Ennore, Udangudi Projects to Add 2,640 MW to TN's Grid

Tamil Nadu is set to bolster its power capacity by 2,640 MW by March next year, with significant progress on two major thermal power projects: the Ennore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) thermal plant in Tiruvallur and the Udangudi thermal plant in Thoothukudi.

The Ennore SEZ thermal station, with a capacity of 1,320 MW (2x660 MW) and an estimated cost of ₹18,000 crore, is currently 70% complete. Launched under the AIADMK government in 2014 and initiated in 2016, the project has faced multiple delays. Tamil Nadu Power Development Corporation Ltd. (TNPDCL) Chairman J. Radhakrishnan has urged BHEL to commission the plant by March 2026.

Meanwhile, the 1,320 MW Udangudi thermal plant has achieved its first synchronization with the power grid—an important milestone toward full commercial operation, which is expected by December this year.

With Tamil Nadu’s peak power demand forecast to exceed 22,000 MW by the summer of 2026, officials say that even partial commissioning of these plants will reduce the state's dependency on expensive power purchases and strengthen its overall energy security.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.