India Transmission Line Market Assessment, By Type, By Voltage Range, By Application, By End-user, By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, FY2018-FY2032F

India Transmission Line market is expected to observe a CAGR of 3.80% during the forecast period FY2025- FY2032, rising from USD 5.35 billion in FY2024 to USD 7.21 billion in FY2032. Transmission lines are crucial for India's energy infrastructure as these lines allow efficient electricity transmission from power-producing sources to the customers. With the acceleration of the country's industrial growth and urbanization, the overall demand for electricity supply is increasing exponentially. Moreover, transmission lines help to incorporate renewable energy sources such as solar and wind into the grid, thereby boosting sustainability. These lines improve grid stability and reduce transmission losses, resulting in efficient energy distribution across long distances, thereby augmenting market growth. Finally, a strong transmission infrastructure is crucial for economic development, energy security, and satisfying the demands of an expanding population.

For instance, in October 2024, the National Electricity Plan was introduced by the Cabinet Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs. The plan highlighted the development of nearly 191,000 circuit kilometers (ckm) of transmission lines to improve the country's energy infrastructure by FY2032. Moreover, the plan stated that the inter-regional transmission capacity is anticipated to expand to 143 GW by FY2027 and 168 GW by FY2032, compared to the current level of 119 GW.

Introduction of Smart Grid Systems are Augmenting Market Growth

The demand for smart grid systems is rising continuously across the country. Smart grids provide real-time monitoring and control of the electricity network. Moreover, these grids enhance efficiency, reduce power losses due to transmission, and allow the integration of diverse sources of renewable energy. Further, smart grids play a vital role in improving grid resilience by supporting rapid fault detection, along with resolution and improvement of demand response. Thus, the smart grid solutions help develop more reliable and flexible transmission infrastructure to meet the country's ever-changing energy requirements, which, in turn, is significantly driving market growth.

For example, in October 2024, Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited (GETCO) announced the upgrade of its transmission infrastructure through smart grid projects, emphasizing improving efficiency, reliability, and renewable energy integration. The initiative will allow for real-time monitoring and automation of the electrical grid, reducing the transmission line power losses and enhancing service quality, fueling market growth. By deploying modern technologies, GETCO hopes to boost the grid's resilience, improve demand management, and meet the expanding energy consumption of the state. This, in turn, will help to create a more sustainable and reliable power system across Gujarat, promoting the adoption rate of smart grids.

Increase in Expenditure on the Transmission Network is Driving Market Growth

India is planning to invest heavily in enhancing the transmission network to meet the growing demand for power supply and support economic development throughout the country. By strengthening the transmission infrastructure, India aims to provide electricity access in rural areas, increase the flexibility of the electrical transmission line network and create a more efficient and robust energy system for the future. The energy system will, in turn, help to mitigate power outages and enable the integration of renewable energy sources in the transmission network for efficient electricity supply across the nation, thereby propelling market growth.

In April 2023, the Indian government announced the Prime Minister's Gati Shakti Master Plan for further expanding the country's transmission network. The government plans to invest a huge amount of USD 8920.36 million as India intends to increase its power transmission network from 425,500 circuit kilometers (ckm) to 454,200 ckm by FY2024-FY2025. This extension, proposed by Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS), will add roughly 28,700 km of transmission lines, with voltages of 220 kV and higher. The effort aims to improve connections, increase power supply reliability, and meet rising energy demands, thereby resulting in a more efficient and robust energy infrastructure across the country.

The Rise in the Necessity of Overhead Transmission Lines is Fueling Market Growth

Currently, the overhead transmission lines are in huge demand in India due to the immense demand for clean energy supply and the continuous requirement to distribute electrical power over vast distances. Overhead transmission lines are inexpensive, easy to install, and much more efficient in power transmission as compared to the underground alternatives. As urbanization and access to electricity increases, overhead transmission lines bring quicker connectivity and higher dependability for power supply systems across the country, thereby driving market growth.

For instance, in May 2024, Uttar Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (UPPTCL) topped the list of state utilities by installing 1,460 circuit kilometers (ckm) of overhead transmission lines rated at 220 kV or higher. One of the most notable installations of UPPTCL is the 220 kV double-circuit transmission line that connects Maharajgang substation to PGCIL's 400kV Gorakhpur substation spanning over a distance of 174 ckm. Moreover, UPPTCL announced that it plans to install a 400 kV double-circuit transmission line from Aligarh to Shamli. These developments in transmission line networks highlighted UPPTCL's leadership in improvising India's transmission network, thereby driving the demand for transmission lines in the country.

Western and Central India to Emerge as the Market Leader

Western and central India emerged as the market leader due to the presence of a robust power transmission infrastructure in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Moreover, a continuous rise in demand for electricity across these states is further driving the need for an enhanced level of grid connectivity, which fosters the demand for transmission lines in the market. In August 2023, as per the Ministry of Power, in FY2023, West India topped the list with an overall power generation capacity of 550921.14 million units (MUs), covering 34.05% of the total power generation capacity of the country.

For instance, in August 2024, Tata Power Company Limited submitted a proposal to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) for upgrading its overall power transmission infrastructure capacity to nearly 15,000 MW. Moreover, Tata Power's Mumbai transmission network supplies electrical power to Mumbai and MMR (Mumbai Metropolitan Regions), extending to the Raigad district in the southwestern part of Maharashtra. The utility has a transmission capacity greater than 10,000 kVA and spans over a network of 1,200 ckt km. The transmission network caters to nearly 70% of Mumbai's electricity requirement, aiding market growth.

Future Market Scenario (FY2025 - FY2032)

The future transmission landscape of India will be shaped by technological innovations such as High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) systems and smart grid technology. These innovations are designed to reduce transmission losses and increase grid stability, facilitating the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources. As India moves towards a more interconnected network, these technologies play a key role in improving power delivery's overall efficiency and reliability nationwide.

Government regulations support the expansion of the transmission sector. India's Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) introduced new licensing regulations to facilitate competitive bidding for electricity transmission projects. This change will attract private investment and increase operational efficiency in the region by accelerating the development of critical infrastructure required for a strong electricity transmission network.

A significant investment towards the research and development (R&D) activities by the Indian government is anticipated to lead to the advent of extensive technologies in power transmission across the country, which, in turn, will cater to extensive opportunities for growth in the future.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

Indian market players are continuously competing amongst themselves to secure a significant market share. Companies are actively encouraging R&D activities by spending a huge amount on them to derive new technologies for power transmission across the country. Driven by the country's extensive power distribution network, the organizations are forming new strategic partnerships to increase transmission efficiency and reduce costs.

In August 2024, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (POWERGRID) acquired Rajasthan IV E Power Transmission Ltd (RIVEPTL) for USD 2.19 million after winning a bid under Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding. This project involves establishing a new 765 kV substation at Rishabhdeo, Rajasthan, along with 765 kV DC transmission lines. The initiative aims to facilitate the evacuation of power from renewable energy zones and is part of a broader effort to enhance India's transmission infrastructure for sustainable energy.