GoI plans grid expansion, battery storage
Sajid Raina
New Delhi, Jul 31 : The Government of India on Wednesday acknowledged that not all villages in the Union Territory of Ladakh have access to 24×7 electricity during the harsh winter months, when solar power output significantly drops.
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik outlined current electrification methods, ongoing infrastructure projects, and future energy plans for the region.
Currently, the remote areas of Nubra, Zanskar, and Changthang rely on small hydroelectric projects, solar PV plants, and diesel generators. To address the gap in reliable grid power, transmission infrastructure is being developed.
Key projects include the 220 kV Nubra and Zanskar lines, as well as 66 kV lines to Nyoma and Durbuk.
Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), works worth Rs 687 crore have been sanctioned, including 567 crore for providing grid access to Changthang.
The already-commissioned 220 kV Srinagar-Leh line (335 km) connects Ladakh to the national grid. Additional transmission projects, Phyang-Disket and Drass-Padum, are under construction and expected to be completed by October 2026.
The government is also pushing next-generation energy storage solutions. Projects underway include a 25 MW AC solar plant with a 40 MWh battery storage system in Taru and a 7 MW solar project with 9 MWh BESS at Stakna. Further storage-backed solar projects are planned for Nubra and Zanskar.
However, carbon-neutral energy audits for government and defence buildings in the region have not yet been conducted.
The initiatives aim to improve power reliability in one of India’s most challenging terrains, with a long-term goal of ensuring uninterrupted electricity in all of Ladakh’s villages especially during winters—(KNO)
