WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

3.3.4 India
Arun Kumar, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee ,
India
Key facts
Population 1,205,073,612 1
Area 3,287,263 km 2 . 1
Climate Varies from tropical monsoon in south
to temperate in north 1
Topography Upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south,
flat to rolling plain along the Ganges,
deserts in west, Himalayas in north
(highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m) 1
Rain
pattern
Average annual rainfall: 1,074 mm.
Monsoon season: June to September 2
Electricity sector overview
Electricity is a concurrent subject in India, meaning
that the Central (Federal) Government and the State
Governments have responsibility to promote this
sector and authority to make necessary laws and
regulations and to formulate and implement policies
and programmes. Indian States function under the
guidance of the Central Government.
The total installed capacity of the country is 211,766
MW as on 31 January 2013. The break-up of the total
installed capacity from different energy sources is
shown in figure 1 (renewables include small
hydropower, biomass, urban and industrial waste-toenergy
and wind energy). The power generation
infrastructure is owned by the Indian Government as
well as by the private sector.
The state-wise details on installed small hydropower
capacity in India are provided in table 2. As of end of
2012, the aggregated small hydropower capacity in
India was 3,496 MW.
In India the potential of small hydropower projects (less
than 25 MW) is estimated at about 20,000 MW (these
estimates are under upward revision). As of December
2012, 6,474 small scale sites with 19,749 MW
aggregated small hydropower potential have been
identified in the country, out of which 4,143 sites (of
15,151 MW capacity or 76.7 per cent of the total small
hydropower potential) are located on small streams
(run-of-river), 379 sites (of 1,645 MW capacity, 8.3 per
cent of the total small hydropower potential) are
located on the toe of existing irrigation dams, and 1,952
sites (of 2,953 MW capacity, 15 per cent of the total
small hydropower potential) are located on existing
canals, falls and barrages. Efforts are underway for
potential assessment on facilities like, pipelines for
drinking water and industrial use, effluent outfall at
water treatment plants and sewage treatment plants,
outlets of small dams and hydro kinetics in flowing
channels/streams. In the deregulated environment
small scale pumped storage plants are being
contemplated in the future. 4
SHP installed
capacity (up to
10 MW)
SHP potential (up
to 10 MW)
3198 MW
15000 MW
Oil
Nuclear
Gas
1%
2%
9%
SHP installed
capacity (up to
25 MW)
3496 MW
Renewables
12%
Hydro
Coal
19%
57%
SHP potential (up
to 25 MW)
20000 MW
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in India
Source: Ministry of Power 3
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
The classification of small hydropower in India can be
seen in table 1 below.
Table 1
Classification of small hydropower in India
(Kilowatts)
Type
Station capacity
Pico/watermill Up to 5
Micro Up to 100
Mini 101 - 2000
Small 2001 - 25000
0 5000 10000 15000 20000
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in India
The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(MNRE) that is in charge of small scale hydro up to
25 MW, is contemplating a small hydropower
assessment programme in its 12 th plan period
(2012–2017). The target is that out of the total grid
interactive power generation capacity that is being
installed, two per cent should come from small
hydropower. Today, the small hydropower
programme is essentially driven by private
investment. The focus of the programme is to lower
the cost of equipment, to increase its reliability and
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