Going forward, the share of hyÂdroÂpower in the country’s energy mix is expected to increase and thereby help in tackling climate change. In addition to generating clean energy, hydroÂpower has the potential to be used as peÂaÂÂking capacity to complement the integration of more intermittent sources of renewable energy by providing effective means of energy storage. Moreover, maÂture technologies such as pumped storage can help in load levelling, peak load sharing and managing the stability of the electricity grid in times of erratic demand and supply. With India committing to meet 50 per cent of its energy requirements through renewable energy by 2030 at the COP26 summit at GlasÂgow, hydroÂpower could see a greater push frÂom the government and developers.  However, the segment growth has been tardy owing to factors such as the long gestation period of hydroelectric power projects (HEPs), geological issues, rehabilitation and resettlement issues, local resistance, delays in obtaining environmental clearances, limited offtakers, and time and cost overruns. The government has, however, been working on addressing these hurdles and ensuring that the competitiveness and economic viability of hydroÂpower projects is maintained.
Power Line presents an overview of key trends and recent developments in the hydropower segment…
Segment performance
India has a rich and economically exÂploÂiÂÂtable hydropower potential of 148,700 MW. However, as of December 2021, the installed hydropower capacity (proÂjects over 25 MW) in the country stood at only 46,512 MW. Hydropower held the third largest capacity share in the total installed capacity at around 11.8 per cent in 2020-21, falling from 13.6 per cent in 2016-17.
Ownership-wise, the state sector accÂouÂnted for the highest share in the instalÂlÂed hydropower capacity at 58.3 per cent, followed by the central and private sectors with 33.6 per cent and 8.1 per cent share respectively. The installÂed hydroÂpower capacity has recorded a low compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 1.1 per cent in the past five yeÂars (2016-17 to 2020-21). In contrast, coal-baÂsÂed and renewables-based installed capacities have grown at a CAGR of 2.2 per cent and 16.3 per cent, respectively, during the same period.
During the past two years (2020-21 and 2021-22), the total capacity addition in the sector stood at 723 MW. Projects comÂmissioned during this period inÂclude North Eastern Electric Power CorÂpoÂration Limited’s Kameng HEP Units 3 and 4 (150 MW each), Himachal PraÂdeÂsh PowÂer Corporation Limited’s Sawra KuÂddu HEP Units 1-3 (3×37 MW), L&T UtÂtarÂanchal HyÂdro Power Limited’s SinÂgoli Bhatwari HEP Units 1, 2 and 3 (33 MW each), Units 1 and 2 (2×50 MW) of the Sorang HEP in HiÂmÂachal Pradesh, Units 1 and 2 (56.5×2 MW) of the RongÂnichu HEP in Sikkim, beÂsides uprating of the Karcham Wangtoo HEP from 1,000 MW to 1,045 MW, and of Units 1, 2 and 3 of the Kalinadi HEP from 135 MW to 150 MW each. During 2020-21, hyÂdroÂpower generation stood at over 150 BUs, marking a decline of around 3.5 per cent from 156 BUs recorded in the previous fiscal, but 7 per cent higher than the target level.
During 2021-22 (as of NoÂvÂember 2021), hydroÂpower generation stood at over 118 BUs. Hydropower generation remained largely insulated from the effects of the pandemic due to its must-run status. The share of hydro geneÂration in the toÂtal power generation mix remained at arÂound 11 per cent during 2020-21, as comÂpared to 10 per cent in 2016-17.
Recent policy measures
The central government has undertaken various measures to promote the hydroÂpower segment. At the COP26 summit, India set a target to augment non-fossil fuel electric capacity to 500 GW and meet 50 per cent of its energy requirements from renewables by 2030. FurÂthÂer, it announced a net zero emissions tarÂget for 2070. This is expected to enÂhance investments and the development of non-fossil fuel sources including hydropower. Some other policy anÂnouncements which are expected to benefit the segment are:
HPO: To achieve the target of 30 GW of hydropower by 2029-30, in February 2021, the Ministry of Power (MoP) issued a revised renewable purchase obligation (RPO) trajectory, including a long-term trajectory for large hydropower proÂjects commissioned after March 8, 2019. To reÂcall, in March 2019, the government issÂued an order detailing various policy meÂaÂsÂures to promote the hydropower
seÂÂÂÂÂcÂÂÂtor which included hydropower purchase obligation (HPO) being made a separate entity within non-solar RPO. As per the 2021 notification, the RPO has been calculated in energy terms as a percentage of total electricity consumption, excluding the conÂsumption met by hyÂdÂropower sources. The solar RPO target may be met by power produced from soÂlar poÂwer projects. Other non-solar RPOs (excluding HPO) may be met from any renewable energy source other than solar and large hydropower projects. The HPO benefits may be met by the power procured from large hydropower projects coÂmmissioned on and after March 8, 2019, and up to March 31, 2030. The HPO liability of the discom could be met out of the free power being provided to the state from large hydropower projects commissioned after March 8, 2019. With this separate HPO, which has a clear mandate for hydropower, there is expected to be greÂater offtake from hydropower projects.
Waiver of ISTS charges for pumped storage: In June 2021, the MoP issued an orÂder on the waiver of inter-state transÂmiÂssion system (ISTS) charges for pumpÂed storage hydropower plants to be commiÂssioned up to June 30, 2025. ISTS transmission charges shall be waiÂved for such projects for 25 years from their commissioning. The waiver of traÂnsmission chÂarges has also been allowÂed for trading of electricity generated/supplied from puÂmpÂed storage hydroÂpower plants.
Budgetary support for flood moderation: In October 2021, the MoP issued detailed guidelines for budgetary support for flood moderation and enabling infrastructure (roads and bridges) with reÂgard to hydropower projects, with an aim to reduce the tariff levels of these projects. The limit of budgetary support for roads and bridges would be Rs 15 miÂllion per MW for projects up to 200 MW and Rs 10 million per MW for projects above 200 MW.
Dispute resolution: In September 2021, the MoP approved the formulation of a dispute avoidance mechanism for construction contracts of central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) executing hydroÂpower projects. The mechanism mandaÂtes the appointment of independent engineers, who will have regular oversiÂght over the projects, with open communication with all the key stakeholders.
Proposal to hive off constructed hydro plants to SPVs: In July 2021, the government was reportedly exploring hiving off constructed central sector hydropower plants into special purpose vehicle (SPV) companies under their existing developers to maximise their valuations during stake sale. As per the proposed national asset monetisation pipeline, NITI Aayog has suggested segregating constructed projects and transferring them to an SPV, under the CPSE that owns the projects. The SPVs consisting of constructed projects might be subsidiaries of their resÂpective CPSEs. This would ensure that the aggregate value of the parent and subsidiary company is greater than that of the present developer of the project.
State-level developments
Arunachal Pradesh: In December 2021, SJVN Limited announced its plan to invest Rs 600 billion to set up 5,097 MW of hydropower capacity in Arunachal Pradesh. The company has been allotted five HEPs – the Etalin HEP (3,097 MW), Attunli HEP (680 MW), Emini HEP (500 MW), Amulin HEP (420 MW) and Mihumdon HEP (400 MW), all located in the Dibang basin. These projects are exÂpected to be commissioned in the next 8-10 years. On commissioning, these projects are expected to generate about 20 BUs of clean energy anÂnually on a cumulative basis.
Uttarakhand: In the same month, the central government filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court to allow the completion of seven under-construction HEP projects in Uttarakhand. The seven projects are Tehri Stage II (on the BhaÂgirathi River), Tapovan Vishnugad (on the DhauliÂgangan river), Vishnugad Pipalkoti (on the Alaknanda river), Singoli BhatÂwari and Phata Buyong (on the MandaÂkini river), the MadhyaÂmaheÂshwar (on the Madhyamaheshwar Ganga) and KaliÂganga II (on the KaliÂganga river). To reÂcall, the Supreme Court had imposed a moratorium on clearing hyÂdroÂelectric projects in Uttarakhand following flash floods in June 2013.
Jammu & Kashmir: In January 2021, the union cabinet approved an investment of Rs 52.82 billion for the 850 MW Ratle HEP located on the river Chenab in Jammu & Kashmir. The project is being developed by Ratle HydroÂelecÂtric Power CorpoÂraÂtion Limited, a joint venture (JV) between NHPC Limited and JaÂmmu & Kashmir State Power DeÂveÂloÂpÂment CorÂporation Limited (JKSPDCL). An agreement betÂween the promoters was signed accordingly in April 2021 for the incorporation of the JV. NHPC will hoÂld a 51 per cent stake in the JV while JKSPDCL will hold 49 per cent. Another MoU was signed by the two entities in JaÂnÂuary 2021 for the execution of the KirÂthai II (930 MW), SawalÂkot (1,856 MW), Uri I Stage II (240 MW) and Dulhasti Stage II (258 MW) hydroÂpower projects.
Pumped storage projects
Pumped storage plants (PSPs) can provide an ideal solution for energy storage and load balancing. It is the only commercially proven technology available for grid-scale energy storage. As of NovÂember 2021, there are eight PSPs with a total capacity of 4,746 MW in the country. However, only six PSPs (KaÂdaÂÂmparai,
BhÂiÂÂra, Srisailam, Ghatgar, PuÂrulia and NaÂgarÂjunasagar), aggregating 3,306 MW in capacity, are working in both generation and pumping modes. The remaining two PSPs (Sardar Sarovar and Kadana StÂages I and II), aggregating 1,440 MW, are working only in generation mode. FuÂrÂÂther, thÂeÂre are three under-construction PSP proÂjects with a total capacity of 1,580 MW – the 1,000 MW Tehri StaÂge II project in UttaÂrakhand being imÂplemented by THDC Limited, the KuÂnÂdah PSP Stages I, II, III and IV (500 MW) being implemenÂted by TANGEDCO in Tamil Nadu, and the Koyna Left Bank (80 MW) in MahaÂrashtra being implemented by the Water ResourÂces DepartÂment of MahaÂrashtra, which is held up at present. The detailed project report for the Turga project (4×250 MW) in West Bengal has been approved, while the 1,200 MW PinÂnaÂpuram project in Andhra Pradesh is unÂÂder examination. Further, survey and inÂvestigation are in progress for 17 projects toÂtalling 16,770 MW and 14 projects totalling 8,855 MW are at pre-feasibility stage.
Issues and challenges
While hydropower remains an attractive source of clean energy, its development entails a number of challenges. AccorÂding to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), 36 HEPs (above 25 MW) which are under development have time/cost overruns. These include delay in environmental and forest clearances, infrastructural constraints at site due to project terrain, geological surprises resulting in change in design, stoppage of work, damage, and remobilisation of resources.
As HEP are site specific and their tariffs depend on location/design parameters and high initial investment, the tariff for new HEPs is relatively higher, which makes the despatch of power from new projects through long-term power purchase agreements difficult. Specific to PSPs, a major drawback of the current pricing mechanism is that it does not take into account the grid flexibility aspects of such projects and beÂcause of the generic pricing mechanism, PSPs are not utilised to full capacity.
Further, various state hydroÂpoÂwer policies restricting the entry of CPSEs and the dependence on a few contractors are some of the other issues. Further, the benÂchÂmark capital cost of HEPs has been rising on the back of the rising cost of inputs such as steel, aluminium and ceÂÂÂÂment. The capital cost has increased graÂdually from Rs 60 million per MW in 2004 to Rs 160 million per MW in 2018.
Future outlook and the way forward
As per the CEA, at present 36 HEPs (abÂove 25 MW) totalling 12,663.5 MW are under execution. Of these, 15 HEPs are in the central sector (8,485 MW), 12 HEPs are in the state sector (2,721.5 MW) and 9 HEPs are in the private sector (1,457 MW). Of these, 26 HEPs toÂtalling 10,577.5 MW are under active construction while 10 HEPs totalling 2,086 MW are currently held up. As per the CEA’s optimal generation capacity mix, the installed hydropower capacity is estimated to reach 76 GW by 2029-30, contributing to nearly 9 per cent of the total installed power capacity. In order to accelerate the development of HEPs, the segment needs to overcome the various challenges. Financial incentiÂves, along with policy and regulatory support from the central and state governments, need to be developed to enhance investor confidence. It is also important to develop a pricing mechanism for each service that pumped storage offers.
In the backdrop of India’s ambitious emission targets and the recent net zero commitment by 2070, hydropower is likely to be an active segment in India’s reÂnewable energy portfolio. Further, the Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the significant role that hydropower can play with respect to pumped storage through better load management during periods of fluctuating demand. ThereÂfore, a revived impetus to hydropower can be expected, with a special focus on pumped storage hydropower in the coming years. If developed sustainably, hydropower can not only maintain its competitiveness but also simultaneouÂsly complement solar and wind energy as a reliable source of energy storage. The competitiveness, however, will deÂpend on the level of mitigation of the fiÂnancial, environmental and social risks involved with its development.
Nikita Gupta
