Govt okays augmentation of High Power Short Circuit Test Facilities for ₹996 Crore

In order to serve the growing needs of Research & Development in the Indian Power Sector including, development of advanced Testing Facilities, Government has accorded investment approval of Rs.996 crore for capital projects of Central Power Research Institute (CPRI). This will support augmentation of High Power Short Circuit Facilities as well as establishment of new test facilities in existing laboratories of CPRI, located at Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkota, Guwahati, Noida and Nagpur. In addition, a new laboratory will also be established in Western Region at Nasik.

CPRI, with its headquarters at Bengaluru, is an autonomous society under the aegis of the Ministry of Power, Govt of India. It was set up to serve as a National level laboratory for undertaking applied research in electrical power engineering, besides functioning as an independent test and certification authority for electrical equipment and components for ensuring reliability in the power system.

The main facilities proposed to be set up/augmented under the approved projects, include the following:

i. Short Circuit Test Facilities

ii. Transmission Tower Test Facility

iii. Facilities for Switch gear Testing & Development

iv. Facilities for testing of transformer oil

v. Relocation and augmentation of thermal research center at Nagpur.

vi. Establishment of new unit at Nasikv

vii. Establishment of Phosphor Measurement Unit System and Smart Grid Research Laboratory.

On commissioning of the above mentioned facilities, CPRI shall be able to test Transformers and other Switch gears of higher rating equipments used for 400 KV and above. The Smart Grid Research Laboratory will provide necessary support for developing Smart Grid Devices needed for Indian Smart Grid Mission and Smart City projects. The Phosphor Measurement Unit System will support the efforts towards Grid Security.