The 960 MW Polavaram hydroelectric project is a critical infrastructure initiative providing hydropower, irrigation, and drinking water to five regions in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Situated in southeastern India near Ramayya Peta village in the Polavaram Mandal of the Godavari District, the Polavaram project on the Godavari River is notable for achieving the largest continuous concrete pour and the highest volume of concrete poured within 24 hours.
The project features a full reservoir level of 45.7 meters and comprises twelve 80-MW units, each designed to handle a discharge of 331 cubic meters per second. This infrastructure will supply essential water and electricity to homes, industries, and communities across the region. The teams completed the spillway, while actively constructing the powerhouse complex, including the intake and tailrace channel, with a daily workforce of approximately 1,000 personnel.
Tractebel’s Strategic Involvement
Tractebel India has been appointed as the Design and Detailed Engineering Consultant for the 12 x 80 MW (960 MW) Polavaram Hydroelectric Project in Andhra Pradesh. The company hydropower specialists provide technical support to the client, ensuring the approval of design and drawings from the Owner/Owner’s Engineer.
Additionally, the experts participate in technical meetings, respond to observations from the Owner/Project Management Consultant, and adapt designs and drawings to meet site-specific conditions during the project’s execution. The project is slated for completion in June 2024.
Polavaram Project Achieves Two Guinness World Records
Distinguishing Features of the Polavaram Project
Engineering Marvel: The Polavaram Project is renowned for its exceptional engineering achievements. The spillways, featuring a pier height of 54 meters and 48 gates spanning 1,070 meters, required an extraordinary 3,100,000 cubic meters of concrete, 50,000 tons of steel, and 9,300,000 tons of cement. These remarkable feats led to the project earning two Guinness World Records: one for the “most concrete continuously poured in 24 hours” (32,100 cubic meters) and another for the “largest continuous concrete pour.”
Comprehensive Irrigation and Water Supply: The Polavaram Project is set to irrigate an expansive area of 4,200,000 acres across two phases. In addition to its irrigation benefits, the project will significantly enhance the water supply across all 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh, contributing to the region’s agricultural and water security.
Exceptional Flood Resilience: The Polavaram spillway is designed to withstand catastrophic floods occurring once in a millennium, demonstrating unparalleled resilience. With a discharge capacity of 5,000,000 cubic meters per second, it exceeds the capacity of China’s famous Three Gorges Dam, which has a discharge capacity of 4,700,000 cubic meters per second. The Polavaram dam, boasting a total capacity of 194 TMC (1 TMC = One thousand million cubic feet), ensures optimal water utilization, with only 1.5 TMC reserved for dead storage.
source: Tractebel
source: Tractebel
Source: Tractebel
Sustainability, Technology, and Tourism
Sustainability
Hydropower, generated from the gravitational force of flowing water, stands as a leading sustainable and renewable energy source. The Polavaram project exemplifies this by significantly reducing the carbon footprint per unit of energy compared to fossil fuels. This initiative serves as a model for future hydroelectric plants, with a primary objective of harnessing and storing renewable energy to ensure a continuous supply of green power.
Cutting-edge Technology
Advanced technology underpins the success of the Polavaram project. Utilizing tools such as midas FEA NX for 3D stress analyses of the powerhouse complex ensures structural integrity. Furthermore, our experts employed industry-leading, least-cost optimization modeling tools to design and analyze various civil components, demonstrating our commitment to innovation and efficiency in project execution.
Source: Tractebel
Source: Tractebel
Boosting Tourism
The Polavaram hydroelectric plant not only serves as a power generator but also contributes to the flourishing tourism sector. Situated within the renowned Papikonda National Park, the reservoir offers a captivating scenic attraction, attracting travelers and adventure enthusiasts alike.
“Tractebel continues to make significant strides in integrating storage technologies into India’s power network, thereby reducing depeIndia-960MW-Polavaram-Hydroelectric-Project-Guinness-World-Recordsndence on fossil fuels and maximizing the supply of green energy. The engineering company takes pride in a pivotal role in addressing the state’s growing water and energy demands. From fostering fertile fields to fostering thriving communities, the enduring impact of the Polavaram project will be felt for decades, if not centuries, to come.”
Source : Tractebel