NHPC commissions 3 units of 800 MW Parbati-II Hydroelectric project

New Delhi: NHPC Limited has commenced commercial operation of three out of four units of its 800 MW Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project in Himachal Pradesh at 00:00 hours on Tuesday. The fourth unit is expected to be commissioned shortly.

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Speaking on the occasion, NHPC Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) RK Chaudhary stated, "It gives me immense pleasure to announce that three units of 200 MW each of NHPC’s ambitious Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project have been successfully commissioned during March 2025, and commercial operation has begun today. This milestone is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and teamwork of our committed employees."

The Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project, located in Kullu district, is a run-of-the-river scheme constructed on the Parbati River. It features an 83.7-meter-high concrete gravity dam at Pulga in Manikaran valley, with water transported through a 31.56 km Head Race Tunnel (HRT) to a powerhouse at Siund in Sainj valley. This HRT is the longest hydropower tunnel in India. The project utilizes a gross head of 862.50 meters and comprises four Pelton turbines of 200 MW each. Additionally, it features the world’s longest inclined pressure shaft tunnels excavated using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM).

Himachal Pradesh will receive 12 percent free power from the project, with an additional 1 percent allocated to local area development. Since its construction commencement in 2002, the project has faced multiple challenges, including flash floods, back-slope failures, and high silt ingress. Despite these hurdles, NHPC successfully generated 1130 Million Units (MU) of infirm power since September 2018, generating revenue of approximately Rs 182 crore.

NHPC has invested significantly in infrastructure development in the project area, constructing 15 bridges and 88 km of roads. The company has disbursed Rs 112 crore for local area development and spent Rs 27.83 crore under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), benefiting health, social welfare, and education sectors. Additionally, NHPC has provided direct and indirect employment to over 1,700 individuals, with a majority being local residents.

The commissioning of the Parbati-II project is a significant achievement for NHPC in its Golden Jubilee year. NHPC, a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Power, is India's largest hydropower development organization with a total installed capacity of 7,833 MW, including hydro, solar, and wind power projects. The company is currently executing projects with a combined capacity of 10,204 MW.

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