GE Commissions 180-MW Bajoli Holi Hydro Project In Himachal’s Chamba Region

The 180-MW Bajoli Holi Project, consisting of three units of 60 MW each, in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh has been commissioned by GE Renewable Energy‘s Hydropower business 7 years after bagging the contract in March 2015. the project was commissioned on behalf of GMR Energy, the operator for the project.

Connected to the grid in March 2022, Bajoli Holi Project has since been generating electricity to cater not only to the state but also to north India. A statement released by GMR  reads that constructed on the river Ravi in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, the 180-MW run-of-the-river power facility has a head race tunnel of more than 16 km. The Bajoli Holi project has been registered with UNFCCC as a CDM Project and has completed the WCD audit too.

The project had faced some legal challenges early on, due to a decision to shift important project components like the head race tunnel and power house from the uninhabited right bank of the Ravi river to the left bank which was more heavily populated.

Sanjay Barde, CEO, GMR Energy, said, “The immense hard work put in by them (the GE Hydro Solutions team) to commission all three units within 11 days of water availability while adhering to all quality and safety norms is commendable. We look forward to similar and even more enriching partnerships with GE to further our mutual vision. The completion of this project is a step towards using the power potential of the state to support both Himachal Pradesh and the entire northern region of India.”

Brian Selby, Regional General Manager, Asia, China & India at GE Renewable Energy Hydro Solutions, added,” It gives us immense pleasure that the project was commissioned despite a series of challenges posed by the pandemic. In the face of lockdown restrictions in the last year, the site team persevered and continued the erection and commissioning activities by diligently monitoring and implementing precautionary measures and administrative controls,”.

The energy generated by Bajoli Holi Hydropower Plant meets 94% of energy required by the Delhi International Airport Limited, among others. GE’S hydro turbines and generators represent more than 25% of the total installed capacity worldwide. Combining onshore and offshore wind, blades, hydro, storage, utility-scale solar, and grid solutions as well as hybrid renewables and digital services offerings, GE Renewable Energy claims to have installed more than 400+ gigawatts of clean renewable energy and equipped more than 90 percent of utilities worldwide with its grid solutions. Among the solutions for hydropower generation includes the broadest range of hydro solutions and services: from water to wire, from individual equipment to complete turnkey solutions, for new plants and the installed base.