Centre plans to enhance the power transmission capacity in the country by almost three times by 2020, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday, adding that South India has achieved power surplus status due to various initiatives.
“We have brought solar revolution in a big way to India. In the last two years, there was highest ever renewable energy capacity expansion in wind and solar. In fact, solar energy capacity, which was 2,400 mw in 2014, has now crossed 7,000 mw,” the Goyal told reporters here.
Stating that gas-based power plants which were lying idle for lack of fuel have now started operations, he said most of these plants are in South India. He said as much as 71 per cent of transmission capacity from the Northern and Eastern grids have been connected to South India. “All these steps put together have led to South India becoming power surplus. They have the ability to provide power 24/7 throughout South India,” he said.