Advait Energy Transitions Limited (Advait ETL) has won four turnkey contracts worth a total of ₹250.59 crore from Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) to upgrade its OHT and LT electricity distribution networks to underground cable networks in Gujarat. The projects will be implemented in 18 months and will include remote corners of Bhavnagar, Bhuj and Porbandar and are a part of the state's overall works of strengthening electricity infrastructure with underground power distribution, Advait Energy Transitions, PGVCL, Gujarat power infrastructure, underground cable projects and power distribution modernisation.

These contracts cover the entire design, engineering, procurement, installation, testing and commissioning of the works, including GIS mapping, asset tagging and Ring Main Systems. The projects are part of the trend for Indian power utilities to modernise electricity distribution networks to ensure that they are more reliable, safer for the public, and more manageable with a “smart” approach. The adoption of digital mapping technologies is anticipated to help with the effective maintenance and future planning of distribution assets.

Each of the projects is located in a different distribution circle and each has 4 Projects.Each Distribution Circle has 4 Projects in each.

The four contracts have been released under four different packages in Gujarat. The price of package 18 is ₹58.25 crore, which includes Adhewada (Akwada) in the Bhavnagar Circle. Under Bhuj Circle, package 43 worth ₹64.20 crore would be implemented in Mandvi-city. In the Porbandar Circle, Package 58 for Ranavav is valued at ₹52.58 crore and the largest of the four is Package 61 valued at ₹75.56 crore in Udyognagar.

The total investment of the two projects, including tax, is ₹250.59 crore and they will be completed in 18 months each. All four projects are part of PGVCL's SI Scheme and are to be converted from existing overhead (HT & LT) power distribution networks to underground cable systems.

Concentrate on Digital and Resilient Power Networks

In addition to underground cabling, the projects include multiple components of digital infrastructure that seek to enhance electricity distribution asset management. These include GIS Mapping or Geo Urja Mapping developed by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL), Ring Main Systems and asset tagging.

GIS-enabled mapping should give the utilities improved visibility of network assets, which should enable more efficient maintenance, quicker fault identification and better planning for future network expansion. Ring Main Systems are also engineered to increase the reliability of the network by maintaining electricity service continuity when maintenance or equipment failure occurs.

In recent years the growing use of underground cable systems by utilities has been driven by the fact that they are less susceptible to damage and disruption from the elements and are less likely to pose safety hazards from overhead systems in the event of accidental damage. This also makes urban landscapes cleaner and electricity networks more resilient towards residential, commercial and industrial consumers.

Advances in industry trends are driving distribution upgrades.Distribution upgrading is being propelled by industry trends.

The current contract wins are timely as India's power sector is increasingly focusing on upgrading itself across distribution networks as well as investments in power generation and transmission. State utilities are placing attention on improving last-mile electricity delivery, as utilities have made great investments in renewable energy generation and transmission corridors in the last few years.

Modern underground distribution systems play an important role in this transition by helping to mitigate power outages due to storms, enhance operational efficiencies, and enable the adoption of advanced digital technologies in electricity networks.

Adding GIS-based asset management will also support the ongoing trend of utilities to digitise network operations and enhance service reliability via data-driven infrastructure management.

Company Highlights are short statements outlining the company's role in long-term infrastructure.

Shalin Sheth, Founder and Managing Director of Advait Energy Transitions Limited commented on the development, "Today, power infrastructure in India is moving to a state where distribution modernisation is as critical as adding more generation and transmission capacity. He said underground cabling, digital asset mapping and intelligent network design are aiding in the creation of safer, more resilient and future-ready electric power systems.

Four strategic projects at once is an expression of the trust reposed in the company's execution prowess and its contribution to the nation's power infrastructure, Sheth said.

Increasing presence in India's Power Sector:

The new contracts further bolster Advait Energy Transitions' capability in the power distribution division and expand its scope of operations in the power transmission, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) space, renewable energy infrastructure, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and green hydrogen technology provided to India.

Turnkey projects that integrate engineering solutions, cutting-edge mapping, and monitoring tools are likely to be key components in India's energy transition, helping to enhance the reliability of the power distribution system.