In a span of more than 100 years since the first hydro project was commissioned in India, phenomenon progress has been made on exploitation of water power potential. As a part of national policy on hydro development, renovation, modernization and operation of old hydro power plants is being accorded priority. This being a faster and cheaper way of capacity addition than installing new capacity. As per global experience, 10–15% capacity addition can be achieved by simply encroaching upon overload margins, safety factors. Capacity addition up to 30% is achievable by changing the F-class insulation of the stator and by changing the Hydraulic profile of the runner and capacity addition up to 50% is achievable by changing the complete unit and retaining only embedded parts and some major foundation components of the generator.
In India, 150 such hydro schemes with an aggregate capacity of 27000.3 MW having expected benefit of 7282.76 MW already been identified for renovation, modernization and capacity addition. Out of these 95 hydro schemes with an aggregate capacity of 17247.9 MW have been completed providing a benefit of 3317.4 MW, 11 hydro schemes with an aggregate capacity of 1665.9 MW having expected benefit of 965.3 MW is under implementation, 17 hydro schemes with an aggregate capacity of 2981.75 MW having expected benefit of 1319.95 MW is under tendering, 13 hydro schemes with an aggregate capacity of 2225.75 MW having expected benefit of 1206 MW is under DPR preparation/finalization & approval and 10 hydro schemes with an aggregate capacity of 905 MW having expected benefit of 60 MW is under RLA studies. The paper attempts to discuss about the need of renovation, modernization and capacity addition of hydropower units in Indian context.
The paper sets an over all attention to highlight major concept in regard to phenomenon leading to renovation, refurbishment and quick capacity addition cost effectively.
