Role of Nuclear Energy in the Southern Grid

The nuclear power sites connected to the southern grid of India are the following. Currently all the sites are operated by NPCIL.

1. Madras APS, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu (2 x 220 MW CANDU derivative PHWRs)
2. Kaiga APS, Karnataka (4 x 220 MW CANDU derivative PHWRs)
3. Kudankulam Unit-I, Ramil Nadu (1 x 1000 MW VVER-1000 LWR)

The total capacity provided by the 3 sites are about 2320 MW - just about 5% of the installed capacity of the southern grid.

In the near future, the following  power plants are expected to come online - expected by the end of CY 2015.

1. Kudankulam Unit-2 (1 x 1000 MW VVER-100  LWR)
2. Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) (1 x 500MW ) to be operated by BHAVINI

These will take the nuclear energy capacity to 3820 MW.

In the long term two more reactors based on the 700 MW PHWR design are planned [ref-1] for Kaiga 5 and 6. Also, if the Kovvada (AP, 3000 MW initial capacity) power station comes up it will also be connected to the southern grid. There is also the additional possibility of at two other 500 MW FBR coming up at Kalpakkam [ref-2]. These will bring the nuclear energy capacity to 9220 MW, hopefully by the middle of the next decade.

References:
[1] http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-s-nuclear-capacity-to-be-increased-to-17-080-mw-by-2022-114072201050_1.html
[2] http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/07/stories/2005090704781300.htm