Hydropower Development in India: Status, Issues & Challenges

Hydropower Development in India: Status, Issues & Challenges

A.B. PandyaMember (D&R)

Central Water Commission

Why Hydropower?

Global Energy Scenario Today

Fossil fuels 85 % Nuclear 4 % Hydro 9 % New Renewables

2 %

Hydropower is perpetual source of

energy as sustainable option with least carbon

footprints

Why Hydropower?

Judicious Mix

The country could have eliminated the peaking power shortages totally under the same MW installed & under the same investment, had we gone for a judicious Hydro -Thermal mix

-----

HYDRO : THERMAL MIX Change with time

The Power Sector seems to have lost its ‘sense of proportion’ down the line.

From a Hydro: Thermal Mix of 45:55 during the late 60’s, it has today landed to a mind - boggling proportion of 25:75

Hydro Power Represents Non - Consumptive , Non - Radioactive, Non -

Polluting Use of water resources

towards Inflation free Renewable Energy Development

With Most Mature Technology, Highest Prime Moving

Efficiency, Spectacular Operational flexibility, reliability &

efficiency of power system and

Multifarious benefits such as flood-mitigation, drinking water supply, ground water recharge,

Irrigation, navigation and tourism

POSITIVE IMPACTS OF HYDRO POWER PROJECTS

Hydro Power Potential

Hydro Power Potential

Total: 84044 MW at 60%Load Factor

Region Wise Distribution

Hydro Power Development

Slow Hydro growth rate

4258563636

85795105046

132329

210952

14460 18308 21658 26269 34654 39339

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

6th Plan(3/85) 7th Plan(3/90) 8th Plan(3/97) 9th Plan(3/02) 10th Plan(3/07) 11th Plan (upto 31-Mar-2011)

Total generating capacity Hydro generating capacity

Hydro Power: Status

Region-wise Hydro Development

Hydro Power Development : Govt. Initiatives for Accelerated Development• THREE STAGE CLEARANCE PROCEDURE FOR EXPEDITING

HYDRO POWER DEVELOPMENT.

• ENACTMENT OF ELECTRICITY ACT 2003 ENABLING LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR PRIVATE PARTICIPATION WITH REGULATORY FRAMEWORK.

• RANKING STUDY BY CEA PRIORITIZING POTENTIAL HYDRO PROJECTS.

• 50,000 MW HYDRO INITIATIVE.

• LIBERALIZED REVISED HYDRO POLICY 2008 HAVING ATTRACTIVE INCENTIVES FOR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION.

Hydro Power Development : Govt. Initiatives for Accelerated Development• HON’BLE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA LAUNCHED 50,000 MW

HYDRO INITIATIVES ON 24TH MAY 2003.

• PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION WAS ACCELERATED AND SEVERAL HYDRO PROJECTS WERE ALLOTED TO IPP’S BY STATE GOVERNMENTS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, UTTARAKHAND, SIKKIM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH.

• OUT OF 162 SCHEMES, 42 SCHEMES AGGREGATING TO ALMOST 27,000 MW (> 50%) ARE IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH.

Hydro Power Development : Targets & Govt. Initiatives•To meet the all India peak requirements, a capacity addition of 30,000 MW of hydropower has been planned for 12th Plan (2012-17).

•A shelf of 109 candidate hydropower projects aggregating to 30,920 MW having higher level of confidence for realizing benefits during 12th Plan has been finalised.

•Comprehensive transmission system for each basin has been evolved by CEA for development in phased manner.

It has been planned to develop entire untapped hydro potential by the end of 14th Plan (2026-27).

ISSUES INVOLVED IN HYDRO POWERDEVELOPMENT

1. LAND ACQUISITION PROBLEMS

2. RESETTLEMENT & REHABILITATION PROBLEMS

3. ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST ISSUES

4. GEOLOGICAL SURPRISES5. INTER-STATE ASPECTS6. LAW & ORDER PROBLEMS 7. ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS8. INFRASTRUCTURE

DEVELOPMENT9. DEVELOPMENT OF

TRANSMISSION SYSTEM10. STORAGE VS. R-O-R

PROJECTS

The problems arising in acquisition of land for hydro- electric project construction are causing suspension and delay in the construction activities.

This problem may be minimized with the co-operation of concerned state Govts.








PROJECTS

The progress of some of the projects has been severelyaffected on account of opposition to the construction byenvironmentalists and project affected people.-Sardar Sarover,- Indira Sagar,- Bansagar Tons- TehriR& R is becoming a major issue in the implementation ofstorage-based hydro development.Many times, it is one of the main reasons for the delay inthe execution resulting in Time & Cost Over-runs








PROJECTS

•Projects are affected on account of delay/non-clearance from Environment and Forest aspects.•The impact on ecology, monuments, seismicity, resettlement•and rehabilitation, catchment area treatment, flora and fauna shall be assessed in the environment appraisal of the project.•Forest clearance requires compensatory afforestation on the non forest lands.These aspects need to be looked into carefully to avoid undueproblems during clearance and execution of the projects.








PROJECTS

Adverse geological occurrences or geological surprises are the main cause of delays in completion of the projects located in Himalayas.

Minimizing geological surprises and meeting geotechnical challenges is key to accelerated development of hydropower.

This requiresWell planned investigation schedulePreparation of bankable DPRsContinued investigations/probing during constructionPreparedness for handling adverse geological occurrences








PROJECTS

A substantial hydel power potential has remained locked up and many mega projects could not be taken up because of unresolved Inter-State issues.

•Need for development of hydro potential without prejudice to the rights of the riparian States as determined by the Awards of the Tribunals/ Agreements arrived at among the party States with regard to water sharing.•A consensus is to be evolved amongst the basin states regarding project location, basic parameters involved and mechanism through which each project would be constructed and operated.








PROJECTS

Disturbed condition in some part of the country is oneof the factors causing delay in project execution andeven suspension of work. At many places, carrying out of S&I works for preparation of DPR has become a problem.

State Governments should ensure safe working environment.








PROJECTS

Maintaining minimum flows downstream of a project to restore ecology and natural regime of the river are essential.

Quantity of minimum flows shall be project specific , which depends on the project area/location and characteristics of downstream system.








PROJECTS

For development of hydro electric projects located in the remote areas, infrastructural facilities like construction of bridges, strengthening ofexisting roads, efficient and reliable tele-communication links, better road transport / air services etc. are required for their early implementation.

•Development of infrastructural facilities in hydro rich States needs to be planned so as to facilitate hydro development in theseStates.•Development of infrastructural facilities may be pooled by private developers in a river basin.








PROJECTS

Hydro projects are generally located in remote hilly areas and construction of long transmission lines in difficult terrain for evacuation of power from these projects to the load centres takes considerable time.With State authorities taking time in exercising the option of buyingwhole power from the private developers, identification of power buyers and power delivery locations takes time, thus, delaying the finalization of transmission system. The transmission system needs to be firmed up well in time so that completion of the transmission lines matches the commissioning schedule of such








PROJECTS

Most of the available sites forstorage schemes are located in the Hill states, whereas the downstream benefits of flood control, drinkingwater, irrigation etc. become available to the states inthe plains.

Thus, most of the distress caused by storage schemes occur in the Hill states whereas the benefits are largely in the states in the plains which are perceived to be moreprosperous.





4. GEOLOGICAL SURPRISES5. INTER-STATE ASPECTS6. LAW & ORDER PROBLEMS 7. REMOTENESS OF SITE8. INFRASTRUCTURE



PROJECTS

•Therefore , Hill states prefer R-O-R schemes and there is a move to convert identified storage schemes to R-O-R, which is not desirablekeeping the larger interest of the country in view.

•The type (Storage/ROR) of a hydro project depends upon the topography, geology and hydrology of the area and is site specific.

The storage sites in the country are limited and hence their optimum development would need to be ensured.

Challenges Ahead •Urgent need to evolve long term strategy for development of about 75% of untapped hydro potential

•For developing the balance potential by 14th Plan (2026-27), funds requirement would be around Rs 5,70,000 Cr

•Storage schemes with flood control & other benefits shall be taken up on priority basis in the imterest of the country

•Development of hydro projects shall ensure that inherent low tariff benefit of hydro resource is captured and passed on to consumers

•Environment and forest issues need to be sorted out expeditiously

Challenges Ahead •Projects allocated to IPPs shall be closely monitored w.r.t. their schedules of DPR preparation, execution etc. so that sites do not get locked up for long without progress

•States to act quickly on the issues related to land acquisition, law & order and infrastructure development

•Impetus should be given to development of pumped storage schemes as well as small hydro

•Hydro Projects to be provided with special status to attract investment as it brings development & prosperity to the remote areas.

Thank you

Hydropower Development in India: Status, Issues & Challenges

Documents

Transcript of Hydropower Development in India: Status, Issues & Challenges