Central Power Research Institute, Bangalore
The 400 kV transmission voltage which was introduced in India in 1978 is serving the country well and a 400 kV EHV network is now taking shape. Although the voltage level of 400 kV may be able to meet the requirements of the country for a number of years to come, it is opportune time to think of the next voltage level to be adopted in the country.
In this paper, the need for next higher voltage is discussed. The need for detailed investigations to be carried out on an experimental line, which will take into consideration the specific climatological, environmental and topographical conditions obtaining in India as also broad details of similar UHV set-ups in the world are discussed. The broad details of the set-up planned in Hyderabad and the R&D programme envisaged are discussed.
