Image credit: GE Vernova

GE Vernova Inc. has secured a contract from Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) to modernize the Chandrapur back-to-back High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link, a critical 1,000-megawatt (MW) power transmission interconnection between India’s western and southern electricity grids.

The project marks GE Vernova’s first HVDC refurbishment contract in India and will be executed by its Electrification Systems business. The scope includes upgrading the control and protection systems and replacing legacy converter valves at the two 500 MW converter stations located in Chandrapur (Western Region) and Ramagundam (Southern Region). The new equipment will be manufactured at GE Vernova’s facilities in India.

Originally commissioned in the late 1990s, the HVDC link enables bi-directional power transfer between regions with different energy profiles, supporting grid stability and efficient dispatch. Modernization is expected to extend the asset’s operational life, improve reliability, and enhance flexibility to accommodate higher levels of renewable energy.

According to Johan Bindele, Leader of GE Vernova’s Grid Systems Integration business, the upgrade will strengthen system reliability and support India’s grid modernization efforts.

The refurbishment aligns with India’s broader transmission upgrade initiatives as the country works toward its target of 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, highlighting the growing role of HVDC infrastructure in enabling long-distance power transfer and renewable integration.

Source: GE Vernova