BHEL commissions 40 Mw hydro electric generating unit in West Bengal

It has so far commissioned nearly 400 hydro generating sets of various ratings with a cumulative capacity of around 20,000 Mw

Power equipment manufacturer Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has commissioned second 40 Mw hydropower generating unit at the Teesta low dam hydro electric project (HEP) stage-IV in West Bengal, the company said on Monday.

"Just a month after commissioning of the first 40 Mw hydro electric generating unit at the Teesta low dam hydro electric project (HEP) stage-IV in West Bengal, BHEL has successfully commissioned the second unit of the same rating at the project," the company said in a BSE filing.

A run-of-the-river greenfield project, located in Darjeeling district of the state, is being set up by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). The order was placed with the heavy engineering company by NHPC.

The order for the electrical & mechanical (E&M) work of four units of 40 MW each was given to BHEL.

The company's Bhopal, Jhansi, Rudrapur, Mumbai and Bengaluru facilities are supplying equipment for the project while the execution of work on site is being carried out by its power sector eastern region. The remaining two units of the project are also in advanced stages of execution, the company said.

The estimated annual energy generation of 720 million units from the project is expected to reduce green-house gas emissions and will help in achieving a low carbon development path for the state as well as the nation.

The company further said hydro generating sets of more than 29,000 Mw of various ratings have been contracted on the engineering major in India and abroad. In the country, the company has so far commissioned nearly 400 hydro generating sets of various ratings with a cumulative capacity of around 20,000 Mw.