Sardar Sarovar Dam’s hydropower output doubles this year

According to the official data, August made the biggest contribution. The India Meteorological Department reports that this monsoon season has brought more rain than normal to Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh (IMD).

According to the news agency PTI, the Sardar Sarovar dam in Gujarat’s Narmada district has produced nearly twice as much hydropower this year as it did during the same period last year, or about 2,142 million units (MUs).

According to the official data, August made the biggest contribution. The India Meteorological Department reports that this monsoon season has brought more rain than normal to Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh (IMD).

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According to information provided by the Sardar Sarovar Nigam Limited (SSNNL), of the 97,410 sq km total basin area of the Narmada river, 85,858 sq km are located in Madhya Pradesh and 9,894 sq km are located in Gujarat.

According to sources from PTI, 2,142 MUs of power were produced from the River Bed Power House (RBPH) turbines at the dam in Kevadia up until September 20 of this year as opposed to 1,129 MUs up until the end of September of 2021.

1,849 of these 2,142 MUs were produced during the monsoon months of July, August, and September. The SSNNL data showed that August was the most productive month for the RBPH this year, producing 901.298 MUs of power.

According to SSNNL Chief Engineer KR Parikh, exceptionally good rains have caused a significant increase in the amount of water released from Madhya Pradesh compared to last year. Power generation has increased as a result of the dam’s height increasing since 2017, he added.

The amount of power produced in the fiscal year 2021–2022 was 923.7 MUs. The RBPH produced 1,265.28 MUs of electricity over the entire year 2021. According to the data cited by PTI, the RBPH generated 5,216.80 MUs in FY 2013–14, which was an all-time high.

“We cannot say how long the inflow of water will continue from Madhya Pradesh and how long the overflow will continue. There is no such forecast, so we cannot say with certainty regarding RBPH power generation breaking the all-time record,” he added.

Currently, the RBPH and Canal Head Power House (CHPH) of the Sardar Sarovar Hydro Electric Project (SSHEP) have installed capacity of 1,200 MW and 250 MW, respectively. According to the data, the CHPH produced 589.3 MUs of power up until September 20 of this year.