Project Name

Parbati II Hydroelectric Project

Type

Run of river hydroelectric scheme

River

Parbati River

Location

District Kullu, Himachal Pradesh

Approach

Nearest Railhead Kiratpur; Nearest Airport Bhuntar (Kullu)

Installed Capacity

800 MW (4 × 200 MW)

Design Energy

3124.6 Million Units (MU) (90% dependable year)

Project Cost

₹3,919.59 Crores (at December 2001 price level)

Beneficiary States/UTs

Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh & Union Territory of Chandigarh

Purpose

Hydropower generation & flood mitigation

Dam Type

Concrete Gravity Dam

Dam Height

83.7 meters

Water Diversion Mechanism

The river is diverted at Pulga village in Parbati Valley through a 31.52 km-long Head Race Tunnel (HRT)

Powerhouse Location

Suind village in Sainj Valley

Gross Head Utilized

863 meters (Pulga to Suind)

Additional Water Sources

Various nallahs along Head Race Tunnel alignment contribute to water diversion

Surge Shaft

130 m high, 17 m diameter Orifice-type surge shaft

Head Race Tunnel (HRT)

31.52 km long, 6 m diameter tunnel

Pressure Shafts

2 pressure shafts of 3.5 m diameter each

Length of Pressure Shafts

Right - 2,121.5 m; Left - 2,149.5 m

Tail Race Channels

4 channels, 60m long, dimensions 5m × 4.5m each

Powerhouse Type

Surface powerhouse

Turbine Type

Pelton Turbines

Number of Generating Units

4 units of 200 MW each

Switchyard

400 KV GIS Surface Switchyard with 2 outgoing 400 KV feeders

Challenges Faced

Geological difficulties, tunneling issues, silt seepage, flash floods & water ingress delays

Annual Energy Generation

Approximately 3,074 MU per year

Significance

Major contributor to renewable energy, hydropower production & flood risk mitigation along Parbati River

Full Name

National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited

Established

1975

Headquarters

Faridabad, Haryana, India

Ownership

Government of India (Public Sector Undertaking)

Sector

Hydropower & Renewable Energy

Primary Role

Development of hydroelectric power projects in India

Total Installed Capacity

7,097.2 MW (as of 2023)

Number of Power Stations

24 Hydro, 1 Solar, 1 Wind

Key Hydroelectric Projects

Teesta-V (Sikkim), Dhauliganga (Uttarakhand), Subansiri Lower (Arunachal Pradesh/Assam), Chamera (Himachal Pradesh), Parbati-II (Himachal Pradesh), Salal (J&K)

Total Projects Under Construction

16 projects (with a total capacity of 10,789 MW)

Major International Ventures

Bhutan (Punatsangchhu-I & II, Mangdechhu HEP)

Diversification into Renewables

Expanding into solar & wind energy projects

Significance in India's Power Sector

One of India’s largest hydropower developers, crucial for renewable energy transition

Market Listing

Listed on BSE & NSE (Stock Exchange)

Government Stake

Majority ownership with Government of India

Vision

Sustainable energy development with an emphasis on hydro & renewable sources

Location

Himachal Pradesh, India

Origin

Near Mantalai Glacier in Pin Parbati Pass (Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh)

Length

90 km (approximate)

Elevation of Source

Around 5,200 meters (17,060 feet) above sea level

Major Tributaries

Tos Nala, Dibibokri Nala, Malana Nala

Passes Along Course

Pin Parbati Pass (connects Kullu & Spiti Valley)

Flow Through

Manikaran, Kasol, Pulga, Bhuntar (Kullu)

Confluence

Joins Beas River near Bhuntar in Kullu district

Hydroelectric Projects

Parbati Hydroelectric Projects (Stages I, II & III)

Parbati-II Project Details

Utilizes water diversion at Pulga to Suind with an 800 MW power generation capacity

Religious Significance

Manikaran Sahib (Sikh pilgrimage site) & Hot Water Springs along river banks

Tourism Importance

Kasol, Tosh, Kheerganga Trek, Manikaran attract trekkers & tourists

Environmental Challenges

Flash floods, landslides, deforestation, hydropower project impact

Ecological Importance

Home to alpine forests, rich biodiversity & snow-fed streams crucial for Himalayan ecosystems

Water Storage

Minimal or no storage; relies on river's natural flow.

Reservoir

No large reservoir; only a small pondage to regulate short term fluctuations.

Environmental Impact

Lower ecological impact compared to large dams but may affect aquatic ecosystems & sediment transport.

Working Mechanism

Diverts river water through a headrace tunnel/channel → Water flows through turbines → Electricity generated → Water returns to river downstream.

Energy Dependence

Highly dependent on river discharge (seasonal variations affect power generation).

Ideal Locations

Mountainous & hilly regions with steep gradients for natural elevation drop.

Advantages

Minimal displacement of people, reduced risk of dam failure & lower carbon footprint.

Challenges

Seasonal flow variations, silt accumulation, limited power regulation & potential ecological concerns.

Parbati-II

Parbati

800 MW

Himachal Pradesh

Karcham Wangtoo

Satluj

1,200 MW

Himachal Pradesh

Rampur HEP

Satluj

412 MW

Himachal Pradesh

Teesta-III

Teesta

1,200 MW

Sikkim

Teesta-V

Teesta

510 MW

Sikkim

Lower Subansiri

Subansiri

2,000 MW

Arunachal Pradesh/Assam

Uri-I & Uri-II

Jhelum

480 MW

Jammu & Kashmir

Dhauliganga HEP

Dhauliganga

280 MW

Uttarakhand

Baglihar Hydroelectric Project

Chenab

900 MW

Jammu & Kashmir

Chamera-III

Ravi

231 MW

Himachal Pradesh

Three Gorges Dam (RoR Component)

Yangtze

China

22,500 MW

Belo Monte Dam

Xingu

Brazil

11,233 MW

La Yesca Dam

Santiago

Mexico

750 MW

Mica Dam

Columbia

Canada

2,805 MW

Jinping-I Dam

Yalong

China

3,600 MW

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Discuss significance of Run-of-River (RoR) hydroelectric projects in Indian renewable energy sector. Highlight their advantages, challenges & compare them with conventional dam-based hydropower projects.