Tala Hydroelectric Power Station Explained

Tala Dam
Name Official:Tala Hydroelectric Power Station
Location Map:Bhutan
Coordinates:27.0362°N 89.5953°W
Country:Bhutan
Location:Chukha District
Purpose:Power
Status:O
Construction Began:1997
Opening:2007
Dam Type:Gravity
Dam Height:920NaN0
Dam Length:128.7m (422.2feet)
Dam Volume:3520000m2
Dam Elevation Crest:1366m (4,482feet)
Dam Crosses:Wangchu River
Res Capacity Total:9800000m2
Res Capacity Active:32000000NaN0
Res Catchment:4028km2
Res Surface:360m2
Res Elevation:1363m (4,472feet)
Plant Hydraulic Head:860m (2,820feet)
Plant Commission:2006-2007
Plant Turbines:6 x 170MW Pelton-type
Plant Capacity:1020MW[1]

Tala Hydroelectric Power Station is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station on the Wangchu River in Chukha District, Bhutan. The station consists of a 92m (302feet) tall gravity dam which diverts water through a 22km (14miles) long headrace tunnel to the power station which contains six 170 MW Pelton turbine-generators. The difference in elevation between the dam and the power station affords the project a hydraulic head of 8600NaN0.[2]

Preliminary construction on the project began in 1997 and major works were underway by 1999. The power equipments viz. turbines, generators etc. were designed and manufactured by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), at their various factories in India. The first generator was commissioned on 31 July 2006 and the final on 30 March 2007.[3] The project cost was about US$900 million and was financed by India through grants. All of the electricity generated is exported to India through three 400kV transmission lines.[2]

The power station is the country's biggest hydropower project and the fourth after the Chuka project (336 MW) in 1988, followed by Kurichhu (60 MW) in 2001, and Basochho (40 MW) in 2005. Electricity revenue was expected to provide no less than 60% of the government's entire revenue in 2009. In 2017, 97.7% of Bhutanese households had access to electricity.[4] [5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Salient Features - Tala. DrukGreen. 10 September 2013. 19 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131219155018/http://www.drukgreen.bt/index.php/thp-menu/salient-thp. dead.
  2. Web site: Tala Hydroelectric Project, Bhutan. Power Technology. 10 September 2013.
  3. Web site: Tala Hydropower Plant. DrukGreen. 10 September 2013. 19 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131219024834/http://www.drukgreen.bt/index.php/thp-menu/about-thp. dead.
  4. Web site: Bhutan's happiness is large dam, fast GDP. The Economic Times, India. 27 August 2014. 2 November 2009.
  5. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS?locations=BT&view=chart Worldbank