OREANDA-NEWS. With the commissioning of one more hydro generating unit of 68 MW at Rampur Hydro Electric Project (HEP) in Himachal Pradesh, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has successfully commissioned four units of the 412 MW hydro power plant of SJVN Limited. The first three units at Rampur HEP, which were commissioned earlier by BHEL in March 2014, have been put into commercial operation in May, 2014.

The remaining 2 sets are also in an advanced stage of execution and are likely to be commissioned by BHEL shortly.

Rampur HEP powerhouse is located on River Satluj, a major tributary of the Indus Basin in Himachal Pradesh - 120 km from Shimla.

BHEL's scope of work in the project includes supply, erection and commissioning of 6 numbers 68 MW Francis turbines operating at a head of 119 meters with matching synchronous generators of 200 rpm, static excitation system, main inlet valves, digital governors, state-of-the-art control & monitoring system (SCADA), associated station auxiliaries, Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) and electrical & mechanical Balance of Plant (BoP).

BHEL has a long standing association with SJVN commencing with the first hydro generating plant of SJVN Limited - 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri HEP, which was commissioned in 2003-04.

Notably, nine hydro sets totalling 641 MW were commissioned by BHEL in the year 2013-14. BHEL is presently executing Hydro power projects of around 5,000 MW which are under various stages of implementation. Fiscal 2014 -15 has also started on a promising note for hydro projects, with a 130 MW set at Parbati, in May, 2014, now followed by another 68 MW unit at Rampur HEP.

Significantly, so far, more than 500 hydro generating sets of various ratings have been contracted on BHEL in India and abroad, with a cumulative capacity of more than 26,000 MW, out of which, equipment for about 5,000 MW generating capacity has been contracted outside India.

BHEL has been committed to the nation's power development programme and has reaffirmed its commitment to the Indian Power Sector by equipping itself by way of contemporary technology, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and skilled technical manpower. Responding to the growth in the nation's demand for power equipment, BHEL has enhanced its manufacturing capacity to 20,000 MW per annum.