Bhira Hydroelectric Project

Bhira Hydroelectric Project is an electricity generating complex in Bhira, Maharashtra state, India. It generates power using water from the nearby Mulshi Dam. Bhira lies approximately 150 km from Mumbai.[1] Its construction was completed in 1927.

Bhira Hydroelectric Project
Hydroelectric Project
Bhira Hydroelectric Project is located in India
Bhira Hydroelectric Project
Bhira Hydroelectric Project
Location in Maharashtra, India
Bhira Hydroelectric Project is located in Maharashtra
Bhira Hydroelectric Project
Bhira Hydroelectric Project
Bhira Hydroelectric Project (Maharashtra)
Coordinates: 18°27.29′N 73°23.4′E / 18.45483°N 73.3900°E / 18.45483; 73.3900
Country India
StateMaharashtra
Languages
 • OfficialMarathi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)

Specifications

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The plant's maximum output capacity is nominally 300 MW, generated by six 25 MW Pelton turbines and a 150 MW pumped storage generator added in 1997. In 2014 two 10 kW microturbine units were added to generate further power from the tailrace after the main turbines.

Awards

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In 2007 the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) awarded a Silver Shield to the Bhira facility's operators, Tata Power, as the second best performing power station in the country.[2] The plant received a further Silver Shield in the following year.[3]

Location

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Bhira's rural location makes it a leisure destination for Mumbai residents.[4]

Climate

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The following climate data is for Bhira village in which the plant is located.

Climate data for Bhira (1991-2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 40.5
(104.9)
47.5
(117.5)
46.5
(115.7)
49.0
(120.2)
47.5
(117.5)
44.0
(111.2)
38.3
(100.9)
37.9
(100.2)
40.0
(104.0)
42.1
(107.8)
42.1
(107.8)
40.0
(104.0)
49.0
(120.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 33.3
(91.9)
35.7
(96.3)
39.0
(102.2)
39.7
(103.5)
38.4
(101.1)
32.4
(90.3)
28.4
(83.1)
27.6
(81.7)
30.4
(86.7)
34.2
(93.6)
34.8
(94.6)
33.5
(92.3)
34.1
(93.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 16.8
(62.2)
17.1
(62.8)
19.9
(67.8)
23.1
(73.6)
25.4
(77.7)
24.3
(75.7)
23.3
(73.9)
22.9
(73.2)
22.4
(72.3)
22.3
(72.1)
19.6
(67.3)
17.8
(64.0)
21.2
(70.2)
Record low °C (°F) 5.6
(42.1)
5.1
(41.2)
8.1
(46.6)
13.6
(56.5)
17.6
(63.7)
16.1
(61.0)
15.2
(59.4)
15.1
(59.2)
15.0
(59.0)
11.0
(51.8)
9.1
(48.4)
6.8
(44.2)
5.1
(41.2)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 1.6
(0.06)
0.0
(0.0)
0.2
(0.01)
5.3
(0.21)
18.4
(0.72)
734.2
(28.91)
1,754.5
(69.07)
1,387.9
(54.64)
599.6
(23.61)
152.1
(5.99)
17.9
(0.70)
3.3
(0.13)
4,674.9
(184.05)
Average rainy days 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.4 1.1 18.7 28.9 27.7 18.5 6.7 1.0 0.2 103.4
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) 41 33 33 38 47 80 90 91 82 68 64 56 60
Source: India Meteorological Department[5]

Bhira has a tropical monsoon climate (Am) with little to no rainfall from November to May and extremely heavy rainfall from June to September when it is affected by the Arabian Sea branch of the South-west monsoon with moderately heavy rainfall in October.

References

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  1. ^ "Bhira Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant India - GEO". globalenergyobservatory.org. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Tata Power Bhira hydro plant bags Silver Shield Award from the Central Electricity Authority, Mumbai". tata.in. Tata Sons Ltd. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Tata Power's Bhira Hydro Plant awarded the 'Silver Shield' award by Ministry of Power and Central Electricity Authority". tata.in. Tata Sons Ltd. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  4. ^ "Kolad: Bhira Dam (Tata Powerhouse Dam), Kolad Tourist Places to Visit for Dam". mustseeindia.com. Roam Space Travel Solutions Pvt Ltd. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Climatological Normals 1981–2010" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. July 2020. pp. 135–136. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.