The Shivapur Hydropower Project is a 2 x 9 MW installation located on the left bank irrigation canal of the Tungabhadra scheme near Shivapur in Bellary district of Karnataka. The project utilises the canal drop created downstream of the Shivapur dam, which forms part of the Tungabhadra irrigation system developed in the early 1960s.

The Tungabhadra scheme includes a masonry dam across the Tungabhadra river near Hospet, with irrigation canals on both banks. At Shivapur, the left bank canal drops sharply at the exit of a valley, creating a head nearly equal to the height of the dam. The canal flows continuously throughout the year except for a short annual maintenance period, enabling dependable hydropower generation.

The project diverts canal flows through a surface powerhouse located downstream of the Shivapur dam and returns the water to the irrigation canal after power generation. The scope of works included construction of an approach channel, intake dam, steel penstocks, surface powerhouse, tailrace channel and switchyard, along with raising the full reservoir level of the Shivapur dam through crest gates and strengthening of the dam using post tensioned cable anchors. Both generating units were commissioned in December 1992.

TCE’s scope