The country’s leading engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects, manufacturing, defence and services conglomerate, Larsen & Toubro on Monday announced 100 per cent completion and readiness for commissioning of the 99-MW Singoli-Bhatwari Hydroelectric Power Plant.
The commissioning of this run-of-the-river plant along the iconic Char Dham Yatra route will be a major boost to the state of Uttarakhand, with the plant’s capability of providing over 400 million units (MU) of renewable energy per annum.
Situated about 25 km from Rudraprayag, the plant features a barrage, with a medium-sized intake pond near Ukhimath, a 12 km long headrace tunnel and a surge shaft over 180 m in-depth and is devoid of any rehabilitation and resettlement issues. The plant houses three units of Voith Turbine generators of 33 MW each, equipped with a state-of-the-art switchyard and controlled via the latest supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) technology.
The SCADA systems are designed to automatically monitor and control plant and its equipment such as telecommunications, water and waste control to take timely decisions and actions. This provides an uninterrupted power supply at minimum generation cost. Besides, the plant will cater to peak demand loads of two-and-a-half hours each in both halves of the day, bringing relief even during non-monsoon months and meeting peak electricity demand.
The wet commissioning process starts with the machine spinning of the turbines initially without generation of electricity and upon due testing, eventual synchronisation with the grid for supply of electricity. Grid synchronisation and charging of the transmission lines is expected in approximately a month and is timed during the inauguration of the plant.
Commenting on the occasion SN Subrahmanyan, CEO & Managing Director, Larsen & Toubro, said, “We have once again demonstrated our capability to surmount odds of difficult terrain, vagaries of weather, natural calamities and have successfully commissioned this modern hydroelectric power plant in Garhwal Himalayas. Given the development imperatives of the state of Uttarakhand, this plant will be a key infrastructure ingredient for the Aatmanirbhar or self-reliant region, that the state and central governments have envisioned. L&T has not only built and commissioned this project but will also operate it with its signature efficiency.”
The project was challenged by the rough terrain, dense forests and a small working window because of the extreme cold weather, landslides and monsoon floods. The Uttarakhand Government enabled development by granting the necessary extension of time for completion of the project given the above challenges. The state’s transmission utility Power Transmission Corp. of Uttarakhand Ltd (PTCUL) supported the project by executing one of the fastest ever transmission lines connecting the 75 km distance between the project site and the nearest sub-station.
DK Sen, Whole-time Director and Senior Executive Vice President, L&T, said, “Our construction teams have re-used the muck generated during the excavation of the tunnel for construction works, thus minimising the impact on the environment. Moreover, it is involved environmental as well as the social development of the region. We are proud to have built public infrastructure such as roads and bridges, laid water pipelines and supported educational and sports facilities for the hilly region. We have been also assisting the district administration and the local communities in times of natural calamities such as cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Uttarakhand is one of the fastest-growing states in electric energy requirements in the last five years and will continue to maintain its lead in the area in the future. Currently, the state sources substantial power from outside the state. With the L&T Singoli Bhatwari Hydel Power Project, the landlocked state will see greater self-reliance in power to meet its all-round growth agenda in services, manufacturing, infrastructure development, medical and religious tourism as well as the initiatives of the Government of Uttarakhand to generate greater employment in the state.