ABB India has restored and modernised the critical 1,035 MW Sharavathi hydropower plant in Karnataka.
Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL), the state-owned electric utility in-charge of Sharavathi, expected the renovation of its second largest generating station to take two years.
The restoration and modernisation will help lower overall costs generally associated with higher capex and maintenance costs for individual systems such as advanced alarm management and remote communication with the state power grid and KPCL headquarters.
For restoring the crucial power infrastructure, the ABB has bagged the The India Smart Grid Foundation (ISGF) innovation award.
Sharavathi project accounts for 25 per cent of Karnataka Power Corporation’s generation.
The Sharavati Hydroelectric project was started to tap the electricity generating potential of the river. There are three power generating stations in this project viz.
• The Sharavati Generating Station with 10 Units and an installed capacity of 1035 MW
• The Linganamakki Dam Powerhouse with 2 units and an installed capacity of 55 MW
• The Gerusoppa Dam Project with 4 units totalling to 240 MW.
Sharavati is a river which originates and flows entirely within the state of Karnataka in India. It is one of the few westward flowing rivers of India and a major part of the river basin lies in the Western Ghats.
The famous Jog Falls, located about 24 km from Sagara, are formed by this river. The river itself and the region around it are rich in biodiversity and are home to many rare species of flora and fauna.