Hydroelectric Power India

Moving water had been used for years to provide mechanical energy, but the first small-scale
hydroelectric scheme was developed in England in 1878 and the first hydroelectric plant began
operation on the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin in 1882. India is one of the pioneering
countries in establishing hydroelectric power plants with the commissioning of Darjeeling and
Shimsha (Shivanasamudra) power plants in 1898 and 1902 respectively and is among the first in
Asia to commission hydroelectric power plants.
With a potential of estimated 148 GW, in terms of hydroelectric potential, India is fifth in the
world. The highest rate of annual growth (11.66%) from 2012-13 to 2013-14 in installed capacity
was for Thermal power followed by Hydro Power (2.63%). India has around 41,000 MW of
installed hydropower capacity whereas an additional 13,000 MW is under construction.
According to a recent report by FICCI and PricewaterhouseCoopers, India may add 13 GW of
installed hydropower capacity in due time. A majority of the new development would be in
the north eastern part of India, where 93% of potential capacity is yet to be developed. In
contrast are the southern and western parts, where about two thirds of capacity has been
utilized.
According to Ministry of Power, Govt. of India reports, the power sector is distributed as
shown below:
Fuel
Total Thermal
Coal
Gas
Oil
Hydro (Renewable)
Nuclear
RES**(MNRE)
Total

MW
194, 200
169, 118
24, 088
994
42, 283
5, 780
36, 471
278, 734

%age
69.7
60.7
8.6
0.4
15.2
2.1
13.1

According to the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, small hydro power capacity stands at
4.15 GW at the end of August 2015.
Interestingly, 85%- 95% of the energy in water is converted to electricity, compared to 15%-20%
for Photo Voltaic solar, 35%- 45% for wind, and 30%-45% for coal. Hydro power projects are zero
pollutant, as compared to thermal projects which reportedly contribute to half of global carbon
emissions and India relies on thermal power to the extent of 60% of its consumption today.

Hydro-power projects are classified on the basis of their generation capacity as follows:
a) Pico: 5 kW and below
b) Micro: 100 kW and below
c) Mini: 2,000 kW and below
d) Small: 25,000 kW and below
e) Medium: 100,000 kW and below
f) Large: above 100,000 kW

In the current scenario, the participation of private players in the hydropower sector in
various stages of planning, operation, implementation and development is an optimistic
sign. Reliance Power, Jindal Power and Gati Infrastructure have unfurled their plans in the
Indian hydropower sector. Gati Infrastructure Group was conceived to develop power projects
that have renewable and green energy as the focal point and which would contribute towards
the economic growth and development of India. Currently, Gati Infratsructure has a portfolio of
Hydro Power Projects, Solar Power Projects and Coal Projects with the hydro power projects
being Chuzachen Project on Rangpo and Rongli Rivers in East Sikkim producing 110MW,
Bhasmey Project on Rangpo River downstream of Chuzachen Project in East Sikkim producing
54 MW and Sada Mangder Project on Rangit and Relli Rivers in West Sikkim producing 71 MW.
India has vast potential for hydro-power development ensuring not only the abridgement of gap
in demand and supply but also leading to surplus power in the country. Therefore, it is
important for the benefit of the nation to harness hydro electricity potential for sustainable
development of India.
Keywords :
Hydro Electric Power | Hydro Electric Power Plants | Hydro Power Plant