Maharashtra plans upgrade of Chandrapur–Padghe HVDC link

Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (MSETCL) has proposed a new scheme to upgrade the control and protection system of the Chandrapur–Padghe high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission link. The project, approved by the Maharashtra Transmission Committee (MTC), has been submitted to the state’s Grid Coordination Committee (GCC) for final clearance.

To be implemented under the regulated tariff mechanism (RTM), the upgrade is estimated to cost Rs 5.1 billion and is scheduled for commissioning during the financial year 2027–28.

Commissioned in 1999, the ±500 kV, 1,500 MW Chandrapur–Padghe HVDC bipole is a vital transmission corridor connecting the coal-rich eastern region to the load centres in western Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Pune and Nashik. Developed by a consortium of ABB Ltd and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), the link plays a central role in maintaining grid stability and bulk power transfer across the state.

The Chandrapur–Padghe link is the first HVDC line to serve Mumbai and spans a distance of 752 km. It was originally constructed to supplement Maharashtra’s 400 kV AC corridors, which can safely carry only about 1,200 MW. The HVDC line provides an additional 1,500 MW capacity, helping stabilise the state’s grid and reducing transmission losses.

However, the control and protection system currently in use is based on an outdated Single Board Computer (SBC) platform running on the legacy Disk Operating System (DOS). With no available spares or service support, the ageing system has caused increasing operational issues. Since 2014, at least 21 unplanned tripping incidents have been reported, mostly due to the failure of control system components.

MSETCL’s proposal involves replacing the existing system at both Chandrapur and Padghe converter stations with Hitachi Energy’s MACH (Modular Advanced Control for HVDC) system. The new control platform will include modules for bipole, pole, and auxiliary controls. MSETCL has noted that the MACH system will simplify fault tracing and improve reliability, while local support services are available in India.

The scheme has now been sent to the Grid Coordination Committee (GCC) for approval. The GCC oversees the implementation of the Maharashtra Electricity Grid Code (MEGC) 2020, issued by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC).