The second generating unit at the Linganamakki hydroelectric power station in Shivamogga district has resumed operations after remaining shut for 30 months, restoring up to 24 megawatts of electricity-generation capacity at the facility.
The unit, which has an installed capacity of 27.5 MW, began generating 24 MW on Thursday in line with the water available at the project, according to Karnataka Power Corporation sources cited by Prajavani. The repair was carried out by a local team from C.K. Engineers under the leadership of KPC chief engineer B. Anand Kumar, superintending engineer Ranganath and executive engineer Allamaprabhu.
The unit had been taken offline after a crack developed in its runner blade at the beginning of 2024. The runner is a key rotating component in a hydroelectric turbine, transferring the force of flowing water to the generator. Its failure had halted power generation from the second unit for about two and a half years.
KPC had invited a global tender for the repair work. C.K. Engineers subsequently repaired and reassembled the Russian-built unit, which was commissioned in 1979-80, according to the report.
C.K. Engineers chief executive officer Umesh said the repaired unit underwent different types of tests continuously for three days in the presence of KPC engineers after reassembly. He said no problems were encountered during the testing process and the unit had entered generation at 24 MW, corresponding to the current water availability.
The Linganamakki facility’s second unit had generated electricity for 45 years without interruption before the runner blade developed the crack, the report said. Its return to service follows the completion of repairs, reassembly and testing, with generation now operating at a level determined by the water available at the project.
The restart places the unit back into Karnataka’s hydropower operating system after an extended maintenance-related outage. The next operational milestone identified in the report is continued generation following the three-day testing process and the unit’s return to service under KPC’s engineering supervision.
