Adani Energy Solutions Mumbai HVDC cable due 2026

Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL) said it is on track to commission the underground component of its High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission project in Mumbai by early 2026. The project is positioned as a key grid-strengthening intervention for India’s financial capital, where demand has been rising and transmission corridors have faced capacity constraints.

The Mumbai HVDC project spans 80 km and links the 400 kV Kudus substation to the 220 kV Aarey substation. AESL has said the link is designed to transmit 1,000 MW of electricity. The overall investment has been stated at about INR 7,000 crore.

What AESL said on the early-2026 commissioning plan

The commissioning timeline shared by AESL specifically relates to the underground portion of the HVDC project. The underground section comprises a 50 km Extra High Voltage (EHV) cable stretch between the Shirsad Transition Station and the Aarey EHV Station.

The split between underground and overhead infrastructure is central to how the project is being executed. Of the 80 km total, 50 km will be underground and 30 km will be overhead lines. The scale of underground work matters in Mumbai due to the complexity of building large transmission assets in a dense urban environment.

Project structure and implementing entity

The project is being implemented by Adani Electricity Mumbai Infra Ltd (AEMIL). AEMIL has been described as a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd (AEML).

In the broader disclosures cited in the provided material, the Mumbai HVDC project has also been described as an intrastate project being implemented on a regulated tariff mechanism (RTM) basis through the special purpose vehicle AEMIL.

Route, voltage levels, and what the link connects

AESL’s filings and summaries point to two key endpoints: the 400 kV Kudus substation and the 220 kV Aarey substation. These endpoints anchor the 80 km corridor.

Within that corridor, the underground cable segment is described as running between the Shirsad Transition Station and the Aarey EHV Station. This is the section AESL has said it expects to commission by early 2026.

Capacity and intended role in Mumbai’s supply mix

The project is designed to transmit 1,000 MW. AESL has also described the link as enabling further “greening” of the Mumbai grid by supplying more renewable power to the city while supporting rising electricity demand.

Separately, AEML has committed to increasing the share of renewable energy in its overall mix to 60% by 2027, as cited in the material. The HVDC link has been positioned as infrastructure that supports this shift by enabling bulk injection of renewable power.

Financing: $1 billion project and revolving facility details

AESL announced on Aug 7 that its $1 billion green HVDC link project in Mumbai had reached financial close. The financial close was linked to a $100 million facility with nine international banks.

The credit facility was described as part of a $100 million revolving project finance facility tied up in October 2021 for AESL’s under-construction transmission assets portfolio. AESL described this as a platform infrastructure financing framework that allows projects to access funds as other projects in the portfolio pay back.

The banking consortium named in the material includes MUFG Bank, Siemens Bank, DBS Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, Standard Chartered Bank, Mizuho Bank, Société Générale, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking, and Hong Kong Mortgage.

Construction start and key suppliers mentioned

AESL said construction of the link would begin in October 2023. The project has been described as offering a technological upgrade to the city.

The provided material also states that the order for building the HVDC link has been placed on Hitachi Energy India Ltd. This is the only supplier name explicitly referenced in connection with building the HVDC transmission system.

Why HVDC is being emphasised for Mumbai

AESL has argued that HVDC transmission technology stabilises power distribution networks, especially where sudden new loads or blackouts in one part of the network can create synchronisation issues and cascading failures. The company has also said HVDC is suitable for islands where submarine cables are used for power supply.

Mumbai is described as an island city with only 1,800 MW of embedded generation capacity. The city’s current peak demand has been cited at 4,000 MW, with expectations of reaching 5,000 MW by FY25. One section of the provided text also projects demand rising to 8,000 MW by 2027.

Blackout reference and grid-constraint context

The HVDC link has been positioned against the backdrop of grid constraints and past disruption. The provided text cites a major power blackout event across Mumbai on October 12, 2020, attributed to grid constraints.

AESL has said the HVDC transmission link will enhance grid stability by providing an interface with state and national grids. In this framing, the planned 1,000 MW bulk injection is not only about adding supply but also about strengthening the city’s ability to handle load growth within existing corridor limitations.

Key facts at a glance

What to watch next

The next operational milestone highlighted in the material is the commissioning of the underground cable section by early 2026. Updates on construction progress and integration with the rest of the 80 km corridor will be central to tracking the project’s execution.

Separately, AESL’s prior disclosure of financial close for the $1 billion project and the revolving facility structure suggests funding visibility for the buildout as described. Any further project-stage announcements would likely focus on completion of the remaining corridor elements, including the 30 km overhead portion, and readiness for bulk power injection into Mumbai.