Project News Detail
| Project No : | 180251 |
|---|---|
| Project Title : | Hydel Power Project Expansion Second Phase In Kerala |
| Company Name : | Kerala State Electricity Board |
| Project Detail : | Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is actively considering a proposal for the second phase expansion of Idukki hydel power project. The idea for setting up an additional power generating facility, using the biggest hydel reservoir in the state, stemmed from post-flood deliberations within the board The board would be exploring the feasibility of setting up an additional power generating unit, using water from Idukki dam. The new station would give the board additional leeway in the optimum utilisation of impounded water in the hydel reservoir. It could help the board to meet to a fair extent the state’s power demand during evening peak hours. Such a project could also strengthen irrigation and drinking water schemes, especially during summer,” said KSEB chairman and managing director N S Pillai The board has been in the eye of a storm for opening the dam shutters, especially that of Idukki dam, during the height of flood. “Custodians of hydroelectric dam would naturally try to save the water for power generation. After all, their primary purpose is power generation. It must be noted that not even a kitten died in Idukki following the opening of dam shutters. The torrential rains were most unexpected. What the critics fail to understand is that water released from dams was too insignificant compared to the torrential rain during the crisis days. The heavy rains have battered many of our generating stations. As a result, we are facing a power deficit of 350 MW during peak hours amid the flood. The idea of exploring the possibility of an additional power generating station at Idukki becomes more relevant in such a background,” he said The setting up of an additional power generating facility in Idukki would entail huge investment. The proposal is to build the facility of around 500 MW as a separate unit, away from the Moolamattom power station which has an installed capacity of 720 MW. “A pumped storage facility is also under consideration in connection with the additional generating facility. A considerable amount of water used for power generation would be pumped back to the reservoir for its extended usage. It would also help the board to have a better water discharge control,” board officials said Owing to various reasons, the board had not been able to commission any major hydel power projects in the past few decades. Since approval for major hydel projects face stiff resistance from public and environmentalists, the board used to develop smaller generating stations that work to their full potential only during rainy season. “The smaller generating stations were severely hit in the floods. Stations capable of generating 270 MW were submerged. We will have to rethink whether we should go ahead with such smaller projects. This is another reason for the board to think about another generating facility in Idukki,” said a KSEB said |
| Project Location : | Idukki - Kerala - India |
| Project Estimation : | Refer Document |
| Status : | Announced |