BENGALURU: Come rain or not, power shortage in the state may ease a bit if Karnataka Power Corporation’s (KPCL) grandiose plan of generating more hydroelectricity at Sharavathi bears fruit. The idea is to reuse water at Jog Falls to generate enough power even when there is a deficit monsoon.
Karnataka has about 15 hydel power stations including Shivanasamudra and Bhadra, with Sharavathi being the biggest. At present, 1,035 MW of power is generated annually at Sharavathi station, accounting for 25 per cent of the total power production in Karnataka.
According to official sources, power production at Sharavathi station has not been to full capacity due to deficit monsoon in the last few years. Though it can generate 5,000 units annually, it has been generating only around 3,000-3,500 units.
KPCL Managing Director Kumar Naik said they are now planning to set up a pumped-storage hydroelectricity plant at Sharavathi to produce more power. “The project is in the initial stage. A survey is being conducted and a detailed project report will be done later. Sharavathi, being the largest hydel power station, will be able to generate additional power with a pumped-storage unit in place,’’ he said.
“The water which falls off the hills and flows downstream will be pumped and stored in an upper level. This stored water will be used to run new turbines. With this, we hope to generate about 1,000 MW additionally,’’ he said.
Naik however said the pumped-storage hydroelectricity unit will not be used on a daily basis. “Whenever there is a need for power or if there is a shortage of power in the state, we will use it. Also, if it rains well and dams are filled, we might not need to use it,’’ he said.
Sources in KPCL pointed out that the cost of pumping water up will be a bit high. “But generating power from natural resources will work out better in the longer run,’’ they said.