OREANDA-NEWS. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has bagged a prestigious contract for setting up a Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) in Karnataka on EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) basis, involving supply and commissioning of a fuel-efficient state-of-the-art Advanced-class Gas Turbine.

Valued at Rs.12,020 Million, the order for the 370 MW Gas Turbine-based CCPP to be installed at Yelahanka on the outskirts of Bengaluru city, has been placed on BHEL by Karanataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL). Significantly, this will also be the first gas-based Utility Power Project of KPCL. Significantly, with this order, BHEL has contracted 242 GTs including 22 advanced-class GTs. Notably, this plant will replace the old Diesel Generator based power plant of 128 MW capacity, which has not been operating for some time due to environmental issues.

Yelahanka CCPP will not only address environmental concerns but will also improve the power supply in Karnataka and specifically Bengaluru city. BHEL has a long association with KPCL and BHEL supplied sets account for 74% of its installed capacity. Another 3,100 MW of projects are presently under construction by BHEL at Bellary, Yeramarus and Edlapur. Significantly, BHEL is the JV partner of KPCL in Raichur Power Corporation Limited (RPCL) and is constructing the 2x800 MW Yeramarus TPS and 1x800 MW Edlapur power projects of RPCL. With this order, KPCL has once again reposed confidence in BHEL's proven technological excellence as also its capability in executing power projects of this magnitude on EPC basis.

BHEL's scope of work in the project includes design, engineering, manufacture, supply, construction, erection, testing & commissioning of the EPC Package comprising an advanced-class Gas Turbine-based combined cycle power plant. The key equipment for the contract will be manufactured at BHEL's Hyderabad, Trichy, Haridwar, Bhopal and Jhansi plants, while the company's Power Sector - Southern Region shall execute the civil works and erection & commissioning of the equipment.

Gas-based power plants have the advantage of quick start-up and are environment friendly besides being suitable for peaking power. With the recent gas price revision and proposal for gas price pooling, gas availability is likely to improve which will result in setting up of more gas-based power plants.