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Hydropower Generation in India
Hydropower output may rise 10% on bountiful rain
Context: Heavy monsoon rains may be disrupting roads, but they have filled reservoirs, boosting prospects for hydropower. According to ICRA Ltd., India’s hydropower generation is expected to rise about 10% in FY26, marking the second straight year of higher output.
What is the significance of hydropower generation?
- Grid stability: Unlike coal or solar, hydropower plants can quickly ramp up or ramp down output, making them crucial for balancing fluctuations in demand and integrating renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
- Clean energy source: Hydropower contributes to India’s climate goals as a low-carbon energy source, forming part of the transition away from fossil fuels.
- Strategic importance: With about 49.37 GW installed capacity (10% of total), hydropower already supplies nearly 7% of India’s total electricity generation. Its flexibility ensures a reliable supply during peak hours and lean seasons.
- Energy security: Healthy reservoirs, aided by strong monsoon rains, ensure availability of firm power during dry months (December–February).
How can hydropower generation be augmented in India?
India has an estimated hydropower potential of 133 GW, but only about 42 GW has been harnessed so far. Here’s how the country can tap into the remaining potential:
- Accelerate Project Development: Expedite construction of approved projects and revive stalled ones across states like Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
- Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs): These “water batteries” store energy and help balance the grid. India plans to scale PSP capacity from 4.7 GW to 55 GW by 2031–32.
- Policy Incentives: India supports hydropower growth by classifying large hydro projects (>25 MW) as renewable energy, waiving inter-state transmission charges, and providing budgetary support for flood moderation and related infrastructure.
- Modernisation & Efficiency: Upgrading old plants with better turbines and digital monitoring systems.
- Private Sector Participation: Encouraging PPP models to attract investment and improve operational efficiency.
What are the major concerns associated with hydropower generation in India?
- Environmental & Social Impact: Large hydropower projects often cause the displacement of thousands of people, disrupting local communities, while also leading to ecological disruption through altered river flows, biodiversity loss, and deforestation. Additionally, submerged vegetation in reservoirs can produce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, undermining their green credentials.
- Geographical Risks: Hydropower projects are increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters, such as flash floods and landslides in the Himalayas (e.g., 2023 Himachal and Sikkim floods), which damage infrastructure and disrupt generation. In addition, water stress from declining river flows driven by climate change and overuse poses a serious threat to their long-term sustainability.
- Regulatory & Operational Issues: Hydropower development in India faces key challenges: delayed clearances for environment and land acquisition, contractual disputes causing legal and financial delays, and monitoring gaps due to weak enforcement of environmental compliance and limited transparency in project planning.
