Hydro power output goes up to 1,400 Mw to match rising demand

The peak power demand in Odisha for April has been 3,680 Mw, up from 3,400 Mw recorded in the previous month

Production at hydro power stations in the state during the last two weeks has gone up by more than 200 Mw to 1,400 Mw during peak hours in comparison to March.

The increased output keeps pace with the rising power demand in the summer months as mercury levels soar high.

The peak power demand in the state for April has been around 3,680 Mw, up from 3,400 Mw recorded in the previous month, as per State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) data. The rise in demand has been attributed mainly to more usage of air conditioners and refrigerators in the heat wave conditions in the state in last few weeks.

Though thermal power generation in the state has increased by around 100 Mw to reach 775 Mw in the same time, it is hydro generation that primarily provided the support to meet the peak demand.

“We have sufficient water levels at reservoirs to generate more than 1,500 Mw average output every day for next three months. However, we will look for more hydro power when there is a drop in thermal power output,” said an official of Gridco Ltd, the state-run power trading agency.

Gridco is currently drawing around 900 Mw power from Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) per day to meet the 24-hour average demand of 3,200 Mw. Its mix of thermal power supplies include 760 Mw from state based thermal units, 640 Mw from captive power producers and 850 Mw from its share allocated in the Central power pool. OHPC was blessed with more-than-expected rainfall last year due to late monsoon rains and low-pressure induced rains. By December 2013, it surpassed its annual target of 5,676 million unit (MU) backed by reservoirs with sufficient water storage.

According to data provided by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) while worst-hit Ganjam received 740 mm rainfall during and after the tropical cyclone Phailin in October, compared with 111 mm normal rainfall, the state received 277 per cent higher rainfall than the normal level for the same month. Major reservoirs of the state which are located at Koraput , Malkangiri and south of Bhawanipatna districts, received enough water to generate record power generation.

Following the heavy rainfall in October last year, the hydro generation zoomed to 1,200 Mw.

However, later the output was regulated to 500 Mw as part of the stored water was released for irrigation purposes during the winter crop season. The officials of Gridco said drawal from hydro power stations would be limited to 1,000 Mw as water would also be released for kharif season crops. In case of emergency the average output could be pushed to 1,500 Mw, they added.