GE starts 765kV GIS manufacturing line at Chennai

  GE has achieved a milestone in its ‘Make in India’ journey, with the commencement of dedicated 765kV Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) manufacturing line at its high voltage transmission equipment manufacturing facility at Padappai in Chennai.
The dedicated 765kV GIS line is equipped with the most modern assembly and testing facilities including a dedicated HV test transformer of 1000kV for carrying power frequency withstand test as part of factory acceptance test (FAT). The GIS manufacturing facility at Chennai also doubles up as the competence centre for 765kV GIS. Since its inception in 2009, it has produced over 430 GIS bays – the highest number by any GIS manufacturer in the country.
The 765kV GIS breakers have been designed, developed and manufactured at Chennai in collaboration with the centre of excellence for GIS in GE energy connections, France. Its sub-assembly and the manufacturing of components have been successfully type-tested as per latest IEC standards.
GIS is gaining popularity as the preferred technology in India. It is compact and encapsulated, ideal for use in restricted areas. It is also suitable to be used in locations with severe weather conditions (high temperatures, altitudes, near the sea) and industrial environments (toxic areas or corrosive environments). The footprint of a typical GIS substation is generally 20 per cent of an Air-Insulated Substation (AIS). As land becomes scarce in India, GIS has become a more commercially viable solution.
With GIS experience spanning 50 years, GE provides a full range of Gas-Insulated Substations (GIS) for utilities and industries worldwide. The portfolio includes GIS solutions from 60 to 800 kV, along with secondary products to maximize switchgear and network operation.