India’s considerable hydropower potential

The country urgently requires new generation plants. Hydropower, which already meets 24% of its needs, can play a significant role, with resources estimated in over 90,000 MW

About 40% of the population is devoid of access to electricity and one-third of businesses complain that costs are exceedingly high and the electrical grid is unreliable. Meanwhile, India currently has the second fastest growing economy in the world and the country is the sixth largest energy consumer, with a 3.4% share of the world’s overall demand.

The government is aware that, in order to support economic growth and overcome present constraints, growth in generation capacity is an imperative, with the great contribution of hydropower.

A detailed analysis of this sector has been proposed in the study entitled Proposed & Under Construction Hydro Projects in India 2009, released by the agency Research & Markets. At present, 64% of the country’s electricity consumption is met by the approximately 99,600 MW generated by thermal - mostly coal-fired - plants.

Hydropower capacity amounts to 37,000 MW and meets 24% of the energy needs. Now the very large potential resources are viewed with increasing favour, due to environmental concerns attaining to coal plants and carbon dioxide emissions.
To be noted that, in the past, this sector has met significant obstacles, including regulatory issues and long approving procedures, conflicts between neighbouring states, local oppositions and, in some cases, inadequately investigated projects and wrong geological assessments.

At present, the potential that can be technically and socially harnessed amounts to at least 84,000 MW from large-scale plants and 6,870 MW from small projects.

Furthermore, the government agencies have identified 56 potential sites for possible pumped storage plants, while at least 85 projects for the construction of plants are either under construction or have been submitted.

(July 2010)