Power utility achieves record generation from hydel plants

Aman Sood

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Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 2

Incessant rain in hilly areas and high water level in dams has spelled a boon for the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), with a record 69 per cent more power supplied as compared to the last fiscal.

Till August 2019, total hydel generation from the PSPCL hydel plants was 2,588.5 Million Units (MU) in comparison to only 1,533 MUs in the last financial year (2018-19).

According to the PSPCL, previous highest generation from April to August was in 2014-15, when 2,519 MUs of hydel generation was supplied. 

Baldev Singh Sran, CMD, PSPCL, said, “Good water level in dams at the beginning of the season, good rain and optimum operation of all hydel plants by the PSPCL helped to achieve record results. Four units of 150 MW each at Ranjit Sagar Dam have provided much required flexibility and reliability to power grid.” 

There are 32 units, with a total of 1,160 MW installed capacity at all five hydel projects of the PSPCL, including Shanan (Joginder Nagar, HP), Uppar Bari Duab Canal (UBDC), Malikpur, Ranjit Sagar Dam (RSD), Pathankot, Anandpur Sahib Hydel Project (ASHP) and Mukerian Hydel Project (MHP), Talwara.

Maximum generation at the Ranjit Sagar Dam on a given day was recorded at 149.02 Lakh Units (LUs), with Plant Load Factor (PLF) of 103 per cent on August 28, 2019, which was more than maximum daily generation of 133.79 LUs in 2018-19 and 141.25 LUs in 2017-18.

Similarly, maximum daily generation at the Shanan Power House was 26.61 LUs with 101 per cent PLF on May 13, 2019.

The UBDC Hydro Electric Power House also crossed its single day maximum generation by generating 19.56 LUs continuously on July 29, 2019.

At a time when the PSPCL has been buying power at high rates from thermal plants, its hydel plants exceeded 1,055 MUs as compared to the last fiscal. This means an expenditure saving of over Rs 500 crore.

“While thermal power produced in the state owned or private plants is expensive as compared to hydro power, the excess generation helped us save on money and the benefits would ultimately be passed to consumers,” said a PSPCL official.

“Water level in dams at the end of August is also good, which means that remaining seven months will see good power production. Water level in Bhakra, Pong and RSD on August 31 is high. Bhakra has 1,675.85 ft water as compared to 1,640.80 last year, while Pong and RSD have recorded 1,385 ft and 523.80 ft as compared to 1,371.62 and 520.77 ft respectively, recorded on August 31, 2018,” officials said.

Installed capacity of PSPCL Hydel projects

• Anandpur Sahib Hydel Project (HEP) - 134 MW
• Mukerian Hydel Project Stage - 225 MW
• Ranjit Sagar Dam Hydro Electric Project - 600 MW
• Shanan Power House Hydro Electric Project - 110 MW
• UBDC Hydro Electric Power House Stage I & II - 91.35 MW