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 Hydroelectric
power plants produce electricity by the movement of
fresh water from rivers and lakes. Gravity causes water
to flow downwards and this downward motion of water
contains kinetic energy that can be converted into mechanical
energy, and then from mechanical energy into electrical
energy in hydroelectric power stations. ("Hydro"
comes from the Greek word hydra, meaning water).
At a good site hydro-electricity can generate very
cost effective electricity.
A land of continental dimensions, blessed by monsoons,
the snow-capped Himalayas and rich river valleys, India
is a veritable fountainhead of hydropower. So now, India,
like China, is focusing on large-scale hydroelectric
projects to ease the power shortage in the country.
India is endowed with economically exploitable and viable
hydro potential assessed to be about 84,000 MW at 60%
load factor (1,48,700 MW installed capacity). In addition,
6780 MW in terms of installed capacity from small, mini,
and micro hydel schemes have been assessed.
Also, 56 sites for pumped storage schemes with an aggregate
installed capacity of 94,000 MW have been identified.
The government has approved plans to set up 12 large-scale
projects by 2002, which will add 3.7 GW of installed
hydro-electric capacity to that already existing. Another
5.81 GW of hydropower is expected to be added by new
state-sector projects and 350 MW by the private sector.
But still with all this, it has been found out that
in the hydroelectric power sector, of the total potential
available, only one-fifth has either been developed
or is being developed.
Despite hydroelectric projects being recognised as
an economically preferred source of electricity, the
share of hydropower in the country has been steadily
declining from over 50% in 1963 to 25% in 1999.
Actually much of the hydroelectric potential that remains
to be tapped is located in the ecologically fragile
Himalayan region and in more difficult locations. The
long gestation of the hydro projects due to delays in
forest and environment clearances, rehabilitation of
the project affected people, disputes arising due to
inter-state problems, construction delays in civil works
etc. come in the way of accelerating hydro projects.
Therefore, a possible alternative is small-scale hydroelectric
schemes of up to 3 MW capacity.
They have the potential to provide energy in remote
and hilly areas where extension of grid systems is either
not possible or is uneconomical. They could also promote
development in remote rural areas, especially in the
hilly regions of the north-east. Small hydro projects
are economically viable, environmentally benign and
have relatively short gestation periods. The major constraints
associated with large hydro projects are usually not
encountered in small hydropower projects. The region
around the Brahmaputra river has an estimated potential
of 30,000-40,000 MW of which only 306 MW has been tapped
so far.
The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Resources is
therefore promoting small scale or mini and micro hydel
projects of up to 3 MW capacity, mainly to develop remote
rural areas.
Small or mini-micro hydropower is one of the earliest
known renewable energy sources, in existence in the
country since the beginning of the 20th century. In
fact much before that, the technology was used in Himalayan
villages in the form of waterwheels to provide motive
power to run devices like grinders.
Greater emphasis on hydro-electricity is important,
particularly to meet the peak loads. Hydro-electricity
should also be preferred as it is a clean source of
energy and renewable in nature.
National Hydroelectric Power Corporation
National Hydroelectric Power Corporation was incorporated
under the Company's Act 1956 in November 1975 as a Central
Government Enterprise with the task of harnessing the
vast untapped hydropower potential in the country. Since
then, NHPC has become the largest organization for hydropower
development in India, with capabilities to undertake
all the activities from conceptualisation to commissioning
in relation to setting up of hydro projects. The Corporation
included Wind and Tidal power in its objects in 1998
and Geo-thermal and Gas power in 1999 and is also preparing
to take up Mini/Micro hydro projects.
NHPC has an authorised share capital of Rs. 70,000 million.
With an investment base of over Rs. 120,000 million,
NHPC is among the top ten companies in the country in
terms of investment.
Tehri Hydro Development Corporation
The Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) was incorporated
as a joint venture between the government of India and
the Uttar Pradesh government on July 12, 1988 to implement
the Tehri Hydro Power Complex. While the cost of the
project is shared in the ratio of 75:25 for the power
component by the govt. of India and the UP govt, the
irrigation component is being funded entirely by the
state govt. The project is expected to give an installed
power capacity of 2400 MW in the northern region, while
annual energy availability would be 6500 million units.
It is also expected that there would be additional irrigation
of 2.7 lakh hectares of land, along with a stabilization
of irrigation facilities in the existing 6.04 lakh hectares
of land in UP.
Source:
www.Indiainfoline.com
www.idsa-india.org
Picture Courtesy: Swagat, August 2001
- Shravanti Choudhuri
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