Sharavathi plant hasn’t generated max power in 11 yrs

The Sharavathi Generating Station (SGS), the major source of electricity in the state, has not worked to full capacity in the last 11 years.

Sources in the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) said the last time that maximum power generated from SGS was 5,825.43 million units in 2007-08. Since then, the plant has not generated power at its installed capacity of 1,035 MW. Though Linganamakki dam, the source of SGS, has reached its maximum level of 1,819 feet three times after 2007, maximum power was not generated as an overflow of water from the dam was limited for a few days. The last time the dam had reached its brim was in 2014. KPCL officials are hopeful that the dam would reach the maximum level this year as the India Meteorological Department has predicted normal monsoon this year. The catchment area of the dam witnessed a good spell of rain in the first week of June. But the showers declined drastically over the last one week.

The water level in the dam on June 15 was 1,764.3 feet and rainfall was 92.2 mm. But the rainfall declined drastically on June 18 to 9 mm. Since June 19, there has been no significant rise in the water level of the dam. On June 25, the water level in the dam was at 1,766.25 feet. The inflow of water was 4,917.9 cusecs.

Mohan H, a KPCL executive engineer, said following the deficit rainfall in the catchment area of the dam over the last four days, only eight million to nine million units of power was being generated at SGS. Demand for power has declined as air conditioners and fans are not utilised extensively, like in summer.

This is the right time to harness wind energy as the wind speeds are high. Of the eight units of the Mahatma Gandhi powerhouse here, only four are functioning as the renovation of the remaining four is in progress. Machines are in good condition. But switchyard is being overhauled, the sources said.