of Hydro Power
Hydro power is a non- polluting, renewable source of energy .It is
perhaps the oldest renewable energy technique .Hydro power
represents the use of water resources towards inflation free energy
due to absence of fuel cost with mature technology characterized by
primer moving efficiency and spectacular electricity efficiency.
Small Hydro Projects are an
important, appropriate and profitable that other energy supply
Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam limited
is primarily responsible for the Small Hydro development in
Uttarakhand & is nodal agency to speed up this development.
Formerly the small hydro projects
were in Uttar Pradesh Laghu Jal Vidyut Nigam limited and
thereafter transferred to UP Jal Vidyut Nigam but after formation of
Uttarakhand these project came under UJVNL, since then UJVNL (Uttarakhand
Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited) has shown serious interest in development
of these projects.
Power projects are generally classified in two parts ie. Small hydro
projects and large hydro projects. In India hydro projects upto 25
MW are considered as small hydro Projects where above 25 MW are
considered as large hydro projects
The small hydro projects are further
classified as follows
Capacity in KW
2000 to 25000
Performance and Development
of SHPs in Uttarakhand
Importance of Small Hydro Projects
hydro power Projects (SHPs) are an important, appropriate and
profitable than other energy supply options and is a part of the
full menu of energy options to be considered in meeting the needs of
rural people more
so in the remote and isolated locations in the
hilly terrain of the state of Uttarakhand. SHPs compares well with
the alternative energy supply options and has an important niche in
the range of decentralized energy supply options. This niche is
tightly demonstrated defined by the availability of adequate
small-scale resource and as sufficiently concentrated density of
demand, consisting of a need combined with purchasing power, to take
advantage of a centralized, albeit small, power plant. SHPs have a
great social bearing as it can provide rural people with electricity
and create a sense of belonging to the modern world besides
providing energy that can assist in securing the livelihoods of
marginalized people. The SHPs are financially sustainable under the
1. A high load factor
2. A financially sustainable end-use
3. Costs are contained by good design and management.
There is a constraint in that costs of SHPs rise with the
remoteness of the location but the cost of alternative options
particularly diesel generator) may rise faster. SHPs in Uttarakhand
in short will play an important role as growth engines for
developing the economy of rural area which is isolated and remotely
Uttarakhand has an estimated capacity of 3355.02 MW of SHP out of
approximately estimated capacity of 26215 MW. The estimated capacity
of small hydro projects of Uttarakhand is 12% of total estimated
capacity of Hydro power in Uttarakhand and 10.23% of targeted
contribution of Hydro in 10th Five Year Plan.
Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. is primarily responsible for the
development of Small Hydro power project in the state of Uttarakhand
and is a nodal agency for the speedy development of the same.
In view of the above Government of Uttarakhand as well as Government
of India are facilitating the development of small hydro projects in
the state of Uttarakhand. The Small hydro projects have following
a. Hydro power involves a clean process of power generation.
b. It is a renewable source of energy and contributes to the
upliftment of the rural masses, especially projects located in
remote and inaccessible areas.
c. It is the most cost effective option for power supply
because it does not suffer from the limitation on account of fuel
d. Most small hydro projects in Uttarakhand are being
developed in remote and backward areas where substantial support for
economic development is actually needed.
e. Small hydro power contributes in solving the low voltage
problem in the remote hilly areas and helping reducing the losses in
transmission and distribution.
f. In certain cases projects are helpful in providing
drinking water and irrigation facilities.
g. It helps in promoting the local industries in remote
h. The development of small hydro projects requires minimum
rehabilitation and resettlement as well as environmental problems.
i. Small hydro projects help in generating self employment in
remote areas of the state.
j. Small hydro power projects helps in providing stable
electricity supply at remote areas where such facility by other
source shall be much costlier and unreliable.
In Short we can
say that SHP’s are
time in construction
Can be used
at places where grid is not possible.
can be improved by incorporating the benefits of Carbon Trading
Small Hydro Plants