Hydro power generation up by 23% in Punjab

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 14

At a time when Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is buying power at high rates from thermal plants, its hydel plants produced 23 per cent more electricity in the first seven months of 2017-18 from April to August than the corresponding period last year. This means roughly an expenditure saving of Rs 250 crore for Punjab.

PSPCL hydel plants have produced 23 per cent higher electricity from April to Oct 2017 than the previous year. A total of 3,282 million units (MU) have been generated by all five hydel plants of PSPCL from April 1, 2017, to 31 October, 2017, whereas 2,664 MU were produced during the same period of 2016. During these seven months, 618 MU more hydel power than previous year was generated, thus saving about Rs 250 crore to PSPCL on account of lesser power purchase.

Generation of 397 MU during October 2017 is the highest generation during the past 5 years in October. Generation during October 2017 is 12 per cent higher than 2016 October when the generation was 354 MU.

There are 32 units with a total of 1,151 MW installed capacity at all five hydel projects of PSPCL namely Shanan (Joginder Nagar, HP), UBDC (Uppar Bari Duab Canal, Malikpur), RSD (Ranjit Sagar Dam, Pathankot), ASHP (Anandpur Sahib hydel project) and MHP (Mukerian Hydel project, Talwara).

Four out of the five hydel projects produced more power than the previous year. Generation at Shanan, UBDC, RSD, ASHP and MHP during April to October 2017 is 445, 305, 1434, 452 and 646 MU, respectively, whereas during April to October 2106 it was 387, 236, 966, 512 and 563 MU, respectively. Shanan and UBDC generated 445 MU and 305 MU, respectively, during April to October 2017, which is the highest generation during the past five years. About 4,500 MUs units are generated annually by all hydel plants of PSPCL.

As present water level at Bhakhra and Pong Dams is higher than previous years so generation is likely to be higher during 2017-18 thus saving hundreds of crores of rupees to PSPCL as it will have to purchase less power from other sources.

On November 12 this year, the reservoir level at Pong Dam and Bhakhra Dam is 1,364.9 ft and 1,660.9 ft, respectively, whereas last year on November 12, 2016, the water level was 1,356.1 ft and 1,632.3 ft, respectively. At present, the reservoir level at RSD is 512.15 meters, which is little higher than last year’s level of 511.75 meters.

The share of state thermal plants in the energy availability has gone down from 38 per cent to 8 per cent in the past five years, while the share of hydel plants has reduced from 19 per cent to 12 per cent.