CleanupBot II at 23:16, 13 August 2023

2023-08-13T23:16:40Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox power station
| name = GMR Vasavi Diesel Power Plant
| name_official =
| image = GMR Vasavi Power Plant, Chennai.jpg
| image_caption = GMR Vasavi plant as seen from [[Washermanpet]]
| image_alt =
| coordinates = {{coord|13.098292|80.270169|region:IN_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| country = India
| location = 1, Pulianthope High Road, [[Basin Bridge]], [[Chennai]] 600 012, [[Tamil Nadu]]
| status = Decommissioned
| construction_began =
| commissioned = February 1999 (Phase I)
| decommissioned = 2018
| cost =
| owner = GMR Power Corporation Limited
| operator = GMR Power Corporation Limited
| th_fuel_primary = [[Diesel fuel|Diesel]]
| th_fuel_tertiary =
| ps_units_operational = 4 x 50 MW
| ps_units_manu_model =
| th_cogeneration =
| th_combined_cycle =
| ps_electrical_capacity = 200 MW<br />Planned: 320 MW
| ps_electrical_cap_fac =
| website = {{URL|http://www.gmrgroup.in/energy-gmr-power-corporation-ltd.aspx}}
}}

'''GMR Vasavi Diesel Power Plant''', owned by GMR Power Corporation Limited, was a private-owned power plant located in [[Basin Bridge (State Assembly Constituency)|Basin Bridge]], [[Chennai]]. It was a 200-MW LSHS ([[Low sulfur diesel|low sulphur heavy stock]]) fuel (processed from the residue of indigenous crude) power plant of the [[GMR Group]].<ref>{{cite news
| last = Reddy
| first = B. Dasarath
| title = GMR to commission two power projects from October
| newspaper = Business Standard
| location = Chennai
| publisher = Business Standard
| date = 28 September 2012
| url = http://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/gmr-to-commission-two-power-projects-from-october-112092800021_1.html
| access-date = 25 Mar 2014}}</ref> The plant was based on [[two-stroke diesel engine]] technology from MAN B&W, [[Germany]]. It was the state's first plant commissioned by the private sector.<ref name="Hindu_PlantShuttingShop"/> The plant was decommissioned in 2018.

==History==
The 196-MW liquid fuel-fired power plant was commissioned in 1998 by the GMR Power Corporation on a 29-acre land leased by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation for 20 years in March 1997.<ref name="Hindu_PlantShuttingShop"/> The entire power generated at this plant was supplied to the [[Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board]].<ref name="GMRPowerCorp">{{cite web| title =GMR Power Corporation Limited| publisher =GMRgroup.in| url =http://www.gmrgroup.in/Energy/GMR_power_corporation_pvt_ltd.html| access-date =25 Mar 2014| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140325085347/http://www.gmrgroup.in/Energy/GMR_power_corporation_pvt_ltd.html| archive-date =2014-03-25}}</ref> It was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister [[M. Karunanidhi]] in March 1999. Initially diesel was used as fuel, and later the plant used low sulphur heavy stock (LSHS). The Tangedco entered into a 15-year power purchase agreement with the plant. When it expired in 2014, it continued to purchase power from the plant till February 2015. After this, the agreement was not renewed.<ref name="Hindu_PlantShuttingShop"/>

==The plant==
The plant was built on a 29-acre land and had four units of 49 MW each.<ref name="Hindu_PlantShuttingShop"/>

==Conservation==
To prevent harmful pollutants from escaping into the atmosphere, the plant incorporated reverse osmosis for the final stage of purification. It also had a water conservation plant that processes about 5 percent of Chennai's sewage to produce water that was required to operate the plant, which was said to be the first of its kind in the country. The plant treated 7,200 cubic metres of raw sewage per day from [[Chennai MetroWater Supply and Sewage Board]] to produce 5,400 cubic metres of clean water for its own use.<ref name="GMRPowerCorp"/>

==Expansion==
Phase-I of the project consisting of 4 X 50 MW liquid fuel-based (diesel) power plant was in operation since February 1999.<ref>{{cite web
| title = GMR Power Corporation Limited
| publisher = icra.in
| url = http://www.icra.in/Files/Reports/Rationale/GMR%20Power.pdf
| access-date = 25 Mar 2014}}</ref> In 2010, the plant planned conversion of Phase I project to a gas-based plant, in addition to initiate Phase II, which consisted of additional 120 MV gas-based combined cycle power plant. The expansion plans required additional land requirement of 2.5 acres, which was within the existing premises.<ref name="ThermalMoEFNews_Expansion"/>

Natural gas requirement for expansion was estimated at 0.60 million cubic metre per day at [[Standard conditions for temperature and pressure|standard conditions]], to be obtained from Krishna-Godavari basin. Natural gas required for conversion of existing diesel-based plant was estimated at 1.1 million cubic metre per day at standard conditions. About 3.48 MLD of water required for the expansion will be obtained from treated sewage water within the plant premises. An estimated 4.8 MLD of water will be required for conversion.<ref name="ThermalMoEFNews_Expansion">{{cite web
| title = 120 MW combined cycle PP at Basin Bridge Purasawakkam by GMR Power Corporation Ltd.
| publisher = Thermal MoEF News
| url = http://moefnews.com/thermal/120-mw-combined-cycle-pp-at-basin-bridge-purasawakkam-by-gmr-power-corporation-ltd/
| access-date = 25 Mar 2014}}</ref>

There was also possibility of switching over the fuel of existing units from heavy oil to [[pyrolysis oil]] obtained from bio mass or urban garbage gasification.

These power generation units can be put to use for [[National Grid Reserve Service|grid reserve service]].<ref>[http://www.claverton-energy.com/commercial-opportunities-for-back-up-generation-and-load-reduction-via-national-grid-the-national-electricity-transmission-system-operator-netso-for-england-scotland-wales-and-offshore.html Commercial Opportunities for Back-Up Generation and Load Reduction via National Grid, the National Electricity Transmission System Operator (NETSO) for England, Scotland, Wales and Offshore.]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.claverton-energy.com/turn-your-standby-generation-into-profit-making-assets.html|title= How to Turn Standby Generation Into Profit-Making Assets |access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref>

==Significance==
The power plant remained significant as it catered to the requirements of vital civic utilities such as the [[Madras High Court]], [[Government General Hospital, Chennai|the Government Hospital]], [[Secretariat Building, Chennai|Secretariat]], [[Chennai Central|Central Railway Station]], [[Egmore Children's Hospital]] and many important residential areas during emergencies.<ref name="Hindu_PlantShuttingShop">{{cite news
| last = Ramakrishnan
| first = T.
| title = Tamil Nadu’s first private power plant shutting shop
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| pages = 2
| publisher = Kasturi & Sons
| date = 29 August 2018
| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/states-first-private-power-plant-shutting-shop/article24804870.ece
| access-date = 2 September 2018}}</ref>

==Awards==
The plant had received ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications from Det Norske Veritas. It had also received the Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Award for Environmental Protection for conserving the environment.<ref name="GMRPowerCorp"/>

==Decommissioning==
In 2018, the plant was decommissioned owing to high cost, with dismantling of the plant beginning in May 2018.<ref name="Hindu_PlantShuttingShop"/>

==See also==

* [[List of power stations in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140325085347/http://www.gmrgroup.in/Energy/GMR_power_corporation_pvt_ltd.html Webpage of GMR Power Corporation]
*[http://globalenergyobservatory.org/geoid/3339 Page in Global Energy Observatory]

{{Chennai Topics}}
{{Power Plants of Tamil Nadu}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Chennai]]
[[Category:Companies based in Chennai]]
[[Category:Power plants in Chennai]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:2018 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1999]]

GMR Vasavi Diesel Power Plant - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 23:16, 13 August 2023