Bangalore: The power sector in the country is making big strides and has successfully adopted international standards, according to Central Electricity Authority Chairman Rakesh Nath.

He was speaking after inaugurating a four-day international workshop and training programme on "IEC 61850 - communication networks and systems in substations and inter-operability demonstration," here on Tuesday. The workshop has been organised by the Central Power Research Institute (CPRI).

He said the country had an installed capacity of 1,24,000 MW. Power shortage was around eight to nine per cent, while peak shortage was around 12 per cent. By the end of the 10th Plan (2002-07), an additional 32,000 MW capacity would be added, while 60,000 MW would be added during the 11th Plan to meet the increasing demand, he said.

In June, the northern grid would be connected to the north-eastern, eastern and western grids. The southern grid would be connected to these by the end of the 11th Plan, he said. By 2011, 50,000-circuit km of HVDC (high voltage direct current) lines would be added to minimise losses.

The north-eastern region had 40,000 MW of hydroelectricity potential. "We have identified sites and will soon set up stations in the region," he said.

R.N. Nayak, Executive Director, Power Grid Corporation of India, who presided over the function, said that over the past year 100 substations of 400 kV capacity had been set up. By February 2007, the first 800-kV substation in the country would be in place.

"We have to plan and implement a system that requires less manpower, which is why automation of substations is essential. More unmanned stations will have to be set up," he said.

Mr. Nayak also said that data acquisition systems have to be put in place in the substations for accurate monitoring, correct data reading and protection.

N. Murugesan of the CPRI said the key factor in IEC 61850 is inter-operability, which is defined as the ability of two or more IEDs from the same or different vendors to exchange information and use it for correct execution of specified functions.

Karl Hans Schwartz from Germany spoke. CPRI Director-General A.K. Tripathy welcomed the gathering. Over 300 delegates from India and other countries are participating in the workshop.

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