National Smart Grid Mission: States told to submit plans

News:

• Power Grid Corporation is preparing to award the country’s first technology trial for grid connected energy storage.
• The Centre has invited proposals from states on setting up two-three smart grid systems in proposed smart cities in each state as part of the National Smart Grid Mission.
• India Smart Grid Forum is a body floated jointly by the power ministry and the industry.
• If successfully implemented, the smart grid project will bring down disruption in power lines, reduce equipment failure and minimise distribution losses as well as illegal drawl of power.
• The second phase of the mission involves smart grid projects in smart cities.
• Under the first phase the Centre approved 14 projects.
•  India is also planning to test massive power storage systems.While such projects essentially involve installing large batteries that can store a few megawatts of power, it has never been tried in the country before.
• Large fluctuations in power flow in the grid can collapse the grid and bring thermal power capacities to half, leading to largescale blackouts.

Source: ET