Tata Power commissions 63 MW hydro project, takes installed capacity to 8,684 MW

Tata Power Company (TPC) has successfully commissioned a 63 MW first unit of its 126 MW Dagachhu Hydro Power Corporation (DHPC) in Bhutan, to take its overall power production capacity to 8,684 MW.

Adani Power, which overtook Tata Power as the largest power producer a year ago, has 11,040 MW of capacity. Adani Power had recently acquired Avantha Power's 600 MW Korba West Power Project in Chattisgarh.

The 126-MW Dagachhu run of river project is a joint venture between Tata Power and Druk Green Power Corporation, owned by Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) and National Pension & Provident Fund of Bhutan.

Located in Dagana Dzongkhag, Bhutan, the test run for the second unit of 63 MW will also be immediately started and is expected to be completed soon, said Tata Power. With the commissioning of the fist unit, Tata Power's total hydro generation capacity now stands at 513 MW. DHPC has a 25 year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Tata Power Trading Company Limited (TPTCL), a company of Tata Power. It will sell the power generated from the project in the Indian power market.

Tata Power already wheels power from the 1,020 MW Tala power project in Bhutan, in a joint venture with Power Grid Corporation of India. The project, funded by India through grant and loans, had its first unit commissioned in 2006 and rest of the five units came up in the next 1-2 years.  

 "We are delighted to announce the commissioning of the Dagachhu hydro project in Bhutan and we aim to develop new hydro project of yet another 450 MW this year", said Anil Sardana, CEO and Managing Director, Tata Power. The company aims to reduce its carbon footprint through the generation of 20-25 per cent of its total capacity through clean and renewable energy sources, he added.

Chhewang Rinzin, Chairman, DHPC, and Managing Director, DGPC, said the 126 MW Dagachhu project is the first hydroelectric project that has been successfully completed under a Bhutanese management. This year Tata Power is celebrating centenary of commissioning its first hydro-unit in 1915 at Khopoli near Mumbai.