Navneet KumarRoll No.: 153170026

Course Instructor: Prof. Shyam R. Asolekar

21st October, 2016

HYDROELECTRIC POWER: WHAT ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AND WORRISOME ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIA TO FULFIL BY 2030? WHAT COULD BE THE REALISTIC FOR INDIA TO ACHIEVE BY 2030?

ES 645: Env Law & Policy

Introduction 2

• Hydropower is a Renewable, non-polluting and environmental friendly source of energy

• Oldest technique known to mankind for the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy.

• It contribute around 22% of world electricity generation.• In Indian energy mix it contributes around 15% of total energy.• Maximum benefits in minimum time.• Offers the most fastest economical means to enhance power supply,

improved living standards, simulate industrial growth etc.• In India, major states which contributes in hydroelectric power

generation are Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand , Maharashtra, Orissa , Punjab, Jammu etc.

Continue • India is the 7th largest producer of hydroelectric power in the

world. As of 31 March 2016, the utility scale installed capacity is 42,783 MW, which is 14.35% of total utility electricity generation capacity in India.

• In India, it was indicated that the reserves of hydroelectric power for large-capacity plants have been estimated to be 148,700 MW.

• For small plants, a total capacity of 15,384 MW has been identified.• It was assumed that all the reserves would eventually be tapped

and could supply up to 482 and 50 TWh respectively.• However, increasingly it has become clear that exploitation of all

the potential is improbable because of the large amount of land submerged when most dams are built, the consequent displacement of people as well as the destruction of flora and fauna.

3

Indian Site for Hydroelectric Power 4

Major Dams of India 5

Hydro power development roadblock

6

Advantage of Dam

7

Current scenario • The total capacity of renewable energy projects expanded to 42,850 megawatts, overtaking

hydropower that stood at 42,783 mw, out of the country's total capacity of about 3 lakh mw on April 30, as per the latest assessment of the Central Electricity Authority. However, the country still depends primarily on thermal power, which has a much higher installed capacity.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India's green energy ambition during his address to the US Congress on Wednesday. Analysts said apart from Goyal's thrust on renewables, environmental issues and protests over displacement and rehabilitation had jammed hydropower development.

• The states with major potential for big dams at present are Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. But the Supreme Court stopped construction of 23 out of 24 new hydro projects in Uttarakhand while numerous legal and civil objections hindered projects in Arunachal Pradesh.

• Hydropower capacity has increased only marginally — from 40,531.41 mw in March 2014 to 41,267.42 mw in March 2015, to 42,783.43 mw at present. In contrast, renewable energy capacity has grown from 34,351mw in March 2015 to 42,849 mw at present.

•

Source: XXX

8

Continue YYY

Source: XXX

9

Continue

Source: XX

10

Continue • At the time of independence major source of power was

hydroelectric generation.

• With time its capacity decrease and reached today only up-to 15%.

11

Energy Mix of India

12

Future target • The Renewable energy holds a share of 12% in the current energy mix of

India. As a part of its contribution under the Paris Climate Change Agreement, India sets target of achieving at least 40% of India’s total power capacity from renewable sources by 2030.

• If the National Democratic Alliance approves the proposal then India would be looking to building a total of 350 GW of solar and wind power by 2030. This ambitious target will help India offer a 35% reduction in the greenhouse gas emission intensity of its economy below 2005 levels by 2030.

• In this target Hydroelectric will not contribute to a much extent and major player will be wind and Solar energy.

13

Disadvantage of Hydroelectric power

• Emission of methane and carbon dioxideThe reservoir of water for hydroelectric power releases a large amount of carbon

dioxide and methane. The area around the dam is filled with water. The plants and trees in them start rotting and decompose by other method without the use of oxygen. So this type of decomposition dumps a great amount of methane and carbon dioxide which increase pollution.

• Disturbance of habitatThe formation of large and huge dams destroys the living beings around them. Local life

is disturbed as human can’t live in such a flooded area and plants are destroyed. People living nearby have to relocate.

• Divert natural waterwayDams and rivers collect water for the production of electricity which alters the

natural system of water flow thus depriving houses of the water they need• Effects on agricultureMaking dams on rivers affect the amount, quality and temperature of water that

flow in streams which has drastic effects on agriculture and drinking water.

14

Possibility of achieving 40% of renewable energy

Hydroelectric cannot contribute to this up to great extent.Major investment is needed for proper channelizing of water flow in

our rivers. Instead of big plants, small plant of capacity 5 MW will be feasible

for our geography. law should be implemented in proper way to minimize the dispute

of states for river water.Mainly solar and wind energy can reach the target of 40 % of

renewable.

15

References

•Central Electricity Authority (CEA). (January 2016). Executive summary: Power sector. Retrieved from http://www.cea.nic.in/reports/monthly/executivesummary/2016/exe_summary-01.pdf

•Tariff policy. Ministry of Power resolution No. 23/2/2005-R&R (Vol-IX) dated 28 January 2016

•Advancing policy and practice. (2015). Hydropower & Dams (2). Presented at the Hydro 2015 Conference in Bordeaux, France.

•Madan, M., M. (2015). Hydropower development in India: Challenges and way forward. Retrieved from http://inae.in/wp-content/themes/inae-theme/pdf/hydro_power_development.pdf

16

XXX (X/X)

17