Purulia Pump Storage Plant to save West Bengal from grid crash on Sunday 9 PM as 1 GW demand vanishes

KOLKATA: Purulia Pump Storage Plant will save West Bengal from a grid crash on Sunday 9 PM when power demand in the state is likely to drop by almost 1 gigawatt (1000 MW) for nine minutes as citizens observe lights off appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Grid management authorities are worried as 1 GW power demand will drop and then come back on within 10-15 minutes when citizens switch on lights.

The state has estimated demand in WBSEDCL’s command area at around 9PM to be 5250MW under stable weather condition, while at around 9 PM on Sunday the expected load crash predicted is to the tune of 800 to 1000MW due to switch off light program.

Expected power availability from interstate and intra-state generating station at the time of event is estimated at around 4730 MW & WBSEDCL’s own availability would be 900 MW from Purulia Pump Storage Plant (PPSP). So, expected total availability shall be to the tune of 5630MW

To manage the situation WBSEDCL will maintain 900 MW PPSP generation with the imposition of required thermal generation backdown in well advance of the event. At time of event while load crashing starts WBSEDCL will ramp down PPSP generation from 900MW to zero in pace with demand crash rate to maintain Grid discipline.

As a part of precautionary measure for grid security Unit-5 (215 MW) of Bandel Thermal Power Station (BTPS) will be synchronised well in advance of the event as the same unit has a capability of islanding under grid collapse condition with matching load.

The post event upsurge of demand will be tackled by ramping up the PPSP generation & imposed thermal generation back down simultaneously.

The West Bengal State Load Despatch Centre (WBSLDC) will facilitate prompt ramp up and down of state sector thermal generation on emergency basis for which WBSEDCL & WBPDCL will extend their best possible support.