Hydroelectric power in India

Shivanasamudra Falls

India is the 7th largest producer of hydroelectric power.[1] Hydroelectric power potential of 84,000 MW at 60% load factor is one of the largest in the world.[2] The present installed capacity as on 31 March 2016 is 42,783 MW which is 14.35% of total utility electricity generation capacity in India.[3] In addition 4,274 MW small hydro power units are installed as on 31 March 2016.[4][5] During the year 2014-15, the total hydro electricity generation in India was 129 billion Kwh which works out to 24,500 MW at 60% capacity factor. The hydro-electric power plants at Darjeeling and Shivanasamudra were established in 1898 and 1902 respectively and were among the first in Asia. India has been dominant player in global hydro power development.[6]

Hydro Potential

Upper Indiravati power house

India is blessed with immense amount of hydro-electric potential and ranks 5th in terms of exploitable hydro-potential on global scale. India is endowed with economically exploitable and viable hydro potential assessed to be about 148,701 MW.[7][8] In addition, 6,780 MW from small, mini, and micro Hydel schemes (<25 MW) have been assessed.[9] Also, 56 sites for pumped storage schemes with an aggregate installed capacity of 94,000 MW have been identified. The hydro power potential in central India forming part of Godavari, Mahanadi, Nagavali, Vamsadhara and Narmada river basins has not yet been developed on major scale due to potential opposition from the tribal population.

The public sector has a predominant share of 92.5% in this sector. National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), Northeast Electric Power Company (NEEPCO), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), THDC, NTPC-Hydro are a few public sector companies engaged in development of Hydroelectric Power in India. Private sector owns nearly 7.5% out of the total 42,783 MW but this sector is going to grow faster with the participation in developing the hydro potential located in the Himalaya mountain ranges including north east of India.[2]

Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), an illustrative state owned enterprise in north India, has an installed capacity of 2.9 GW and generates 12,000-14,000 million units per year. The generation cost after four decades of operation is about 20 paise (0.30¢ US) per Kwh. BBMB is a major source of peaking power and black start to the northern grid in India. Large reservoirs provide operational flexibility. BBMB reservoirs annually supply water for irrigation to 12.5 million acres (51,000 km2; 19,500 sq mi) of agricultural land of partner states, enabling northern India in its green revolution.

Pumped storage units

Pumped storage schemes are the perfect centralised peaking power stations for the load management in the electricity grid. Pumped storage schemes would be in high demand for meeting peak load demand and storing the surplus electricity as India has graduated from electricity deficit to electricity surplus status. They also produce secondary /seasonal power at no additional cost when rivers are flooding with excess water. Storing electricity by other alternative systems such as batteries, compressed air storage systems, etc. is more costlier than electricity production by standby generator. India has already established nearly 6,800 MW pumped storage capacity which is part of its installed hydro power plants.[10] Pumped storage units can also be used as pumping stations to supply river water for upland's irrigation, industrial and drinking needs.

As more and more solar power generation is made available due to its advantage in terms of generation cost and least pollution, the day time excess solar electricity generated can be made available to meet the electricity demand during the night time with the help of pumped storage units. Many of the existing hydro power stations on west flowing rivers located in Western Ghats of Kerala and Karnataka are also to be expanded by adding pumped storage units to conserve the water such that saved water can be diverted to the water deficit east flowing rivers like Kaveri, Krishna, etc.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Statistical Review of world energy 2015" (PDF). Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Hydro Electric Potential in India". Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Power sector at glance". Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Renewable Energy Physical Progress as on 31-03-2016". Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, GoI. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "All India Installed Capacity of Utility Power Stations" (PDF). Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "India remains dominant player in global hydropower". Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Status of Hydro Electric Potential Development in India" (PDF). Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Hydropower - Too slow to be steady". Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "Govt plans push for hydro power". Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  10. ↑ "Pumped storage hydro power plant" (PDF). Retrieved 27 August 2014.


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