ROLE OF HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT FOR IMPROVING ENERGY MIX WITH REFERENCE TO INDIA

摘要

Electric power is one of the basic infrastructures required for the sustained growth of a country. Power sector in India has taken long strides from a humble beginning to the present capacity of 1,56,092.23 MW as at the end of year 2009. However certain key issues still remain which raise grave concern and demand immediate attention for the growth of the power sector in the country. These include peaking shortage, low PLF operation of many thermal generating stations, underdevelopment of pumped storage and peaking hydropower schemes and poor energy mix against the desired optimal ratio. The trend portents further worsening especially in respect of hydrothermal mix.India is blessed with immense amount of hydroelectric potential and ranks 5th in terms of exploitable hydro-potential on global scenario. Hydropower potential is estimated to the tune 1,48,700 MW out of which bulk potential is still to be harnessed. Pumped storage potential is estimated to the tune of 93,920 MW and the installed capacity is 2004 MW crippled by nonavailability of off peak surplus power for pumping operation.In spite of vast hydropower potential existing in the country, development of this source of power had been very slow so much so the hydropower developed so far is less than 24% of the identified exploitable potential. Whereas in many countries the world over, hydropower contributes the major share of the power requirement in the country. As a result of the low share of hydropower in the total generation in India, during off-peak hours the generators are reluctant to back down generation for techno-commercial reasons resulting in increase in the system frequency and during peak hours the generators are not able to meet the demand thereby reducing the frequency. This type of grid indiscipline results in high frequency incursions causing unstable and uneconomical grid operation, damage to high rpm thermal machines at the generator end and other rotating machines at the consumer end and leads to huge financial loss per annum on account of frequency fluctuations. Recently, the Indian Government has embarked upon ambitious plans for development of hydropower on priority.The paper discusses the power development scenario, hydropower development related issues, advantages of hydropower, role of hydropower in the energy mix and important conclusions.