KE’s Dhabeji Grid & NTDC Line to Reduce Wind Power Cuts: PPIB
The Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) announced that the completion of KE’s 220 kV Dhabeji Grid Station and the NTDC transmission line will alleviate power curtailment issues faced by existing wind projects. Wind Independent Power Producers (WIPPs) highlighted to the government that operational wind projects have been experiencing increasing curtailments, primarily due to low local demand in the HESCO area and system-wide transmission constraints.
According to a report, PPIB acknowledged that the compensation mechanism, based on the Non-Project Missed Volume (NPMV) concept, undervalues energy loss experienced by wind projects during curtailments. This discrepancy affects their ability to break even, determined by their capacity factors and NEPRA tariffs.
To address these challenges, PPIB suggested eliminating system-wide transmission constraints, requiring significant infrastructure developments such as the Matiari – Moro – Rahim Yar Khan 500 kV transmission line and Battery Energy Storage Systems deployment in the South.
PPIB anticipates that with the completion of KE’s Dhabeji Grid Station, connected to NTDC’s Jhimpir-II Grid Station, a substantial amount of power can be evacuated efficiently through KE’s system, reducing curtailment. NTDCL agreed to expedite the construction of a 220 kV transmission line to link Jhimpir-II with Dhabeji, aiming for completion by June 2024.
In summary, PPIB’s initiatives aim to address the increasing curtailment challenges faced by wind Independent Power Producers by enhancing transmission infrastructure and improving compensation mechanisms, ultimately ensuring more efficient operation of existing wind projects.
