Role of Hydro Power for Energy Security

V R Shrivastava
ED(Planning) NHPC

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 What is Energy Security
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) defines energy security as the
uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.

• India, one of the fastest growing major economies, is also the fastest growing
energy consumer in the world.
• The demand for energy in the coming years will accelerate further as India
embarks on manufacturing through Government’s ‘Make in India’ program,
developmental projects and access to electricity for all.
• Consequently, energy security has emerged as one of the salient policy
issues over the past decade and a half. 2
 India’s Energy Security

• India’s quest for energy security could be seen under the framework of four ‘A’s:
availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability, which is to make energy accessible
to all the sections and sectors at an affordable price in a socially and politically acceptable
carbon-controlled environment

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 Energy Security - Electricity Sector

• Electricity is one of the key enablers for achieving socio-economic development of the
country.
• The economic growth leads to growth in demand of power. Economic growth, increasing
prosperity, a growing rate of urbanization and rising per capita energy consumption has
increased the energy demand of the country.
• Generation and capacity augmentation is the most vital for meeting the ever-increasing
demand of power to achieve the targeted growth rate

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Energy Security – Renewable Energy Emphasis
by GoI
• Hon’ble Prime Minister in his address at COP26 Summit in Glasgow stated that
• India will take its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030
• Will meet 50 percent of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030,
• India will reduce the total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes till 2030.
• India will reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by more than 45 percent by 2030.
• India will achieve the target of Net Zero by the year 2070.

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Energy Security – Current Power Supply Position
Installed Capacity of India as on 30.09.2022 is as under:

Source Installed % of Total

Capacity (MW)

Thermal 236086 57.9

Hydro 46850 11.5
Nuclear 6780 1.7
Other Renewables 118080 28.9
Total 407796  
(Source: CEA)

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Energy Security – Current Power Supply Position
2.2. The source wise supply of Energy (Apr.2022 to Sept.2022) is as under:

Source Energy (BU) % of Total

Thermal 606.45 74.29

Hydro 108.74 13.32
Nuclear 21.92 2.69
Other Renewables 79.17 9.70
 
Total
816.28
(Source: CEA)
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Energy Security – Current Power Supply Position
The sector wise vis-à-vis source wise Installed Capacity as on 30.09.2022 is as under:
Source State Private Central Total
Thermal 75247.04 85911.14 74927.9 236086.08
% Share 31.87 36.39 31.74 100.00
Hydro 27254.45 3931 15664.73 46850.18
% Share 58.17 8.39 33.44 100.00
Nuclear 0 0 6780 6780.00
% Share 0 0 100 100.00
Other Renewables 2464.91 113983.1 1632 118080.01
% Share 2.09 96.53 1.38 100.00
All India 105056.4 203870 99169.8 408096.27
% Share 25.74 49.96 24.30 100.00
(Source: CEA)
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Energy Security – Current Power Supply Position
The Energy & Peak Power Supply Position of India(Apr.2022 to Sept.2022) is as
under:

Parameter Energy (MU) Peak (MW)

Demand 791053 215888
Supplied 785722 207231
Surplus/Deficit -5331 -8657
%Surplus/Deficit -0.7 -4

(Source: CEA)
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Energy Security – Projection of Power Supply Position

Electrical energy requirement and peak electricity demand for the years 2021-22 to
2041-42 as per 20th EPS (DRAFT Vol-1 Report) are summarized as under:

Year Energy Requirement Peak Demand

(MU) (MW)
2021-22 13,81,646 2,03,115
2026-27 19,07,835 2,77,201
2031-32 24,73,776 3,66,393
2036-37 30,95,487 4,65,531
2041-42 37,76,321 5,74,689
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(Source: CEA)
Energy Security – Projection of Power Supply Position

Electrical energy requirement and peak electricity demand for the years 2021-22 to
2041-42 as per 20th EPS (DRAFT Vol-1 Report) are summarized as under:
Year Growth in Energy CAGR of Energy Growth in Peak CAGR of Peak
Requirement Requirement Demand
(MU) (%) (MW) Demand
(%)

2021-22 to 2026-27 5,26,189 6.67 74,085 6.42

2026-27 to 2031-32 5,65,941 5.33 89,192 5.74
2031-32 to 2036-37 6,21,711 4.59 99,139 4.91
2036-37 to 2041-42 6,80,834 4.06 1,09,158 4.30

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(Source: CEA)
Energy Security – Projected Energy Mix for the Year 2029-30
As per CEA report on optimal generating capacity mix for 2029-30, the projection is as
under:
Fuel Type Capacity (MW) in 2029-30 Percentage Mix
  (%)
Hydro * 60,977 7.46%
PSP 10,151 1.24%
Small Hydro 5,000 0.61%
Coal + Lignite 2,66,911 32.66%
Gas 25,080 3.07%
Nuclear 18,980 2.32%
Solar 2,80,155 34.28%
Wind 1,40,000 17.13%
Biomass 10,000 1.22%
Total 8,17,254 99.99%

Battery Energy Storage# 27,000MW/108,000MWh 12

(Source: CEA)
Energy Security – Projected Energy Mix for the Year 2029-30
As per CEA report on optimal generating capacity mix for 2029-30, the projection is as
under:
Fuel Type Capacity (MW) in 2029-30 Percentage Mix
  (%)
Hydro * 60,977 7.46%
PSP 10,151 1.24%
Small Hydro 5,000 0.61%
Coal + Lignite 2,66,911 32.66%
Gas 25,080 3.07%
Nuclear 18,980 2.32%
Solar 2,80,155 34.28%
Wind 1,40,000 17.13%
Biomass 10,000 1.22%
Total 8,17,254 99.99%

Battery Energy Storage# 27,000MW/108,000MWh 13

(Source: CEA)
 Energy Security – Role of Hydro Power
• The ongoing energy transition is rapidly changing the energy mix in the power
system. The increasing percentage of intermittent and variable energy sources
introduces several technical challenges in secure and stable grid operation
which include short term to long term generation-demand balancing issues,
frequency stability, Ramping Requirement and demand for higher flexibility
among the other issues. Energy Security could be achieved only after
addressing above issues of the Grid Stability.
• Fortunately Hydropower has certain specific flexibility attributes which makes it
critical source of energy generation particularly in addressing the issues of grid
stability and in achieving the Energy Security.
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 Hydropower - An Enabler for Energy Security
• Renewable Source: Hydro Power is a renewable source of Power, as free
flowing water is a renewable source through Hydrological Cycle. MoP GoI vide
08.03.2019 has declared the Large Hydro also as a renewable source of energy
generation.
• Affordability: The Hydropower uses free flowing water for generation of
Electricity and does not need any fuel which can be subject to volatility of
international policies. It is inflation free source of energy generation. In the long
term tariffs of hydro plants work out cheaper when compared with other
conventional sources of energy generation. Average tariff of NHPC’s power
stations based on CERC norms (Recovery of Annual Fixed Charges) is
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Rs.3.00/Unit
 Hydropower - An Enabler for Energy Security

Peaking Support: Owing its quick start and quick stop, Hydro Power can provide
the critical peaking support required during the peak hours when Renewable
Energy Sources are not able to generate power due to its limitations. Solar energy
can be generated in day time while wind energy requires certain minimum wind
speed which is a variable etc. On the other hand diurnal / weekly / seasonal
storage is possible with hydropower.

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 Hydropower - An Enabler for Energy Security

Inertia Support: In the Report on Assessment of Inertia in Indian Power System

of POSOCO (January 2022), it has been highlighted that System inertia be
considered as a critical parameter in planning and operation of the future Indian
grid in view of likely high penetration of non-synchronous generating resources.
The increasing share of renewable energy resources has a significant impact on
system inertia at higher RE penetration level. Following a large disturbance, the
overall system inertia from all the synchronous sources helps in maintaining a
stable operation by restricting the Rate of Change of Frequency (RoCoF). Hydro
including pumped hydro shall help in maintaining the system inertia.
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 Hydropower - An Enabler for Energy Security

Ramping Support: Ramping is a key flexibility attribute which has acquired

significance in recent years. It has also been identified as an important reliability
service by North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and an important
attribute for managing power systems with high penetration of renewables in
various renewable integration studies around the world. National Electricity Plan
(Generation) has stressed on the importance of having fast ramping capability for
grid incorporating large-scale renewable energy (NEP 2018). It has also concluded
that the additional capacity required for 2022–2027 should be preferably from
flexible sources of generation to meet the peaking, balancing, and ramping
requirements of the grid. 18
 Hydropower - An Enabler for Energy Security

Black Start Resource: Hydroelectric power plants shall act as a black start
reserve, meeting all the desired attributes such minimal station power required for
restart, minimal time needed to restart, large generator nameplate capacity, ability
to withstand frequency deviations and ability to help stabilize system frequency and
support system etc.

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 Hydropower - An Enabler for Energy Security
Hydro Projects Details Remarks

Number of Hydro Project 28 Projects

concurrence accorded and yet to be
started

Installed Capacity of Hydro Project 22662 MW Due to non receipt of EC, FC,
concurrence accorded and yet to be cancellation of MoU/MoA etc.
started

Number of Hydro Projects under 28

Construction

Installed Capacity of Hydro Projects 12867.5 MW (>25 MW)

under Construction

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 Hydropower - An Enabler for Energy Security
The main reasons for Time Over-run in execution of hydro Electric Projects are as under:-
 Delay in award of works: Delay in award of works may be due to poor
participation by bidders, very high / low bids quoted in comparison to estimated
value.

 Land Acquisition: Land acquisition is a persistent issue involved in the

implementation of hydro projects. Delay in acquisition of land for various locations
of the project such as Dam, HRT, Power House, Switchyard etc.; acquisition of
quarry / muck disposal sites etc., may delay the project.

 Environment and Forest issues: Issue of Forest Clearance consumes

considerable time and thereby delays Environment Clearance. Environment and
Forest issues often delay the projects.
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 Hydropower - An Enabler for Energy Security
The main reasons for Time Over-run in execution of hydro Electric Projects are as under:-
 Rehabilitation & Resettlement: Dislocation of the people from their
houses/fields/workplaces etc. and their resettlement is a sensitive issue and
involves a lot of time and money. Many times this issue leads to court cases
resulting in delay in project execution/completion.

 Natural Calamities: Natural calamities like unprecedented rain / flash floods, cloud
burst, earthquake etc. leads to destruction of project components / infrastructure
machinery & leads to delay of projects.

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 Hydropower - An Enabler for Energy Security
The main reasons for Time Over-run in execution of hydro Electric Projects are as under:-
Law & order problem & Local issues: Protest by the local people against the
construction activities, like blasting, muck disposal, etc. and also for various demands
like employment, extra compensation, etc. often create law and order problems and
delays the completion of works.
Contractual problems: In some cases, change in scope of work on account of
geological surprises leading to change in design/ change in construction methodology
may lead to contractual issues. Inadequate mobilization of man and machinery by
contractor also delays the project.
Geological uncertainties: Many projects in Himalayan regions are affected by poor
geology & other unforeseen site conditions entailing change in design or change in
construction methodology which delays the completion of project and also sometimes
leads to contractual disputes.
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 Hydropower - An Enabler for Energy Security
The main reasons for Time Over-run in execution of hydro Electric Projects are as under:-
Issues related to Quarry / Crushers Plants: Non-availability of quarry in the vicinity
of project, clearances related to quarry & crusher plant operation etc often delays the
project.
Inter-state issues: Water is a state issue and thus a project on a river flows through
more than one state invariably involves resolving of inter-state issues which often
delays the project.
Court / NGT / NCLT Cases: Court / NGT / NCLT Cases having stay on construction
activities delays the project.
Teething trouble during commissioning: There may be some teething troubles
during commissioning of the project, e.g., vibration in the machine, high bearing
temperatures, governor setting problem, leakage from HRT, leakage from Diversion
tunnel gates, leakage from penstock, etc.
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 Concluding Remarks

1. As per CEA report on optimal generating capacity mix for 2029-30, 60977 MW
installed capacity of India is to be met from Hydro Power. As on 30.09.2022, the
installed capacity of Hydro Power is 46850 MW, which requires India to add
additional 14127 MW through Hydro in the coming 8 years.

2. Electrical energy requirement and peak electricity demand for the years 2021-22
to 2041-42 as per 20th EPS (DRAFT Vol-1 Report) indicate a Compound Annual
Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.10% in Energy Requirement and 5.34% Peak Demand
is anticipated.

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 Concluding Remarks

4. Substantial portion of these projections is to be met from Renewables. In order

to meet the ambitious targets of Renewable Energy considerable addition of
Hydro Power shall also be required to meet the peaking, balancing, and
ramping requirements of the grid.

5. In nutshell Hydro Power is a Clean, Cheap & Environmentally benign source of

energy generation and also an enabler for Renewable Energy penetration.

6. Thus, Hydropower shall play a key role not only in augmenting the generation of
energy but also in providing the Energy Security to the country through
affordable / quality power and stable grid operations. 26
THANK YOU

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