Climate change can significantly alter hydropower generation capacity. study examined hydroelectric dams in the country. The study expected increase in rainfall and warming, the power generation capacity of most of India’s hydro projects will increase. But it would also expose hydropower projects to increased risks such as flooding and dam breaks.
study examined hydropower generation at 46 major hydroelectric dams in the country. It found that in a warmer projected climate and increased projected precipitation (between 5% and 33%), water inflow into large dam reservoirs is likely to increase by 7% to 70%, depending on the region. This increased inflow could increase (9%-36%) hydropower production in most dams in the future.
The impact of these changes in reservoir supply and stream flow on hydropower generation suggests that hydropower is sensitive to climate change, the study noted. Hydropower projects in central India are likely to see higher inflow, it said.
Major hydroelectric dams in the country
A dam operated by National Thermal Power Corporation Limited was damaged during the 2021 floods in Chamoli. With increasing rainfall and warming, hydroelectric projects in India will be exposed to floods and dam breaks.
Concurrent increases in extreme inflow and storage conditions in high reservoirs are projected in the future climate for most dams. However, future climate change predicts a favorable hydroclimate for hydropower generation, with associated risks associated with extremes
Highlight the challenges and opportunities associated with climate change mitigation and adaptation in the context of hydropower in India in a warming climate. Our findings highlight the need for reliable early warning systems that can help reservoir operations in the future,” the authors said in their study.
Hydroelectric dams were affected by floods
Damage to hydropower projects due to extreme weather events is not new in India. According to documents from the Central Electricity Authority, between 1974 and 2008, at least 24 hydroelectric plants were affected by floods, disrupting their normal operation and performance. While 19 of these projects were affected during their operation and maintenance phase, seven were affected during the construction period, the report said.
Hydropower projects in India are the third largest source of electricity, accounting for 11% of India’s total installed capacity, after coal (50%) and renewable (30%) energy. India has 211 large hydro projects (above 25 megawatts) in operation with a cumulative installed capacity of 46.8 gigawatts.
Another 41 hydroelectric plants are under construction for a total of 17 additional gigawatts of planned production. They include 30 major hydroelectric projects in the fragile Himalayan region that are under construction.
Joshimath incident
Following the uproar over the Joshimath incident, the Power Ministry recently told Parliament that all major hydropower projects will get the green signal only after environmental clearance is given by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, following a comprehensive review by an expert review committee.
The guidelines for the formulation of detailed project reports for large hydro projects categorically state that, in addition to project work, project developers must analyze the general climatic conditions of the project site and its seismic potential, investigate the meteorological conditions there, develop disaster management plans and estimate their costs.
However, industry experts have argued that adequate thorough climate risk assessments are hardly carried out before the commencement of such projects, resulting in them being exposed to several climate-related risks.
Representative image of a dam under construction. The Ministry of Energy has asked Parliament to give the green signal to all major hydropower projects only after environmental clearances from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and a comprehensive assessment by an expert evaluation committee. Credit: International Rivers
Hydropower developers have also confirmed the lack of climate risk assessment studies, indicating insufficient reflection of the climate risks of these projects. National Hydro Power Corporation, one of India’s major public sector hydropower project developers, said in an emailed response to Mongabay-India that it has not yet conducted any climate change risk study on its hydropower projects. As published by the Department of Energy, the 2022 Energy Sector Disaster Preparedness Document also supports such studies.
Written by: Vaishali Verma
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