Punjab Newsline
Hydropower generation in the country take a dip
Vinod Kumar Gupta
Wednesday, 15 July 2009

Hydropower generation in the country dropped by 9.65 percent during the quarter-ended June 30, 2009 due to less water in the reservoirs.

According to Central Electricity Authority report hydropower projects in the country generated only 25,813 million units of electricity, or around 95.4percent of the target of 27,060 MU set for the first quarter of the current fiscal. Even during the month of June 2009 the generation from hydro projects were 9,628 million units against the revised target of 9,962 million units. According to the CEA, the sluggish progress of the monsoon during the month of June and the corresponding below-normal rainfall in the catchments areas of the reservoirs in the southern, western and eastern parts of the country have resulted in a decline in water storage levels at most hydroelectric projects.

According to sources, the Bhakra reservoir, on the Sutlej River, which normally becomes full by mid-May, did not receive adequate quantities of water until the last week of June. The water level in Bhakra reservoir is 469.64 meters against last year level of 495.05 meters on the corresponding day a shortfall of approximately 26 meters. The water capacity in reservoir is 15 percent of full reservoir level while it was 56 percent lat year. The power generation from Bhakra powerhouses is around 197 lakh units daily.The average generation from Bhakra power houses is 846 MW against installed capacity of 1480.3 MW. The storage position of the 32 major reservoirs in the country is monitored by CEA. Pertinently, the reservoir-based hydroelectric stations, with a total installed generating capacity of 18,275 MW, constitutes about 48% of the total hydropower capacity and around 45% of the annual hydroelectric energy generation in the country.

In Gujrat Sardar Sarovar hydroelectric project has stopped generation due to inadequate water level in reservoir. 1200 MW project was generating only 50 MW of power last week.The power available from hydel projects in the country is 15 percent while rest comes from thermal projects. The power from hydel projects comes handy especially in peak hour consumption during evening hours. Since overall supply generally remains short by 14% or so during peak hours, reduced hydel supplies would mean a peak shortage of nearly 20-25%.