Thottiyar Hydro Project Nears 100 Million Units Output

01 Aug 2025 CW Team

Approaching its first anniversary, the Thottiyar Hydroelectric Project in Kerala’s Idukki district has emerged as a notable contributor to the state’s energy grid, generating 85.76 million units of electricity since its commissioning. The project, inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on 28 October 2024, has demonstrated high operational efficiency while making use of minimal water.

The first generator was synchronised with the power grid on 10 July 2024, followed by the second on 30 September, officially marking the start of commercial operations.

With an installed capacity of 40 MW, the project is expected to produce 99 million units annually. Built as a run-of-the-river scheme, it harnesses water from the Deviyar, a tributary of the Periyar River. A 222-metre-long, 7.5-metre-high diversion weir at Valara directs water through a 60-metre canal and a 199-metre tunnel cut through the Kuthirakuthi hills.

The water then flows through a 1,252-metre-long penstock pipe to the powerhouse situated on the right bank of the Periyar River, where power is generated using 10 MW and 30 MW turbines. After generation, the water is discharged back into the Periyar.

Electricity from Thottiyar is distributed via the Lower Periyar–Thottiyar and Thottiyar–Chalakudy feeders. To support the project’s infrastructure, a 110-metre bridge was constructed across the Periyar at Neendappara, and 23.05 hectares of land were acquired.

The entire project was completed at a cost of Rs 1.88 billion, reinforcing Kerala’s commitment to sustainable energy infrastructure and low-impact hydroelectric solutions.

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