AP, which has the largest hydel capacity in the country, is contemplating acquiring additional hydel capacity of 410 MW by 2014-2015.
The state of Andhra Pradesh, which has the largest hydel capacity in the country, with 3,829 MW, is contemplating acquiring additional hydel capacity of 410 MW by 2014-2015. The state plans to do so with the construction and commissioning of additional units at Nagarjuna Sagar, Pulichintala and Lower Jurala, to meet the ever-increasing demand of power due to changing lifestyles and increased usage of electrical appliances.
The first unit of Lower Jurala (80 MW) is likely to be commissioned within two months, i. e., by September 2013. The second & third units (each 80 MW) are to be commissioned by July, 2014.
The Nagaruna Sagar Taipond unit of 50 MW and the Pulichintala of 120 MW are expected to be completed by 2014-2015.
Disclosing the above details, Principal Secretary (Energy) M Sahoo, who reviewed the future prospects of hydel generation in view of good inflows from the Krishna-Godavari basins, with Suresh Chanda (CMD, APTRANSCO) and K Vijayanand (MD, APGENCO), D Prabhakar Rao (JMD, APGENCO) and A Adhiseshu (director, Hydel), on Saturday evening, said that it has been decided to optimize power generation through hydel units of APGENCO plants to the maximum extent possible to meet electricity demand.
The Principal Secretary, who is also the chairman of APGENCO, further said, "It is a good beginning for hydel generation, with early monsoon and good inflows into various reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh, both in the catchment areas and upper reaches of the reservoirs, bringing considerable inflows into hydel reservoirs. This helped APGENCO generate 1,015.76 MU till date during the FY 2013-14 as compared to 633.16 MU till this date last year, with an increase of 382.6 MU (60.4%)."
He said that the Srisailam hydro plant has been started, and that it is able to generate 700 MW as against its full capacity of 770 MW. The reservoir level at Srisailam has crossed 855 feet, he said.
If this trend of inflows continues, the government hopes to cross the targeted hydel generation of 6,755 MU for the year 2013-14.
It is pertinent to note that APGENCO's hydel units could generate 21.35 MU on July 27, 2013, as against 6.12 MU on the same day last year, with an increase of 15.23 MU.
Hydel generation, which has the lowest running cost, has eased pressure on thermal plants, and has also helped APGENCO carry out its annual overhauling of 3 units of thermal power-generating units to the tune of 770 MW capacity (RTPP-210 MW, Kothagudem TPS-60 MW and Kakatiya TPP-500 MW), on statutory requirements.
It has also helped APGENCO to avoid sudden breakdowns due to technical problems. Currently, all the power plants in the state together can generate 236.75 MU, as against the total requirement of 248.25 MU, with a deficit of 11.5 MU. (INN)