BHEL adds 736 MW hydroelectric capacity in 2014-15

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) today said it commissioned six hydro sets with a combined 736 MW capacity in 2014-15.

This accounts for 100% of hydro power capacity addition in the country in the said fiscal, BHEL said in a statement.

Also, the highest addition in a single year by BHEL over the last decade, this was achieved by commissioning of projects of three major central utilities -- NTPC, NHPC and SJVNL -- it added.

The projects commissioned include two units (200 MW each) of Koldam Hydro Electric Project (HEP), with which NTPC has made its maiden foray into the hydro sector.

On top of that, a 130-MW unit of NHPC's Parbati III HEP and 3 units of SJVNL's Rampur (68.67 MW each) were started.

BHEL is executing three other hydro projects of NTPC -- Tapovan Vishnugad HEP (4x130 MW), Lata Tapovan HEP (3x57 MW) and Rammam Stage-III HEP (3x40 MW), with a fourth unit of 4x130 MW Parbati III HEP being commissioned.

In addition, BHEL has started the last three units of Rampur HEP of SJVN.

These HEPs will contribute to reduction in the greenhouse gas emission and help in achieving a low carbon development path, the statement read.

BHEL also bagged orders for two major hydro projects aggregating 564 MW in 2014-15 and has so far commissioned some 400 hydro generating sets in the country, with a cumulative capacity of more than 19,600 MW.

It is currently executing hydro power projects of around 4,600 MW, which are at various stages of implementation.