP) green energy corridor ground-breaking ceremony:  

Mr. Patrick Fragman - Managing Director, BU PGGI, ABB Group | Mr. RP Sasmal - Director Operation, PGCIL | Mr. A Mathur- Director – BHEL | Mr. Pitamber Shivnani - LDM- PG India, ABB India | Mr. R N Singh  - Executive Director, RP Project  - PGCIL | Mr. Saji S – Hub Manager, BU PGGI, India, ABB| Mr. Andrew McGlade - Project Director RP Project, ABB | Mr. Saroj Burman - Project Manager - RP Project, ABB | Abhay Kumar- Technical Director, RP Project, ABB | Sebastian Burgers –Finance Director, RP Project, ABB | Atul Saxena – Project Control, RP Project, ABB | Tommy Lovehagen – Quality –Head, ABB.  The picture also includes other team members from PGCIL, ABB and BHEL.