PM Narendra Modi inaugurates three mega hydro projects in Himachal Pradesh

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated three hydroelectric projects (HEPs) with a generating capacity of 1,732 MW in Himachal Pradesh.
• All the three power projects are equipped with generating equipment supplied and commissioned by state owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).

These three hydro-electric projects are
• Koldam HEP: It is 4x200 MW capacity project executed by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).
• Parbati HEP: It is Stage-Ill project with a capacity of 530 MW of National Hydropower Corporation (NHPC).
• Rampur HEP: It is 412 MW capacity project of Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN).
These three projects will collectively play an important role In boosting the Hydro power sector of Himachal Pradesh.
BHELs contribution

• BHEL has a vast experience in hydro-electric projects (HEPs). It has contracted more than 500 hydro-generating sets with a cumulative capacity of more than 29,000 MW of various ratings In India and abroad. BHELs hydro Installations are in operation in India and also across the world in Bhutan, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Nepal, Tajikistan, Taiwan, Rwanda and Vietnam. Presently, BHEL is executing HEPs of around 3,300 MW in the country in addition to major hydropower projects in DR Congo and Bhutan.

Significance of hydro-projects

• Hydropower generated by hydro-projects is renewable source of energy as it uses and not consumes the water for generation of electricity. It does not emit greenhouse gas emission and helps in achieving a low carbon path. India has hydropower potential of around 1, 45, 000 MW and at 60% load factor, it can meet the demand of around 85, 000 MW. So far, around 26% of Hydropower potential has been exploited in India.

By: Vishal