India is considering the construction of a 1,600-km undersea power transmission cable between the UAE and India at an estimated cost of around ₹40,000 crore, according to Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Speaking at India Energy Storage Week, Khattar announced that the proposed transmission link is part of India's broader vision of 'One Sun, One World, One Grid' to strengthen cross-border power connectivity.
The minister revealed that India is also pursuing similar power connectivity projects with Sri Lanka and Singapore, with the objective of creating an east-to-west electricity grid that could eventually facilitate power trade with Europe. As reported by Business Standard, Khattar stated: "We are going to Sri Lanka and Singapore, and we are moving ahead for supply even beyond Singapore through maritime routes."
Highlighting the growing importance of energy storage, the minister emphasized that the country increasingly needs to store electricity generated during periods of surplus and use it when demand peaks during non-solar hours. According to Business Standard, Khattar noted that peak demand, which reached around 271 GW earlier, could touch nearly 300 GW next year, requiring greater investments in storage, transmission and generation infrastructure.
The minister highlighted the government's policy measures to accelerate renewable energy deployment, including the waiver of inter-state transmission system (ISTS) charges, Green Energy Open Access Rules, and time-of-day tariffs. As reported by Business Standard, these initiatives will improve market access for renewable power developers and help achieve the nation's net zero goals in line with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
