Gorlov turbines set to debut at Assam tea plantation

Guwahati, Jul 20 (UNI) The country's first ever Gorlov Helecal turbine for power generation from river water flowing through the plains is set to debut at the Brahmaputra river in Dibrugarh district of Assam.

The initiative to adopt this new technology had been taken by the Bagasa tea plantation of Ratanpur, near Dibrugarh town, with the state government giving the green signal for this first-of-the-kind mini hydel project in the country.

Informing this, state Power, Industries and Commerce Minister Pradyut Bordoli said, ''The Bagasa plantation has approached us with the project and the government is ready to the No Objection Certificate.'' He said this would be the pilot project for the installation of the Gorlov Helecal turbine-based projects in the state, with a power generation capacity of about one MW.

This latest technology, developed by the Boston-based Alexander Gorlov, is used for power generation from rivers flowing through plain areas. The technology has yielded great success in Brazil and South Korea already.

Specifically developed for hydroelectric applications in run-of-river projects, the Gorlov turbine can capture approximately 75 per cent more of the water's energy than a conventional turbine, and in full production the cost of an installed open-river hydro power system should be US$ 400 - 600 per KW.

In addition, these new turbines have virtually zero operation costs. The new turbine can provide electrification to remote areas that might never be reached by the power grid.

Through this technology, South Korea had proposed to tap 3,600 MW of energy in its Uldolmok Strait. The minister informed that delegates from the state power department had met Brazilian power sector officials who had visited India during the recent Brazil's Presidential visit to the country.

Underlining the huge potential the state had in terms of power generation from water flowing through its plain areas, Mr Bordoloi said, ''If the pilot project runs smoothly, it would be a big boost to the power sector in the state.'' UNI SG LL/src1455