This Rs 1000-crore HVDC inter-connection is being constructed by the Power Grid Corp of India Ltd (PowerGrid) with an aim to supply surplus power from eastern region to southern region. At present eastern region has surplus power of about 1000 mw during peak hours and 2000 mw during off-peak hours.

The peak off-peak power demand ratio in eastern region is about 2:1 and the peak load duration is hardly a period of 15 to 20 per cent of the day and base load constitutes only 50 to 55 per cent of the peak load.

"Though with the existing facility eastern region can export 20 million units (MUs) a day, on an average, 10 mu is exported outside the region. The present export is constrained by the commercial issues and transmissionlimitations. This HVDC inter-connection will help both DVC and NTPC to supply a part of their surplus power to power-starved southern region," said DVC's projects director A Roychoudhuri.

The amount of power to be exported by the two power companies through the Gajuwaka-Jeypore has not yet been finalised. A senior official of NTPC said this largest power company will not need any new agreement with PowerGrid as the existing agreement is enough for that.

Generation capacities of the two companies continued to remain under-utilised over the years due to non-availability of adequate HVDC links between the eastern and other regions. And DVC suffered most as it is being compelled to run its power plants at a PLF of 39 per cent against the national average of 64 per cent.

Out of the total 14,500 mw installed generation capacities of the eastern region, DVC's share is 2761mw and that of NTPC 3440mw excluding 460mw capacity of Talcher thermal power station in Orissa for which NTPC has a separate agreement withGridco.

The highest transmission voltage in eastern region steadily rose from 132kv to 400kv based on the needs of quantum and distances of power transmission.

As per the need of the day, 400kv lines have been developed as the backbone of interconnection with the national grid. For catering to the core sectors like steel, coal, traction etc the region has developed 4000 circuit kms (ckm) of 400kv lines, 8800 ckm of 220kv lines and 11,700 ckm of 132kv lines.