Hydro-Electric Power Resources in India | Geography

The country has substantial hydro-electric power resources. During the British period Mr. J. M. Myres had made a guess estimate of a minimum potential of 3.5 million Kw. and a maximum of 8 million Kw. But this was rather an incomplete and under-estimate.

The economically exploitable hydro-power potential of the country has been assessed by the Central Water and Power Commission (during the period 1953-1958) at 41.5 million Kw. at 60 per cent load factor, corresponding to about 25 million Kw. continuous equivalent to an energy potential of 2,16,100 million KWH, as would be clear from the table given below-

It is interesting to note that four-fifths of India’s water resources come from the systems flowing into the Bay of Bengal, while the water­less regions of Rajasthan provide with nothing at all. Flowing water is an inexhaustible source of energy.

The Central Electricity Authority has recently completed a systematic reassessment of hydro-electric resources of the country. Based on a systematic survey carried out during the Seventh Plan the hydro-electric potential in the country is estimated at 600 B. kwh (billion Kilowatt hour) per year as against 472.15 B. Kwh per year. Hydro Power energy resources are very rich in Northern and North-Eastern Regions of the country.

These regions account for about 75 per cent of the total hydro energy resource of the country. More than 80 per cent of the hydro potential still remains unharnessed despite the inherent advantage of hydro-electric power plants over thermal and nuclear plants. However, many such terrains may be available from larger environmental and geological considerations and a realistic picture of hydro potential is necessary.

Growth of Hydro Power in India:

The first hydro-electric plant in India was installed at Darjeeling in 1897-98. Soon after, in 1899, the first 1,000 kw, steam-driven power plant was installed at Calcutta. This was followed by a hydro-electric station on the river Cauvery at Sivasundram in 1903. Power was carried with 92 miles of transmission lines to Kolar gold fields.

The First War gave a tremendous impetus to the use of electricity. It was the enterprising spirit of the Tata’s that the biggest hydro-electric power group came into being near Bombay. Soon after this the State Governments of Madras, Punjab, Travancore, Cochin and U.P. started their own hydro-electric installations.

The progress of power production was very slow till the mid-twenties, the aggregate installed capacity in 1925 amounting to 1,62,341 kw. By 1945, it had increased more than five-fold to 9,00,402 kw. At, the beginning of the Plan, the total installed capacity of power generating plants was 2.3 million kw. The target for the First Plan was fixed at 1.3 m. kw. of additions. The total installed generating capacity increased to 3.4 in. kw. by 1955-56, against the target of 3.5 m. kw. The total generation in 1950-51 was 6,573 m. kwh. per year, which rose to 10,776 m. kwh per year in 1955-56.

During the Second Five Year Plan period, a target of 3.5 m. kw. of additional generating capacity was fixed. The actual achievement was of the order of 5.65 m. kw. against the target of 6.9 m. kw. The total generation rose to 20,123 m. kwh per year by 1960-61, and the per capita consumption stood at 38 units. About 16,660 villages were electrified and total circuit length of transmission lines increased to 1,41, 450 km.

In the Third Year Plan, a target of about 7 m. kw. of additional generating capacity was fixed. The actual achievements were of the order of only 10.17 m. kw. against the target of 12.7 m.kw. The total generation of power was about 36,403 m. kwh a year. The per capita consumption rose from 38 units to 61 units and the number of electrified villages to 44,494.

By the end of March 1970, the installed capacity was of the order of 15.49 m. kw.; and the output per year was 56,190 m. kwh., the length of transmission line was 4,47,000 km. and the per capita consumption was 83 kwh per year. The number of electrified villages rose to 85,420.

The Target of raising the installed generating capacity was placed at the end of the Fourth Plan at 23 million kw. The aggregate installed capacity of 23 m. kw. is sufficient to meet a peak load demand of 16.4 m. kw. as against the total requirement of 18.5 m. kw. by the end of 1973-74. The progress during the period covering the Third Plan, the three Annual Plans and the Fourth Plan was substantial, with installed capacity rising to 184.6 lakh kwh.

The main emphasis of the power programme in the Fifth Plan is on speeding up the construction and commissioning of power generation projects and improving the utilization of the available capacities. Power stations with a total installed capacity of 53 lakh kw. were commissioned during the first three years of the Plan to bring the total installed capacity to 237 lakh kw.

The Fifth Plan observed that “the fulfilment of the targets would largely depend on the improvement in planning, designing, financing and implementation which have to be effected. The success of these measures would in turn hinge on rationalising, re-structuring and strengthening of organisational set-up of the power supply industry at different levels.”

The Fifth Plan observed that- “the fulfilment of the targets would largely depend on the improvements in planning, designing, financing and implementation which have to be effected. The success of these measures would in turn hinge on rationalising, re-structuring and strengthening of organisational set-up of the power supply at different levels.”

The table given above shows the progress made in energy generation during the plan period. Total energy generated from 5.1 billion kwh in 1950-51 to about 811 billion kwh in 2009-10. The table also reveals that thermal energy is the main source of energy in the country though generation of hydro-energy has also increased. Generation of hydro- energy has increased from 2.5 billion kwh in 1950-51 to about 114.3 billion kwh. in 2009-10.

Thermal-electric generation increased from 2.6 billion kwh in 1950-51 to about 665 billion kwh in 2009-10. This shows the increasing trend of increase in hydro-electric generation during the plan period. Private sector is making good progress in power generation. Despite being quantitatively, it is rising higher growth in power generation in the private sector compared to central and state sectors.

The above table shows that though the hydro-electric generation is increasing but still there is great potential for raising the hydro-electric generation. It has been estimated that hydro-electric power potential is about 600 billion kwh. Of this potential, about 74.5 billion kwh. have been developed. This shows that about 13 per cent of the assessed potential is developed. Some other important projects are also being developed. The utilization of developed potential is also poor.

The utilisation of hydro­electric potential at the end of the Fifth Plan was estimated at 19.76 per cent. It is estimated that utilization of developed hydro-electric potential at the end of Sixth Plan is about 28 per cent. But generation of thermal energy is increasing at a faster rate. The hydel thermal mix was 40.60 at the end of the Fifth Plan. It was 33.7 at the end of Sixth Plan and is likely to be 30.7 : 69.3 at the end of Seventh Plan.

It was about 30.7 : 69.3 at the end of Seventh Five Year Plan. Thermal plants at present account for 74 per cent of total power generation and hydro-electricity plants account for about 24 per cent of the total power generation and the balance 2.0 per cent is generated by nuclear plants. There has been some increase in the percentage of the hydel power generation.

In March 1977, there were 44 major hydel power stations, and 48 major thermal stations having an installed capacity of 50 mw. and above.

Some of the major power projects, in operation and under construction and the benefits expected from these are given above.

Hydel power is less polluting source of power generation. Operating cost for hydel power generation is also very low. It has been estimated that about 25 per cent of world’s generation is by hydel power plants. India has resources for generation of hydro-electricity, therefore our economic policy makers had recommended hydro: thermal mix of 40 : 60. The actual scenario in India is 26 : 72 and the balance is nuclear power.

The table given above summarises the plan-wise number of new major and medium irrigation projects started. At the end of the Seventh Plan there were as many as 182 major, including the mega projects like Sardar Sarovar, Indira Gandhi Nahar and Indira Sagar Projects and 312 medium on going irrigation projects requiring a huge amount of Rs. 39,044 crores at the 1990-91 prices to complete them.

Areas Developing of Hydro-Power:

1. South India (Comprising Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala State):

Due to long distance from collieries the use of coal for generating power is very costly and therefore, greater development of power is from water, 80% is hydel and only 20% thermal. In Mysore the hydro-electric stations are Sharavati, Sivasamudram, Shimsa and Jog. These are interconnected and are of about 1 million kw. They supply power to Karnataka.

One of the important loads supplied by this system is in the Kolar gold fields. In Tamil Nadu there are 3 hydro-electric stations at Pykara, Mettur and Papanasam. These three are interconnected and serve mostly South Tamil Nadu, with about 0.8 m. kw. There is a big thermal station in Madras city which is connected with Mettur station. The capacity of the interconnected system of these stations is augmented by a stream power station at Madurai.

Besides, there are two more thermal stations at Vijayawada and Vishakhapatnam. In Kerala there is a hydro-electric station at Pallivasal (with about 0.5 m. kw.) which is said to be mostly responsible for the development, of the aluminium, fertilizer and chemical industries in the State. The two distinct features of the electric development in this zone are that these schemes, specially the generating stations and main transmission lines, are State-owned, and though the aggregate capacity is not very large, they are extending power supplies to rural areas for agricultural and other purposes.

2. Gujarat-Maharashtra Area:

Of the total installed capacity 60% is hydel and 40% is thermal. This zone contains Koyna hydro, Tata hydro- thermal, total about 1.2 million kw.; and Gujarat nearly 0.5 m. kw. The major public utility stations are the three hydro-electric stations at Khopoli, Bhivpuri and Bhira on the slopes of the Western Ghats between Pune and Bombay, belonging to the Tata Electric Agencies, and the thermal power station at Ahmedabad belonging to Ahmedabad Electricity Co.

The Tata electric system is interconnected with the stream power station of Central Railway at Kalyan and serves the industrial installations in Bombay, specially the textile industry. The thermal plant at Ahmedabad supplies power to the textile mills there. Outside the industrial areas of Bombay and Ahmedabad there are Dhruvan, thermal stations at Surat, and Sholapur, sustained mostly by industrial load. The distinct features in this region are that outside the industrial centres of Bombay and Ahmedabad there is little electric development.

3. Bihar-Bengal Area:

Ample supply of coal being available in Bihar and Bengal colleries electric development in these areas is based almost exclusively on steam power plants. Again the development is exclusively due to private enterprise. The largest of the power stations at present fire the four steam power stations at Cossipura, New Cossipura, Southern Mulajore, belonging to the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation, and supply power to Calcutta industrial and residential areas.

Other major public utility stations are at Gouripore, Seebpore and Dishergarh in Bengal and Sijua, Jharia and Patna in Bihar. Besides there are a good number of privately owned plants belonging to railways, collieries and other industries, the biggest of which belong to the Tata Iron and Steel Co. at Jamshedpur, the Indian Iron and Steel Company at Kulti and Hirapur, the Rohtas industries Ltd. Dalmianagar, and the Aluminium Corporation of India near Asansol.

4. Uttar Pradesh and Punjab Area:

The power is both thermal and hydel. The Uttar Pradesh Government has taken a lead in promoting electric development. There are 18 hydro-electric stations on the Upper Ganges canals at Bhola, Palra, Sumera, Salwan, Nirgajni and Bahadurabad, etc. They are interconnected with one another and also with two steam stations at Chandausi and Harduaganj. A special feature of the Ganga Canal Grid scheme is the predominance of the agriculture and irrigation loads. In towns of U.P. like Agra, Allahabad, Varanasi, Lucknow and Bareilly power was supplied from steam stations belonging to Martin Burn, Ltd. (now taken over by the State Electricity Board).

5. Central Region- (Comprising of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha):

Power is almost exclusively thermal. The important public utility installations are at Nagpur, Cuttack, Khaperkheda and Hyderabad. Besides, there are several power plants belonging to private industrial concerns such as collieries, cement factories, textiles, chemical, paper mills and ordnance factories, etc. The major part of the power generated in this region is by these plants, and therefore, through private enterprise.

Based on systematic survey carried out during Seventh Five Year Plan the hydro-electric potential in the country is now estimated at 600 B-kwh. (Billion kilowatt hour) as against 472.15 B.kwh estimated earlier. The assessment of hydro power potential is provisional as further studies are in progress to assess the hydro power potential. It has also been estimated that out of the total hydro power potential available, nearly 18 per cent has either been developed or is being developed. The region wise estimate of the hydro power is given above.

Pattern of Electricity Consumption:

The pattern of electricity consumption shows some interesting features. Haryana consumes about 44 per cent of the total electricity consumption in agricultural sector. Percentage share of electricity consumption in agricultural sector is lowest in West Bengal. It is estimated that West Bengal consumes only 1.4 per cent of the total electricity consumption in agricultural sector.

The macro pattern of electricity consumption shows that use of electricity is increasing in agriculture. It is estimated that as a result of the use of non-traditional inputs in agricultural sector, electricity consumption is increasing. In 1970-71 agricultural sector consumed only 10.2 per cent of the total electricity consumption. It is increased to about 20.7 per cent in 1986-87.

The table given below shows the pattern of electricity consumption in India:

It is remarkable that the bulk of underdeveloped hydro-potential is in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

The hydro development projects have been retarded in the part due to a number of factors, such as:

(i) The hydro-electric projects take relatively larger time for construction.

(ii) The location of many of these projects in inaccessible areas makes it difficult to carry out investigations and delays taking up of the construction works.

(iii) By their very nature, the hydro-electric projects require extensive site investigations in respect of hydrology, geology as well as topography, and formulation of sound and economic hydroelectric projects requires very thorough investigations and take considerable time.

(iv) The industrial states where the hydro-electric sites are located have neither the local demands to sustain a large programme of the hydel development nor the resources for developing them.

In view of the energy crisis that the country is facing, the Power Commission in 1962 and the Energy Survey of India Committee in 1965 have placed greater reliance on hydro-electricity development. After the tremendous enthusiasm for hydro-electric projects during the First and Second Plans, there had been a slackening of emphasis on hydro schemes. This has been an unwise step.

Emphasizing the fact that there is a need to reverse this trend, the Power Economy Committee (1971) in its report stated that, “Under the existing conditions in the country, the hydel schemes constitute the most economic source of electricity production. To control and reduce the cost of energy generation and supply in the country, to enable full utilisation of generating facilities already built up and to ensure that the limited capital allocations to power supply industry go to the farthest in meeting the country’s estimated deficit, the bulk of new generating capacity to be added during the Fifth and Sixth Plans should be derived by hydro sources, both of energy intensive and peaking categories. The balance of new generating capacity should be derived from supersteam power stations employing the largest possible unit sizes and located at the coal washeries/coal mines. Nuclear power generating would have to be resorted to preferentially in areas with limited hydro resources and which are remote from collieries.”