Tala Hydroelectric Power Station

27°02′10.38″N 089°35′43.17″E / 27.0362167°N 89.5953250°E / 27.0362167; 89.5953250PurposePowerStatusOperationalConstruction began1997Opening date2007Dam and spillwaysType of damGravityImpoundsWangchu RiverHeight92 m (302 ft)Length128.7 m (422 ft)Elevation at crest1,366 m (4,482 ft)Dam volume3,520,000 m³ (4,600,000 cu yd)ReservoirTotal capacity9,800,000 m³ (7,900 acre⋅ft)Active capacity3,200,000 m³ (2,594 acre⋅ft)Catchment area4,028 km² (1,555 sq mi)Surface area360 m² (0.089 acres; 0.036 ha)Normal elevation1,363 m (4,472 ft)Power StationCommission date2006-2007Hydraulic head860 m (2,820 ft)Turbines6 x 170 MW (230,000 hp) Pelton-typeInstalled capacity1,020 MW (1,370,000 hp)^[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 92-metre (302 ft) tall gravity dam which diverts water through a 22 km (14 mi) long headrace tunnel to the power station (26°50′26.36″N 089°35′12.55″E / 26.8406556°N 89.5868194°E / 26.8406556; 89.5868194 (Tala Hydroelectric 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 860 m (2,822 ft).^{[2][unreliable source?]}

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

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