Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL) said its arm Adani Electricity Mumbai Infrastructure Ltd (AEMIL) has started operation of a 1,000 MW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission link between Kudus and Aarey in Mumbai.

The HVDC connection comprises a 30-kilometre overhead line and a 50-km underground corridor and has been designed to operate within the constraints of a densely built urban environment.

AESL said the scheme includes what it described as the world's first compact HVDC substation and enables Mumbai and the Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR) to draw more electricity from outside the city, including renewable energy generated in other regions.

The additional 1,000 MW of capacity is intended to reduce reliance on in-city generation, improve grid resilience and lower the risk of large-scale outages, and the company indicated the project will decongest existing networks and strengthen the city's energy security.

The project deployed Voltage Source Converter (VSC)-based HVDC technology to provide operational benefits such as dynamic voltage support and reduced transmission losses over long distances.

The system also offers black-start capability, enabling restoration of power without relying on an external source and allowing quicker recovery in the event of outages, and AESL highlighted that the technology suits urban constraints while supporting long-distance power transfer.

AESL's chief executive said the scheme was among the fastest HVDC projects ever commissioned and that it would enhance grid stability, while a senior executive at Hitachi Energy India described the commissioning as a moment of pride for the company.

The project involved collaboration with Hitachi Energy and other partners during development and deployment, and AESL indicated that the new link forms part of wider efforts to modernise transmission infrastructure for growing urban demand.