IIT-B to develop tool for Gujarat power utility

IIT-Bombay will develop analytics to provide Gujarat Electricity Transmission Corporation (Getco) real-time load data, which will help avoid a repeat of the major power breakdown of July 2012.

The analytics will help Gujarat maintain stable operation in the event of small disturbances.

"Dynamic stability analysis is necessary mainly because the grid is integrated. Any disturbance in one region can result in blackout in the other grid area as well," Getco MD Surinder Negi told reporters here today.

He said IIT-Bombay is developing a system protection that will provide real-time data to the load centre, which can then take emergency control action in case of disturbances.

The state will also set up 29 phasor measuring units (PMUs) on the grid, across the state that will get the accurate time-stamped voltage and current information through the analytics.

"PMUs will get the information through the system protection that will be passed on to the state load dispatch centre, which can take immediate action in case of any emergency," he said.

IIT-Bombay is also working with PowerGrid for a similar system protection to prevent power outages in case of over-drawl of electricity.

On July 30, 2012, the country had faced its worst-ever power outage after three of its regional grids -- Northern, Eastern and Northeastern-- collapsed, leaving millions of people without electricity for several hours.