The contract involves installation of a 370 Mw Gas Turbine (GT)-based CCPP at Yelahanka on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Significantly, this will also be the first gas-based Utility Power Project of KPCL.

With this order, BHEL has contracted 242 GTs, including 22 advanced-class GTs.

Notably, this plant will replace the old diesel generator-based power plant of 128 Mw capacity, which has not been operating for some time due to environmental issues. Yelahanka CCPP will not only address environmental concerns but will also improve the power supply in Karnataka and specifically Bengaluru city, the company said in a statement.

BHEL has a long association with KPCL and has supplied sets accounting for 74 per cent of its installed capacity. Another 3,100 Mw of projects are presently under construction by BHEL at Bellary, Yeramarus and Edlapur. BHEL is also the JV partner of the KPCL in Raichur Power Corporation Limited (RPCL) and is constructing the 2x800 Mw Yeramarus TPS and 1x800 Mw Edlapur power projects of RPCL.

BHEL’s scope of work on the project includes the design, engineering, manufacture, supply, construction, erection, testing and commissioning of the EPC package comprising an advanced-class gas turbine-based combined cycle power plant. The key equipment for the contract will be manufactured at BHEL’s Hyderabad, Trichy, Haridwar, Bhopal and Jhansi plants, while the company’s power sector — southern region shall execute the civil works, and erection and commissioning of the equipment.

Gas-based power plants have the advantage of a quick start-up and are environment-friendly besides being suitable for peaking power. With the recent gas price revision and proposal for gas price pooling, gas availability is likely to improve which will result in setting up of more gas-based power plants, the company statement added.