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Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited generates green power by using Kirloskar Brothers Limited’s PICO turbine and harnessing the potential energy of flowing water.

In what could trigger a revolution in generating power using a flowing stream of water, Shimla

Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited (SJPNL) and Kirloskar Brothers Limited

(KBL) have successfully completed a pilot scheme capable of generating up to 3 kilowatts of clean and green power.

The pilot project was undertaken at a Water Treatment Plant

in AshwaniKhad, Himachal

Pradesh, by SJPNL where

KBL’s PICO product, which is a Micro Hydropower generator, was put to use. This innovation has the potential to electrify remote locations and villages.

PICO is a compact and sophisticated version of ‘Pump as Turbine’ (PAT) which are small bundled units capable of generating power up to 5 kW by using a flowing stream of water from any source, like a river, or even reject water from a WTP or an STP.

With this innovative solution, KBL can help consumers generate hydropower. A spokesperson from Kirloskar Brothers Limited said, With this innovative solution, we can help consumers generate hydropower of up to 500 kW from a running water stream with suitable head and flow availability. It is basically a pump running in reverse mode (as a turbine), which uses water to generate electricity. With decreasing coal reserves and rising levels of air pollution, we are more and more inclined towards harnessing natural, renewable resources for generating power. KBL has always strived to develop and promote innovative products. Developed by our R&D team, the PICO Micro Hydropower Generator can be used in hilly areas and even in process industries as small hydropower generation plants.

Commenting on this milestone, Mr. Mandeep Gupta, Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti Vibhag, Shimla said, "This is an appreciated technology that can foresee enormous potential in the state. We'll be watching to see how this concept can maximise the department's and state's potential."

Apart from generating power, these units can also be coupled directly to a pump using a coupling, gear, or pulley arrangement, which could be used to pump water from remote locations where the availability of power is a challenge. Therefore, we understand that this multi-purpose machine can be used for various applications, invariably supporting the whole gamut of energy conservation.

KBL’s PICO - Micro Hydropower generator was used in the pilot project.

Innovation has the potential to electrify remote locations and villages. The green power will be a source for SJPNL’s campus lighting and other applications, reducing the dependence on traditional sources of energy.

Pumping Indian Metro Rails

KBL supplies Hydro Pneumatic Pressure Boosting System (HYPN) pumps, FM/UL Fire-fighting pumps, and NS dewatering pumps to the Kanpur Metro Project.

KBL is among the leading providers of a wide range of pumping solutions and services for most of the leading Metro Rail projects in the country. We recently bagged an order to supply our Hydro Pneumatic

Pressure Boosting

System (HYPN) for water

management. It will deliver intelligent water management to the metro. Based on the 'water on demand' concept, it supplies water with the required pressure where it is required. This significantly cuts electricity consumption, resulting in significant cost savings. The HYPN system can be managed remotely from anywhere, anytime, making its maintenance convenient and easy.

KBL also supplied FM/UL fire-fighting pumps for fire protection and Non-clog (NS) pumps for sewage applications. The inbuilt NS pumps have a stainless steel impeller with high reliability, which will ensure smooth operations. These non-clog impellers allow for the smooth passage of solids and are available with single or multi-vanes in semi-open, enclosed, or free-flow designs to accommodate a wide range of applications. KBL has been a preferred supplier of pumps for various applications in many metro projects in India, namely the Delhi Metro, the Jaipur Metro etc.