Push for grid stability: Grid India proposes repurposing underutilised thermal plants

📌 Summary:

• The Grid Controller of India (Grid India) identified nine underutilised/idle thermal units (~1.8 GW; eight coal/lignite, one gas) for conversion into synchronous condensers (SYNCONs) to strengthen grid reliability as renewable capacity scales rapidly
• A synchronous condenser is a generator that spins freely without producing electricity, instead supplying inertia, reactive power and voltage support — an "electrical shock absorber" — offsetting the falling stabilising influence of thermal plants as solar and wind rise
• The plants span five states: Rajasthan (Giral, Kota, Dholpur gas), Gujarat (Akrimota, Kutch lignite), Maharashtra (GEPL-I, Mihan), Karnataka (Raichur) and Tamil Nadu (Tuticorin)
• The need was underscored by the June 2024 grid event — tripping of the Champa-Kurukshetra HVDC link caused ~16.5 GW load loss in the Northern Region and exposed voltage-stability challenges
• The proposal follows an April summer-preparedness review under Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal; the US, UK and Mexico were cited as precedents for such conversions

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — energy infrastructure, renewable-energy integration, and grid stability.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• A SYNCON provides inertia, reactive power, voltage support and short-circuit current
• Champa-Kurukshetra is an HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) link
• ~1.8 GW across nine units in five states identified

🔑 Key Term: Synchronous Condenser — a rotating machine that supplies reactive power and inertia to stabilise grid voltage and frequency without generating active power.