Shillong, July 1: In a momentous occasion for Meghalaya, all the 3 units of the Ganol Hydro Powerplant have begun operation and synchronized with the national grid.
This is a major feat for Meghalaya’s journey towards self-sufficiency of power as the Powerplant will now contribute about 65MU annually.
Conrad took to twitter to make the announcement. “Very happy to announce that all 3 units of Ganol Hydro Powerplant are now synchronized with the grid, raising the estimated annual production to 65MU. This marks a significant milestone in our journey towards self-sufficiency of power. Thanks to everyone who made this possible,” he wrote on this twitter handle.
Why synchronization with grid is important
When power plant units are synchronized with the grid, it means that they are operational and actively generating power. Synchronization indicates that the units are connected to the grid and are producing electricity in coordination with the grid’s requirements.
When the units are synchronized, their electrical output matches the frequency, voltage, and phase of the grid, allowing them to seamlessly supply power to the grid. Synchronization is typically achieved after the units have gone through the startup process and their operating conditions have been met.
Once synchronized, the power plant units are ready to contribute to the overall power generation and distribution system. They can provide electricity to meet the demand from consumers connected to the grid, and their output can be adjusted based on the requirements and fluctuations in power demand.
Conrad’s major contribution in activating Ganol Hydro Power Project
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma had on January 4, 2023, inaugurated the first unit of the Ganol Hydro Power Project with a capacity of producing 7.5 MW of power. The Ganol Hydro Power Project in West Garo Hills has the total capacity to produce 22.5 Mega Watts of power when all three units begin working.
The project is worth over Rs. 560 cr.
The work on the project had started in 2014 but was almost abandoned due to lack of funds. When the MDA 1.0 government led by CM Conrad K Sangma came to power in 2018, it ensured that funds were arranged for the project, which revived the mega project. The powerplant is vital to meet the power demands of the Garo Hills region, and also for the State as a whole to deal with its power crisis.
The State currently requires about 380 MW of power. The State has been facing 8-10 hours long power cuts for over 2 months due to lack of power generation in the State due to delayed rains.
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