Innovative substation solutions making India power-ready

The Indian power sector is at a critical inflection point. According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), substation capacity increased significantly by 17.7 percent in FY 2024-25, a clear indication of the country’s commitment to strengthening its transmission and distribution backbone. But it is not just about scaling; it is about integrating technology and innovation to meet new challenges and opportunities.

The realities we face are to be mentioned. India is highly vulnerable to urban flooding with cities like Mumbai, Chennai and regions in the Northeast frequently impacted during monsoon seasons. In such situations, traditional substations become liabilities—they are shut down due to operational risks, cutting off power when needed most. This is where ‘submersible substations’ come into play. These are engineered to operate even in submerged conditions and should be strategically planned alongside urban infrastructure. Their ability to provide uninterrupted power during floods makes them essential for emergency services like hospitals, telecommunications and water supply systems. Moreover, it drastically reduces outage costs for utilities in flood-prone areas, turning risk into resilience.

Another transformative step forward is the implementation of IEC 61850-based digital substations. Currently, only about 15-20 percent of substations in India are digitalised—an underwhelming number given the clear benefits. Digital substations offer real-time monitoring and automation capabilities, enabling utilities to rapidly detect and respond to faults. Predictive maintenance becomes possible as equipment health is continuously assessed, reducing the chances of unplanned downtimes. Interoperability is another strength—devices from different vendors can communicate seamlessly, simplifying phased upgrades and lowering costs. Most importantly, digital substations have built-in cybersecurity frameworks, a must in today’s interconnected threat landscape.

A third major innovation is integrating renewable energy and storage systems into substations. With the rise of solar, wind and other green sources—and the establishment of Renewable Energy Management Centers (REMCs)—utilities must now think of hybrid substations that can handle both AC and DC systems. These can support integration with HVDC lines, solar parks and wind farms. Coupled with energy storage, such substations can help with peak load management, frequency regulation and load shifting. There is potential to integrate future technologies like hydrogen fuel cells, showing how substations can serve as flexible and forward-looking nodes in the energy network.

Next, the emergence of modular and mobile substations represents a critical asset for disaster recovery and quick deployment scenarios. Unlike traditional infrastructure, these substations can be rapidly deployed to areas affected by outages, minimising service disruption. For distribution companies (DISCOMs), the plug-and-play nature of these substations can significantly lower operational costs and reduce downtime during emergencies or temporary load surges.

Lastly, there is a growing focus on green substations that actively contribute to carbon reduction goals. With India emitting approximately 1.1 billion tons of CO₂ annually, we must rethink substation design from a sustainability lens. Solutions like solid-state transformers, space-based solar power (SBSP) and carbon-negative technologies offer a glimpse into a more sustainable future. Green substations can be key enablers for a country’s journey toward carbon neutrality.

From all of this, there are three key takeaways. First, we must look beyond capital expenditure (CapEx)—innovation requires investment, but the long-term reduction in operation and maintenance (O&M) costs justifies the shift. Innovative substations enhance system performance and reliability, offering better returns over time. Second, interoperability and cybersecurity must be prioritised by design. As digital systems grow more interconnected, built-in protections are not optional but essential. Third, a collaborative approach with OEMs and system integrators is vital. Building a robust ecosystem ensures faster deployment, better support and effective workforce training, which is crucial for sustaining innovation.