Bhubaneswar: Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (OPTCL) on Monday inaugurated a power system simulation laboratory at the Power Training Centre, Chandaka, to strengthen grid planning, improve operational reliability and support renewable energy integration amid rising power demand in the state. The facility was inaugurated by deputy CM and energy minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo in the presence of OPTCL chairman and managing director Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma.The advanced laboratory is aimed at enhancing OPTCL’s technical capability in power system planning, grid management and transmission reliability. Equipped with modern simulation tools, it will allow engineers to model complex grid scenarios, analyse load flow, assess system stability and simulate fault conditions in real time.Officials said the laboratory would help OPTCL build a more resilient, efficient and future-ready transmission network, which is essential for meeting Odisha’s growing energy needs and integrating renewable energy sources into the grid.Speaking on the occasion, Singh Deo said a strong transmission network is vital for the state’s development. He said the new facility would enable engineers to anticipate challenges, optimise grid operations and ensure round-the-clock quality power supply to industries, agriculture and households.He said the initiative reflects the Odisha govt’s commitment to creating a modern, reliable and technology-driven power sector in line with its vision of a developed Odisha.Sarma said the laboratory would serve as a centre of excellence for capacity building, research and innovation in power system studies. He said it would provide hands-on training to engineers of OPTCL and the State Load Despatch Centre, support data-driven decision-making and improve preparedness for grid contingencies.The commissioning of the laboratory is expected to boost technical training and operational readiness in the transmission sector while helping the state prepare for future expansion of its power infrastructure and the increasing share of renewable energy in the electricity mix.
