{"id":113783,"date":"2024-06-14T11:55:45","date_gmt":"2024-06-14T06:25:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=udaan&#038;p=113783"},"modified":"2024-09-20T18:19:32","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T12:49:32","slug":"hydropower-india-evolution-challenges-future","status":"publish","type":"udaan","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/hydropower-india-evolution-challenges-future","title":{"rendered":"Hydropower in India: Evolution, Challenges and Future Prospects"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hydropower harnesses the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/energy-transition\/\"><b>energy <\/b><\/a><b>of flowing water<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from rivers and streams to generate electricity. This <\/span><b>renewable and clean energy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> source has significant environmental and social impacts due to large dams. In India, hydropower&#8217;s role has evolved from a <\/span><b>dominant source in 1947<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to a smaller share today. Globally, hydropower remains the leading renewable energy source, vital for meeting climate goals.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>An Overview Of Hydropower in India<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Hydropower in India: Historical and Current Trends<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>1947: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hydropower capacity was 37% of the total power generating capacity and over 53% of power generation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Late 1960s:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Coal-based power generation began displacing hydropower, leading to a dramatic decline in hydropower&#8217;s share.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>May 2023: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0The<\/span><b> installed hydropower capacity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in India was <\/span><b>46,850 MW,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> accounting for<\/span><b> 11.2%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the total installed generation capacity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pumped Storage (2023):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> India had <\/span><b>4,745.6 MW<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> operational with about<\/span><b> 57,345 MW <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">under various stages of investigation and construction.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-113784 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/unnamed-43.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"404\" height=\"509\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/unnamed-43.webp 404w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/unnamed-43-238x300.webp 238w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 404px) 100vw, 404px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Areas of Presence<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Geographical Spread:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Hydropower plants are predominantly located in the northern and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/insurgency-in-north-east\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">northeastern regions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of India, including states like <\/span><b>Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Arunachal Pradesh.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Major Projects:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Notable hydropower projects include the <\/span><b>Bhakra Nangal Dam, Tehri Dam, and Nathpa Jhakri Dam.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Global Hydropower Overview ( As Per Observer Research Foundation)<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Dominant Renewable Source: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hydropower provides over two-thirds of all renewable electricity globally.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>2021 Statistics:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Installed Capacity:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Increased by 26 GW to 1,360 GW.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Electricity Generation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 4,250 TWh, exceeding the entire electricity consumption of the EU.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>New Capacity Addition:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 80% of new capacity was installed in China.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Pumped Storage:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 4.7 GW added, triple the amount added in 2020.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Growth Rate:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Global hydropower generation capacity grew by just over 1.9%, near the 2% required annually to meet Paris Agreement targets.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Requirements for Net-Zero Goals<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Net-Zero by 2050:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Requires 45 GW of annual capacity addition to keep global temperature rises to 1.5\u00b0C.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Temperature Rise to 2\u00b0C: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Requires 30 GW annually.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Paris Agreement Targets: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annual average growth of 2% in hydropower capacity is essential to meet these targets.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Environmental and Social Costs of Large Hydropower Projects<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Low Carbon but High Costs:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Large storage hydropower projects produce low-carbon electricity but impose significant environmental and social costs.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Displacement and Disruption:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Thousands of people are displaced, <\/span><b>river ecology is disrupted<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and large-scale deforestation occurs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Biodiversity and Agriculture Impact:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Loss of aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity, negative impacts on food systems, water quality, and agriculture.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Global Trends: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dam removals are increasing in <\/span><b>North America and Europe<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> due to these costs; even developing countries are slowing down dam construction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Alternative Renewable Energy:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Solar and wind energy are gaining more policy attention and investment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Risks in the Himalayan Region<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Natural Disasters:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Floods and landslides in the Himalayas increase risks for hydropower projects.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>2021 Uttarakhand Floods:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Sudden flooding caused significant loss of life and damage to hydropower projects.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>2023 Heavy Rains:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Resulted in project shutdowns and revenue losses over INR 1.6 billion.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Development Projects:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Poor appraisal and disregard for cumulative impact assessments contribute to disaster risks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Environmental Concerns and Compliance Issues<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Indifference and Lack of Monitoring:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Project developers often ignore environmental concerns; regulatory bodies lack credible monitoring and compliance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Sustainable Examples:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Teesta-V hydropower station in Sikkim meets international good practice standards.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Path to Sustainable Hydropower<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Engaging Civil Society:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Transparency and engagement with affected communities are crucial for sustainable planning.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Modular Solutions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Combining wind, solar, and hydropower offers <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/environental-laws-and-policies\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">environmentally<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, socially, and financially viable alternatives.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Instream Turbine Parks:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are less disruptive and have a lower cost compared to dams.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Smart Hydropower Projects:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Consider economic, environmental, and social concerns with technical provisions to minimize ecosystem impacts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Government Support and Policies<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Renewable Energy Category:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Large hydropower projects above <\/span><b>25 MW<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are classified under renewable energy.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hydropower Purchase Obligation (HPO):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Included as a non-solar renewable purchase obligation (RPO).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tariff Rationalization:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Backloading of tariff, <\/span><b>extending project life to 40 years<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, increasing debt repayment period to 18 years, and introducing an <\/span><b>escalating tariff of 2 percent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Budgetary Support: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For enabling infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and flood moderation services.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 99.9473%; height: 120px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 328.534%; height: 30px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Must Read<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 49.6323%; text-align: center; height: 30px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Current Affairs<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 278.902%; text-align: center; height: 30px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Editorial Analysis<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 49.6323%; text-align: center; height: 30px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upsc Notes\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 278.902%; text-align: center; height: 30px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/blogs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upsc Blogs\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 49.6323%; text-align: center; height: 30px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NCERT Notes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 278.902%; text-align: center; height: 30px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free Main Answer Writing<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite its<\/span><b> low-carbon benefits<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, large hydropower projects can cause significant environmental and social disruption.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The growing risks in regions like the<\/span><b> Himalayas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the <\/span><b>rise of alternative <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/renewable-energy-challenge\/\"><b>renewables<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like solar and wind highlight the need for <\/span><b>sustainable hydropower solutions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Government policies and innovative approaches, such as<\/span><b> modular and smart hydropower projects<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, are essential for balancing economic, environmental, and social considerations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 99.2124%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 142.962%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Related Articles\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.0995%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/insurgency-in-north-east\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NORTH-EAST INSURGENCY<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 92.8626%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/environental-laws-and-policies\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS IN INDIA<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.0995%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/energy-transition\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Energy Transition<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 92.8626%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/renewable-energy-challenge\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Renewable Energy Challenge: Gap Between Commitments and Actions<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","udaan-chapter":[5492],"udaan-subject":[5466],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan\/113783"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/udaan"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"udaan-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan-chapter?post=113783"},{"taxonomy":"udaan-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan-subject?post=113783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}