The Union Cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, authorized the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II - Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) project for a 13 gigatonne renewable energy project in Ladakh. The project is scheduled to be completed by fiscal 2029-30 at a total projected cost of Rs 20,773.70 crore, with federal financial aid covering 40% of the project cost - Rs 8,309.48 crore.

 

Keeping in view the complex terrain, adverse climatic conditions and defence sensitivities of the Ladakh region, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) will be the implementing agency for this project. The transmission line for evacuating this to-be-produced power will pass through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab up to Kaithal in Haryana, where it will be integrated with the national grid, as per economic times.

 

An hookup from this project in Leh to the current Ladakh grid is also planned to guarantee Ladakh has a dependable electricity supply.

 

"It will also be connected to the Leh-Alusteng-Srinagar line to provide power to Jammu and Kashmir. The project will entail setting up of 713 km transmission lines (including 480 km HVDC line) and 5 GW capacity of HVDC terminal each at Pang (Ladakh) and Kaithal (Haryana)," the government said.

 

The project will help to meet the aim of 500 GW of installed energy capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030. Prime Minister Modi promised the establishment of a 7.5 GW solar park in Ladakh during his Independence Day speech in 2020.