India to Export Power to UAE and Saudi via Two New Major HVDC Projects
India has unveiled ambitious plans to construct HVDC submarine power transmission links to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The projects, together valued at approximately ₹90,000 crore ($10.5 billion), are designed to enable the export of 2 gigawatts (GW) of electricity each from India to the Gulf nations, leveraging India’s growing renewable energy surplus and furthering its “One Sun One World One Grid” (OSOWOG) vision.
The proposed interconnections will originate from Bhuj, Gujarat, and traverse the Arabian Sea via subsea HVDC cables. The Saudi Arabia link, estimated at ₹47,000 crore ($5.5 billion), will span about 1,400–1,700 kilometers, while the UAE link, costing ₹43,000 crore ($5 billion), will extend approximately 1,400–1,600 kilometers. Each corridor will transmit up to 2 GW of electricity, with cable technology designed to operate at depths reaching 3,000–3,500 meters—posing significant engineering and logistical challenges.
The projects are expected to take around six years to complete once all regulatory and technical approvals are secured.
These HVDC links will be strategic assets that enhance regional energy security and grid resilience by enabling cross-border electricity flows, optimize the use of renewable resources, reducing curtailment and balancing grid demand across time zones, support India’s ambition to become a global hub for clean energy exports while helping Saudi Arabia and the UAE diversify their energy imports and decarbonize their grids, and open new economic opportunities for India, positioning it as a key player in international electricity markets.
The projects are also aligned with the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority’s (GCCIA) success in linking Gulf state power grids, representing a logical extension of proven regional interconnection models.
Joint venture agreements have already been signed between India and both Gulf nations, with technical feasibility studies and bilateral discussions underway. India’s Power Grid Corporation is leading the technical and regulatory groundwork, while the projects fall under the broader OSOWOG framework, which aims for a globally interconnected renewable energy grid.
India’s power minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, emphasized that these projects are part of a broader shift away from coal-based power beyond 2035, with a focus on expanding nuclear and renewable energy capacity at home.
Once operational, the India–Saudi Arabia and India–UAE HVDC interconnections will aid grid connectivity, fostering economic, diplomatic, and environmental benefits across Asia and the Middle East. The will enable a new era of cross-border electricity trade, supporting both India’s domestic energy transition and the Gulf’s decarbonization goals.
For the HVDC industry, these mega-projects underscore the growing demand for ever-larger projects, ushering a new chapter in global energy infrastructure.
