Yadadri's fifth 800 MW unit synchronised to the grid

The fifth and final unit of the Yadadri Thermal Power Station was synchronised to the grid on Wednesday, completing Telangana's 4,000 MW flagship plant. The milestone arrives as the state's power demand has soared to 20,003 MW against a normal October level of around 15,000 MW.

The fifth unit of the Yadadri Thermal Power Station (YTPS) at Veerlapalem village in Nalgonda district was synchronised to the grid at 11:06 am on Wednesday, TGGENCO chairman and managing director Dr S. Harish announced. The 800 MW unit, built with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, was later hand-tripped for further commercial-operation procedures.

With all five 800 MW units now in place, YTPS reaches its full installed capacity of 4,000 MW, making it the largest state-run thermal power plant in independent India, according to officials. The first four units are already in commercial operation; the project, launched in 2017, has a revised estimated cost of Rs 36,131 crore.

The completion could not come at a better time: the state's electricity demand has touched 20,003 MW, about 5,000 MW above the normal October level, driven by agricultural pump sets and domestic cooling amid March-like October temperatures. Commercial operation of Unit 5 is expected to begin soon, giving TGGENCO more room to meet the surge.