Saudi Arabia and India Discuss Enhanced Power Grid Cooperation

Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in strengthening collaboration with India on extra-high-voltage electricity transmission systems. This initiative aims to address challenges related to integrating renewable energy sources and meeting the increasing power demands of data centers.

Discussions between power secretary Pankaj Agarwal and Saudi Arabia's assistant minister of energy for electricity affairs, Nasser Al-Qahtani, covered technical cooperation for integrating a higher share of renewable energy into the grid. They also addressed the evolving electricity needs of data centers and necessary adjustments to grid codes as power systems develop. Extra-high-voltage transmission systems, typically operating at 220 kV and above, are designed to transport large quantities of electricity over long distances with reduced transmission losses.

Both countries plan to continue discussions on a proposed electrical interconnection and further cooperation in other areas related to power infrastructure.

Eleven Power Receives 25-Year Electricity Distribution License for Gurugram and Nuh

The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) has issued a 25-year parallel electricity distribution license to Eleven Power for the Gurugram and Nuh revenue districts. This license, granted under Section 14 of the Electricity Act, 2003, allows multiple distribution licensees to operate in the same area, similar to Mumbai's existing framework.

Eleven Power's petition outlines a capital investment of ₹4,717 crore over five years, to be deployed in phases between financial year 2026-27 (FY27) and FY31. Electricity supply to consumers is scheduled to commence in FY28, with tariffs regulated by the Commission. The company's projections indicate annual electricity sales in the licensed area will increase from approximately 12,220 million units in FY25 to about 18,224 million units by FY31.

The new network will be developed in phases across five divisions: Gurugram Sub-urban, Gurugram City, Manesar, Sohna, and Nuh, with Nuh included in the initial phase. The design emphasizes reliability through N-1 redundancy, a SCADA-enabled high-tension network, ring-main configuration, and a mix of underground and overhead cabling. Consumers will be served via smart meters, digital billing, and customer relationship centers.

Eleven Power intends to procure 80% of its electricity from renewable sources through firm and dispatchable contracts, partly from within Haryana and the green day-ahead market. The remaining 20% will come from thermal sources to ensure base-load reliability.

Amazon, American Electric Power, and X-energy Explore 960-MW SMR Project in Indiana

A collaboration between Amazon, American Electric Power, and X-energy is underway to explore the potential development of a 960-MW nuclear power plant in western Indiana. This initiative marks a significant step towards establishing the state's first commercial nuclear generation facility.

The three entities have signed a joint development agreement to conduct a feasibility study for the nuclear power project. The proposed site is the former Breed coal-fired power plant in Sullivan County, Indiana. The plan involves deploying 12 X-energy Xe-100 high-temperature, gas-cooled reactors.

Currently, the project is in its preliminary stages, with limited details available beyond the reactor design and location. A final investment decision has not yet been reached. However, the companies anticipate that the project could generate over 1,000 construction jobs and more than 100 permanent positions.