OREANDA-NEWS. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has achieved yet another landmark in its After-Market-Service business by successfully renovating and modernizing Unit-2 (110 MW) at Muzaffarpur Thermal Power Station (TPS) Plant of Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Limited (KBUNL - a Joint Venture of NTPC Ltd. and BSPGCL) in Bihar. Following the successful R&M, the unit has been running on full capacity, ensuring addition of 110 MW to the state of Bihar.

The unit was originally supplied and commissioned by BHEL in March, 1986. With this, the working life of the machine has been extended by another 15-20 years. This follows the successful completion of R&M work of Unit-1 at Muzaffarpur TPS, which was commissioned in September, 2013 by BHEL and was dedicated to the state by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Bihar in November, 2013. BHEL has once again showcased its inherent strength of being fully geared for execution of R&M and uprating of old thermal power plants through in-house state-of-the-art technology, re-engineering capabilities for parts due to obsolete design and by incorporating the latest products/systems in renovated units.

So far, BHEL has completed R&M of 17 sets totalling to initial design capacity of 2,000 MW. In order to bridge the gap between demand and supply, especially in the context of limited financial resources available and difficulty in land acquisition and environment clearance it has become imperative for the country to look for other options for cheaper faster power capacity enhancement. Under these circumstances optimum utilization of existing capacity in the country to maximize generation through R&M and life extension (LE) of existing power plants is considered to be the most cost effective option.

Of the more than 150 sets of 200/ 210 MW rating in operation in the country, about 70 have outlived their designed economic life of 25 years. Power utilities would find this an opportunity for capacity uprating and life extension, which would not only improve their performance level in terms of improving efficiency and reducing emissions but also extend their useful life span.