Hydropower in India: Evolution, Challenges and Future Prospects

Hydropower harnesses the energy of flowing water from rivers and streams to generate electricity. This renewable and clean energy source has significant environmental and social impacts due to large dams. In India, hydropower’s role has evolved from a dominant source in 1947 to a smaller share today. Globally, hydropower remains the leading renewable energy source, vital for meeting climate goals.

An Overview Of Hydropower in India

Hydropower in India: Historical and Current Trends

• • 1947: Hydropower capacity was 37% of the total power generating capacity and over 53% of power generation.
  • Late 1960s: Coal-based power generation began displacing hydropower, leading to a dramatic decline in hydropower’s share.
  • May 2023:  The installed hydropower capacity in India was 46,850 MW, accounting for 11.2% of the total installed generation capacity.
  • Pumped Storage (2023): India had 4,745.6 MW operational with about 57,345 MW under various stages of investigation and construction.

• Areas of Presence

• • Geographical Spread: Hydropower plants are predominantly located in the northern and northeastern regions of India, including states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Major Projects: Notable hydropower projects include the Bhakra Nangal Dam, Tehri Dam, and Nathpa Jhakri Dam.

Global Hydropower Overview ( As Per Observer Research Foundation)

Dominant Renewable Source: Hydropower provides over two-thirds of all renewable electricity globally.

• 2021 Statistics:

• • • Installed Capacity: Increased by 26 GW to 1,360 GW.
    • Electricity Generation: 4,250 TWh, exceeding the entire electricity consumption of the EU.
    • New Capacity Addition: 80% of new capacity was installed in China.
    • Pumped Storage: 4.7 GW added, triple the amount added in 2020.
    • Growth Rate: Global hydropower generation capacity grew by just over 1.9%, near the 2% required annually to meet Paris Agreement targets.

• Requirements for Net-Zero Goals

• • Net-Zero by 2050: Requires 45 GW of annual capacity addition to keep global temperature rises to 1.5°C.
  • Temperature Rise to 2°C: Requires 30 GW annually.
  • Paris Agreement Targets: Annual average growth of 2% in hydropower capacity is essential to meet these targets.

Environmental and Social Costs of Large Hydropower Projects

Low Carbon but High Costs: Large storage hydropower projects produce low-carbon electricity but impose significant environmental and social costs.

• • Displacement and Disruption: Thousands of people are displaced, river ecology is disrupted, and large-scale deforestation occurs.
  • Biodiversity and Agriculture Impact: Loss of aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity, negative impacts on food systems, water quality, and agriculture.
  • Global Trends: Dam removals are increasing in North America and Europe due to these costs; even developing countries are slowing down dam construction.
  • Alternative Renewable Energy: Solar and wind energy are gaining more policy attention and investment.

• Risks in the Himalayan Region

• • • Natural Disasters: Floods and landslides in the Himalayas increase risks for hydropower projects.
    • 2021 Uttarakhand Floods: Sudden flooding caused significant loss of life and damage to hydropower projects.
    • 2023 Heavy Rains: Resulted in project shutdowns and revenue losses over INR 1.6 billion.
    • Development Projects: Poor appraisal and disregard for cumulative impact assessments contribute to disaster risks.

• Environmental Concerns and Compliance Issues

• • Indifference and Lack of Monitoring: Project developers often ignore environmental concerns; regulatory bodies lack credible monitoring and compliance.
  • Sustainable Examples: The Teesta-V hydropower station in Sikkim meets international good practice standards.

Path to Sustainable Hydropower

Engaging Civil Society: Transparency and engagement with affected communities are crucial for sustainable planning.

• Modular Solutions: Combining wind, solar, and hydropower offers environmentally, socially, and financially viable alternatives.
• Instream Turbine Parks: are less disruptive and have a lower cost compared to dams.
• Smart Hydropower Projects: Consider economic, environmental, and social concerns with technical provisions to minimize ecosystem impacts.

Government Support and Policies

Renewable Energy Category: Large hydropower projects above 25 MW are classified under renewable energy.

• Hydropower Purchase Obligation (HPO): Included as a non-solar renewable purchase obligation (RPO).
• Tariff Rationalization: Backloading of tariff, extending project life to 40 years, increasing debt repayment period to 18 years, and introducing an escalating tariff of 2 percent.
• Budgetary Support: For enabling infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and flood moderation services.

Conclusion

Despite its low-carbon benefits, large hydropower projects can cause significant environmental and social disruption. 

• The growing risks in regions like the Himalayas and the rise of alternative renewables like solar and wind highlight the need for sustainable hydropower solutions. 
• Government policies and innovative approaches, such as modular and smart hydropower projects, are essential for balancing economic, environmental, and social considerations.

DOWNLOAD PDF