Chamera One Hydro Power Station Moves Towards AI-Driven Operations
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

Chamera One Hydro Power Station Moves Towards AI-Driven Operations

The Chamera One hydro power station in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, marks three decades of renewable energy operation under National Hydroelectric Power Corporation's Banikhet regional office. It is a 540 megawatt (MW) station with an underground powerhouse operating through three units, each of 180 MW. Construction began in 1984 and was completed in 1994, and the project has become a key element of regional infrastructure. The plant's longevity reflects its original design and siting in the Himalayan catchment.

The station has regularly outperformed its design energy of 1,664 million units per year and reached its annual target by August in the most recent cycle, with total generation to date exceeding 2,500 million units. Electricity is supplied to nine northern states under long-term power purchase agreements, with the home state receiving twelve per cent free power. Other allocations include Chandigarh four per cent, Delhi eight per cent, Haryana 16 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir four per cent, Punjab 10 per cent, Rajasthan 20 per cent, Uttarakhand three per cent and Uttar Pradesh 20 per cent. These arrangements underpin a regional grid support role beyond state boundaries.

The project features a 121 metre-high concrete gravity dam and a reservoir spread over nine point five square kilometres, with a total capacity of 391 million cubic metres. The station is reported to have been built by a GE - Canada consortium and introduced a gas insulated switchyard in India for the first time at the site. Its Francis turbine runner has been effective in handling silt-laden Himalayan waters and has contributed to limited breakdowns.

Operational resilience has reduced major interventions, with the main turbine removed for servicing only recently, according to station management. The station is also preparing for technological upgrades and is at an initial stage of adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) for operations, which is expected to be aligned with corporate-level initiatives. Chamera One therefore continues to serve as both a reliable renewable source and a platform for further modernisation.

The Chamera One hydro power station in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, marks three decades of renewable energy operation under National Hydroelectric Power Corporation's Banikhet regional office. It is a 540 megawatt (MW) station with an underground powerhouse operating through three units, each of 180 MW. Construction began in 1984 and was completed in 1994, and the project has become a key element of regional infrastructure. The plant's longevity reflects its original design and siting in the Himalayan catchment. The station has regularly outperformed its design energy of 1,664 million units per year and reached its annual target by August in the most recent cycle, with total generation to date exceeding 2,500 million units. Electricity is supplied to nine northern states under long-term power purchase agreements, with the home state receiving twelve per cent free power. Other allocations include Chandigarh four per cent, Delhi eight per cent, Haryana 16 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir four per cent, Punjab 10 per cent, Rajasthan 20 per cent, Uttarakhand three per cent and Uttar Pradesh 20 per cent. These arrangements underpin a regional grid support role beyond state boundaries. The project features a 121 metre-high concrete gravity dam and a reservoir spread over nine point five square kilometres, with a total capacity of 391 million cubic metres. The station is reported to have been built by a GE - Canada consortium and introduced a gas insulated switchyard in India for the first time at the site. Its Francis turbine runner has been effective in handling silt-laden Himalayan waters and has contributed to limited breakdowns. Operational resilience has reduced major interventions, with the main turbine removed for servicing only recently, according to station management. The station is also preparing for technological upgrades and is at an initial stage of adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) for operations, which is expected to be aligned with corporate-level initiatives. Chamera One therefore continues to serve as both a reliable renewable source and a platform for further modernisation.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Güntner Showcases Cooling Tech at China Expo

Güntner showcased its latest refrigeration and air conditioning innovations at China Refrigeration 2026, highlighting digital intelligence and carbon-neutral solutions.The company presented its aicore™ Controls and IoT platform, designed to optimise energy consumption, enable remote monitoring and enhance lifecycle management of cooling systems. The solution integrates advanced controllers and cloud-based capabilities to improve operational efficiency and reduce energy use.Güntner also demonstrated advancements in heat pump technologies, including its role in projects such as the Ordos Zer..

Next Story
Real Estate

Superb Realty Ties Up with Praan for AI Air Tech

Superb Realty has partnered with Praan to deploy AI-powered autonomous air infrastructure across over one million sq ft of real estate in Mumbai, marking a significant move towards intelligent indoor environments.The rollout will begin at Superb Altura and expand across upcoming residential and mixed-use developments. The initiative aims to integrate real-time sensing, adaptive purification and AI-led optimisation to improve indoor air quality and occupant experience.Praan’s technology is designed to remove ultrafine particles significantly smaller than conventional systems and eliminate har..

Next Story
Technology

DAAKit Raises $138,000 in Pre-Seed Round

DAAKit has raised $138,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures to expand its hyperlocal fulfilment network and strengthen technology capabilities.The company plans to use the funds to launch 25 new dark stores across Tier I and Tier II cities, enhance its technology infrastructure, and expand its leadership and operations teams. Currently operational in Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata, DAAKit is also piloting expansion into Tier II markets through Lucknow.Built on an asset-light, technology-driven model, the platform enables brands to position inventory ..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement