Hydropower Generation in India

Source: Indian Express
GS III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. Hydropower Generation
3. Hydropower Generation in India

Why in the News?

Ministry of Power said it has optimised hydropower generation to make available an additional 4GW capacity.

News in Brief

• Weeks after it instructed fifteen imported coal-based and all gas-based thermal plants to be operational during the summer months.
• With peak power demand set to touch 240 GW in June.
• Ministry’s latest effort to avoid supply shortfall reflects growing concern over the risk of outages, particularly amid poll season demand surge and a hotter-than-usual summer.
• Even though India added a record renewable capacity of over 18 GW in FY24, the variability in renewable energy generation is putting pressure on baseload capacity, including thermal, especially during evening hours of low sunlight and high demand.
• The reliance on coal and gas to meet peak demand is more pronounced given the absence of adequate energy storage infrastructure in the country.
• This helps store excess energy generated by solar and wind plants during non-peak hours and release it during peak hours.

Hydropower Generation

• Hydropower generation, also known as hydroelectric power, is the process of converting the energy of flowing or falling water into electricity.
• It’s one of the oldest and most widely used renewable energy sources globally. Let’s delve into some key facts and figures regarding hydropower generation:

Key Facts

• Global Importance: Hydropower is one of the largest sources of renewable electricity globally, accounting for around 16% of total electricity production.
• Capacity and Output: As of recent data, the global installed hydropower capacity exceeds 1,300 gigawatts (GW), with an estimated annual electricity generation of over 4,000 terawatt-hours (TWh).
• Top Producers: Countries like China, Brazil, Canada, the United States, and Russia are among the top producers of hydropower, with large-scale projects contributing significantly to their energy mix.
• Environmental Impact: While hydropower is considered a clean energy source compared to fossil fuels, large dams can have significant environmental and social impacts. These include habitat destruction, altered water flow patterns, displacement of communities, and impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
• Storage Potential: Hydropower reservoirs can serve as energy storage systems, providing flexibility in managing electricity supply and demand. This helps in integrating intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar into the grid more effectively.
• Small-Scale Hydropower: Apart from large-scale projects, small-scale hydropower systems are gaining popularity, especially in rural and remote areas. These systems have lower environmental impacts and can provide electricity to communities that are not connected to the main grid.

Hydropower Generation in India

• Hydropower generation in India holds significant importance in the country’s energy mix, contributing to its power generation capacity and meeting electricity demand.

Installed Capacity

• India has considerable hydropower potential, with an estimated total potential of over 145 GW.
• However, the installed capacity as of recent data stands at around 50 GW, which accounts for approximately 13% of the country’s total installed power generation capacity.

Hydropower Generation

• Despite its potential, hydropower’s share in India’s electricity generation mix has been relatively modest, typically hovering around 10-15% of the total electricity generated annually.

Major Rivers and Regions

• The Himalayan region, including states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir, holds substantial hydropower potential due to the presence of major rivers like the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and their tributaries.
• Additionally, states in the Western Ghats and the Northeastern region also have significant hydropower potential.

Large-Scale Projects

• India has several large-scale hydropower projects, such as the Bhakra-Nangal Dam, Tehri Dam, Sardar Sarovar Dam, and Nathpa Jhakri Dam, which contribute significantly to the country’s power generation capacity.

Small Hydro Projects

• In recent years, there has been a growing focus on the development of small hydropower projects (SHPs) across various states.
• These projects, with capacities typically less than 25 MW, help in decentralized electricity generation and rural electrification.

What are the Challenges?

• Despite the potential, hydropower development in India faces various challenges, including environmental concerns, land acquisition issues, geological risks, and regulatory hurdles.
• Additionally, delays in project approvals and cost overruns have hampered the sector’s growth.
• Large storage is required to store water.

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