Managing Director, Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project Authority, Bhutan
Online published on 12 January, 2016.
The potential for energy generation depends upon the country's natural resource endowments and the technology to harness them. India has both non-renewable resource (coal, lignite, petroleum and natural gas) and renewable energy sources (hydro, wind, solar, biomass and co-generation bagasse). In last few years, the development/construction of Hydroelectric Projects in our country has slowed down which in turn has disrupted the ratio of hydro-thermal mix. As on 31st May 2014, the installed capacity of hydropower in India was 40611.41 MW as against thermal power i.e., 171376.09 MW. The ideal hydro-thermal mix ratio (40:60), the hydro contribution is around 24% against 40% required. There are various reasons responsible for de-acceleration in the pace of construction/commissioning of the Hydroelectric Projects in India. I have tried to flag some of the important areas which require introspection and also correction so that the pace of hydropower development in India, is brought back to track. In this context, it is also important to note that the 24,000 MW exploitable hydro-potential in Bhutan and 80,000 MW in Nepal could also be partly utilizable through export of surplus power from these countries. In the same context, the framework drafted for transmission of surplus power across the international borders within SAARC countries, prior to recent 18th SAARC submit held at Nepal, is a useful proposition.
