Adani Electricity Mumbai Infrastructure Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Energy Solutions Limited, has commissioned a 1,000 megawatt (MW) high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission link between Kudus and Aarey on 14 April 2026. The project comprises a 30-kilometre (km) overhead line and a 50-kilometre (km) underground corridor and incorporates the world’s first compact HVDC substation designed for dense urban environments. The link has been developed to strengthen power infrastructure across Mumbai and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The HVDC corridor enables Mumbai and the metropolitan region to draw greater volumes of electricity from outside the city, including renewable generation from other regions, and improves the control and efficiency of power flows. For an energy-intensive urban cluster such as the MMR, the additional 1,000 MW helps to decongest in-city generation, enhances reliability and lowers the risk of large-scale outages. The initiative is a response to systemic vulnerabilities identified after the October 2020 blackout and reflects a wider push to bolster grid resilience.

The project deploys Voltage Source Converter (VSC)-based HVDC technology, which provides faster and more precise control of power flows and supports voltage stability within constrained urban grids. Operational benefits include dynamic voltage support, reduced transmission losses over long distances and black-start capability that permits restoration without reliance on an external source. The compact substation footprint and the mixed overhead and underground routing make the link suitable for heavily built-up areas.

The Kudus–Aarey link ranks among the largest urban HVDC infeeds globally and is expected to significantly increase the share of externally sourced power feeding Mumbai, easing pressure on local generation as demand rises. AESL described the corridor as enhancing grid stability, decongesting existing networks and strengthening the city’s energy security while advancing decarbonisation goals. AESL currently operates a cumulative transmission network of 27,949 ckm and 123,175 MVA transformation capacity and serves approximately 13 million consumers in metropolitan Mumbai and Mundra SEZ.