The Electrification Systems business of GE Vernova Inc., has been awarded a contract by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), India’s national transmission utility, to refurbish the Chandrapur back-to-back High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link – a key 1,000 MW interconnection between the country’s western and southern grid systems. This marks GE Vernova’s first HVDC refurbishment contract in India.
The 1,000 MW back-to-back HVDC link plays a pivotal role in balancing regional power flows between India’s western and southern regions. Originally commissioned in the late 1990s, the link enables bi-directional energy transfer between fossil-rich and hydro-rich zones – improving dispatch efficiency and conserving regional energy reserves.
Under the new contract, GE Vernova will upgrade both 500 MW converter stations at each end – Chandrapur (Western region) to Ramagundam (Southern region) – modernising the HVDC control and protection systems and replacing the legacy converter valves with advanced technology manufactured at GE Vernova’s facilities in India.
Commenting on the order, Johan Bindele, Leader of GE Vernova’s Grid Systems Integration business and teams, said, “This landmark contract reinforces our long-standing relationship with POWERGRID and our commitment to India’s grid modernisation. Refurbishing this HVDC link with next-generation controls and digital capabilities will not only enhance its reliability but also strengthen India’s efforts toward a secure and sustainable power system.”
Refurbishment of HVDC systems involves upgrading essential components such as converter valves, automation systems and grid protection infrastructure, all while ensuring minimal operational disruption.
