33% rise in hydroelectric plants’ power generation

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 3

At a time when the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is buying power at high rates from thermal plants, its hydel plants produced 33 per cent more electricity from April to August than the corresponding period last year.

The five hydel plants produced 2,398 MUs (million units) in the first five months of this fiscal, whereas they generated 1,806 MUs during the same period in 2016.

The generation of 592 MUs more saved about Rs200 crore of the PSPCL on account of lesser power purchase.

Last month, 675 MUs were generated as compared with 481 MUs generated last August — an increase of 40 per cent.

There are 32 units with 1,151-MW installed capacity at the five hydel plants — Shanan, Joginder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh; Upper Bari Doab Canal, Malikpur; Ranjit Sagar Dam, Pathankot; Anandpur Sahib Hydel Project; and Mukerian Hydel Project, Talwara. All 32 units are available for generating power at their full capacity.

The Shanan and Upper Bari Doab Canal generated 356.31 MUs and 213.70 MUs, respectively, from April to August — the highest in the past five years. About 4,500 MUs are generated by all hydro plants annually.

At present, the water level at Bhakra and Pong dams is higher than previous years. Today, the reservoir level at Pong and Bhakra dams was 1,382 ft and 1,672 ft, respectively. On September 3, 2016, the water level at Pong Dam was 1,370 ft. And at Bhakra Dam, it was 1,647 ft.

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.