The power sector in India has been growing at a healthy pace supported by various policy initiatives by the government. Generation capacity has grown at a brisk rate of over 10 per cent over the past five years, while the transmission and distribution (T&D) network has witnessed a moderate growth of around 4 per cent. This has translated into a growing demand for robust power system equipment such as switchgear in the country.
Broadly, a switchgear is a combination of components such as switches, fuses and circuit breakers that are used to control, protect and isolate an electrical equipment to enable continuous and reliable supply of electricity. The use of switchgear helps in protecting against situations of overload, short circuit, insulation failure, etc.
The switchgear market consists of a variety of products such as circuit breakers, fuses, relays, contactors, etc. Electric switchgear is necessary at every switching point in the electrical power system. Besides the power system, switchgear is also used in the commercial, residential and industrial sectors.
Switchgear is available in low, medium and high voltage levels based on its load-bearing capacity. Low voltage (LV) switchgear is generally rated up to 1 kV and caters to buildings, the power distribution system and industries. This segment includes circuit breakers (moulded case circuit breakers [MCCBs] and miniature circuit breakers [MCBs]), switches, off-load electrical isolators and high rupturing capacity (HRC) fuses. Medium voltage (MV) switchgear includes various types of circuit breakers such as air circuit breakers (ACBs), oil circuit breakers, minimum oil circuit breakers and vacuum circuit breakers. The high voltage (HV) switchgear group includes SF6 breakers, gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), hybrid switchgear, lighting arresters and composite insulators.
State power utilities and independent power producers (IPPs) are the main demand drivers for low, medium and high voltage switchgear in the country. The extra high voltage (EHV) segment is driven largely by transmission utilities, particularly by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, which is currently planning several EHV transmission lines and substations.
Industry growth
The Indian switchgear industry is a mature and well-established industry today. According to the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA), the size of the Indian switchgear industry is estimated at around Rs 147 billion for 2014-15 (the MV and HV segments at Rs 35 billion and the LV segment at Rs 112 billion).
The MV and HV segments have grown in capacity over the past several years following the announcement of reform measures. However, these reforms have not been implemented in full, which has resulted in overcapacity and intense competition in the industry. The LV switchgear segment, on the other hand, has been growing steadily, albeit slowly.
In value terms, the LV switchgear industry grew by 5.6 per cent in 2013-14 and at only around 1.5 per cent in 2014-15. In terms of volumes, while the production of some components including isolating switches, overload relays, contactors, etc. increased in 2014-15 as compared to 2013-14, the production of power switches and switch fuses saw a significant fall during the year. The production of circuit breakers increased overall, with a decline in only the production of indoor MV circuit breakers.
Technology trends
Historically, air-insulated switchgear (AIS) has been the most commonly used switchgear in India due to its low price. However, GIS is now gaining popularity and is emerging as the preferred technology in India, especially in the transmission segment. Its compact and encapsulated structure makes it ideal for areas with space constraints. This kind of switchgear is also suitable for use in locations with severe weather conditions (high temperatures and high altitudes) and in industrial environments.
New developments in the switchgear industry are vacuum switchgear, hybrid switchgear and intelligent switchgear. Vacuum switching, though widely used in the MV range, is also emerging as an alternative in HV applications. This trend is being driven by the fact that vacuum switchgear is more environment friendly than SF6 switchgear (GIS). Hybrid switchgear is a combination of conventional AIS and HV GIS.
Further, monitoring and signalling have become an integral part of switchgear, in addition to protection and control of power. Manufacturers are including intelligent built-in protection and control electronic devices in the switchgear to enhance grid efficiency and reliability.
Market drivers
Given the government’s reform initiatives, the switchgear market is likely to continue on its growth trajectory. Programmes such as Power for All, Make in India, the Integrated Power Development Scheme, and the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana are expected to augment the demand for T&D equipment, which will, in turn, create growth opportunities for electrical equipment manufacturers, including switchgear manufacturers. Reforms such as the introduction of competition and the separation of the supply and wires businesses will further incentivise network improvements.
Going forward, network investments are needed to support the country’s electricity demand, projected at a compound annual growth rate of 7.2 per cent during 2016-22 by the CEA. The central government has also proposed investments of $50 billion in the transmission segment over the next five years.
All these plans and efforts are expected to lead to an increased demand for switchgear. Further, the government’s ambitious renewable energy targets for 2022 will support market growth. The MCCB and MCB markets are expected to benefit considerably from the alternative energy expansion.
A number of power plants in India are nearing the end of their service life and thus require overhauling and modernisation. This includes replacement of the existing transformers and switchgear. Power plant modernisation and refurbishment are expected to further support the growth of the switchgear market. Meanwhile, there are plans to segregate the power supply and the wires business in the distribution segment. This move, if it comes through, will open up new avenues for the power equipment sector. Further, the expansion of key industries (cement, steel, petrochemicals, etc.) and infrastructure sectors like telecom, railways, airports and ports, and the increasing emphasis on the development of smart grids and grid automation are also likely to support the switchgear market.
The way forward
One of the major concerns for the domestic switchgear market is increasing imports. In 2014-15, imports of LV switchgear products increased by almost 14 per cent, from around Rs 45.22 billion in 2013-14 to Rs 51.5 billion in 2014-15. In addition, the slowdown in the power sector over the past few years and the deteriorating financial condition of the discoms has hindered the growth of the switchgear market.
However, looking ahead, the ongoing initiatives in the sector promise a positive outlook for the switchgear industry, which seems ready to meet the expected increase in the demand for various components. However, this may require the development of superior technologies and some work on standards and testing facilities.