BHEL's power generating sets achieve all-time high PLF & generation; substantially boost country's power generation in fiscal 2004-05.

Power generation in the country received a boost during fiscal 2005-06, as a result of excellent performance of BHEL-built thermal sets, which achieved an all-time high Plant Load Factor (PLF) of 75.7% — higher than the national average by 1.4%. Operating Availability (OA) of these sets was also the highest ever at 84.3%.

Consistently registering a high PLF and OA, these thermal sets generated a record 331.2 Billion Units of power during the year. This constituted 78.3% of the country's total thermal power generation and contributed substantially in narrowing the gap between demand and supply of power.

In the same period, BHEL-make thermal sets of 200/210/250/500 MW capacity, which form the backbone of the country's thermal power generating capacity, operated at an all-time high PLF and OA of 80.8% and 88.5%, respectively. Notably, out of the 175 such sets supplied by BHEL in the country so far, 42 sets achieved PLF of over 90% and 82 achieved a PLF of between 80-90%.

It is recognition of the reliability and quality of BHEL equipment, that as many as 23 stations equipped with BHEL sets are included in the list of 27 power stations which have been awarded with the Govt. of India’s Gold Shield for excellent performance. Notably, APGENCO's 1260MW Vijaywada TPS equipped with BHEL sets has consistently been winning this award for the last 12 years since 1992, and has won the gold medal for the tenth consecutive year.

Exceeding CEA's commissioning target by 10% in the utility segment, during 2004-05, BHEL added 21 sets of 3,548 MW in the country. With this, the installed capacity of BHEL utility sets went up to 74,780 MW and BHEL maintained its share of 65% in the country's total installed generating capacity of 1,15,077 MW. In addition, 17 captive / industrial sets of 437 MW were commissioned by the company in the same period. BHEL created a new benchmark in execution of thermal projects with the synchronization of the 500 MW (Unit 7) at Ramagundam STPS in a record time of just 36 months and 10 days - 80 days ahead of the contract schedule.

During the year, BHEL also reinforced its commitment to providing prompt & efficient customer service aimed at facilitating uninterrupted power supply & keeping power plants in good running condition, by overhauling 124 thermal and hydro sets, including 10 non-BHEL sets.

BHEL has fully established state-of-the-art technology for design, manufacture, erection and commissioning of thermal sets up to 500 MW ratings and has the capability to manufacture sets up to 1000 MW ratings.