Andhra Pradesh Transco has sent its final plan for the big Green Energy Corridor-III to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
VIJAYAWADA, Andhra Pradesh – August 15, 2025:During the Independence Day celebration, Kirti, Joint Managing Director, said that Andhra Pradesh Transco officially sent the final plan for the Green Energy Corridor-III (GEC-III) to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). The project will help the state transmit green energy better, costing around ₹28,033 crore. It’s a key part of Andhra Pradesh’s plan for using sustainable energy in the future.
Details
The GEC-III project aims to build a strong transmission network that can handle the increasing amount of renewable energy the state produces. The plan includes building 8,862 circuit kilometers (ckm) of new high-voltage transmission lines. These lines will create a special grid that moves power from renewable energy plants to where it’s needed across the state.
The corridor will also help link 11 GW of solar power and 7,373 MW of pumped storage projects. The project includes adding 9,500 MVA of substation capacity. These new additions show that the Andhra Pradesh government is serious about green energy and wants to be a leader in India’s switch to it.
Why Green Energy Corridors Matter
The GEC-III plan is important because it’s part of a bigger effort to build a green energy transmission network nationwide. Renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, can be inconsistent and are often far away. Green Energy Corridors fix this by creating a dedicated transmission system that can move electricity from where it’s made to where it’s needed without messing up the existing grid.
India’s national Green Energy Corridor Project, which is being built in stages, is important for reaching the country’s goal of having 500 GW of energy capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030. The Andhra Pradesh GEC-III project will play a big part in this, helping to make sure the state’s solar and wind can be used to their full potential.
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Pumped Storage
A special part of Andhra Pradesh’s plan is using 7,373 MW of pumped storage projects. This technology can really help keep the grid stable when using renewable energy. Pumped storage uses extra electricity from solar farms during the day to pump water from a lower reservoir to a higher one. When the sun sets and power generation drops, the water flows back down, turning turbines to create electricity.
This acts like a big battery, storing energy that would otherwise be wasted and making it available when needed. Including so much pumped storage in the GEC-III plan shows that Andhra Pradesh is thinking ahead. They’re planning for how to deal with the unpredictable nature of renewable energy, making sure there’s a reliable power supply for everyone.
Good for the Economy and the Environment
The GEC-III project should really help Andhra Pradesh’s economy and environment. The construction phase should create jobs in engineering, construction, and manufacturing. Once it’s up and running, the project will attract more investment in renewable energy, creating more jobs.
The project will also help the environment by letting the state use 11 GW of solar power, which will reduce the amount of electricity generated from fossil fuels. This will help India meet its climate change goals and help Andhra Pradesh get closer to becoming a net-zero state by 2047.
Andhra Pradesh’s Big Energy Plan
The GEC-III plan is part of a bigger clean energy strategy that the Andhra Pradesh government is working on. The state recently started India’s first Integrated Clean Energy (ICE) Policy, 2024, aiming to be a leader in the clean energy transition. This policy is meant to make the state appealing to investors and innovators in renewable energy.
Andhra Pradesh is also running government programs to encourage clean energy use. This includes using solar-powered agricultural pumps under the PM-KUSUM scheme, which helps farmers save on electricity bills and reduce emissions. The state is also promoting rooftop solar under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, helping households produce their own clean energy. These efforts, along with the GEC-III project, show a well-rounded plan for a sustainable energy future.
What’s Next?
Now that the Central Electricity Authority has the plan, they’ll review it in detail. The CEA will look at the project’s technical, financial, and regulatory pieces. This is important before anything can start. The project will probably face challenges, like getting land and sign-offs on environmental impact, but the state government is dedicated to the project, so they will address the challenges.
If the Green Energy Corridor-III is done, not only would Andhra Pradesh be seen as high in renewable energy, but it would also be a starting point for other states in India and around the world. It shows an investment in the setup that is required for a cleaner, greener, and more stable energy future.
