Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on
Hydropower
How much is the world’s electricity supplied
by Hydroelectric Power Plants?
± 2700 TWH is generated every year.
Hydropower supplies at least 50% of electricity
production in 66 countries and at least 90% in 24
countries.
What are the major components of a
Hydroelectric Power Plant?
The major components of a Hydroelectric Power
Plant are:
- Dam/Barrage
Head works i.e. power intake, head regulator
and desilting chambers etc.
- Head race tunnels/channels
- Surge shaft/surge chambers
- Pressure shaft/Penstock
- Underground and surface power house
- Tailrace channel or tailrace tunnel.
What is the classification of Hydro Projects
based on Installed Capacity?
Micro: upto 100 KW
Mini: 101KW to 2 MW
Small: 2 MW to 25 MW
Mega: Hydro projects with installed
capacity >= 500 MW
Thermal
Projects with installed capacity >=1500
MW
What are the different types of turbines used
in Hydroelectric Power Plants?
There are basically five types of turbines
used in hydro power plants:
1. Pelton turbines - It is
impulse turbine which is normally used for more
than 250 m of water head.
2. Francis - This is a reaction
turbine which is used for head varying between
2.5m to 450m
3. Kaplan – It is
propeller type of plant with adjustable blades
which are used for heads varying between 1.5 m to
70 m
4. Propeller – It is
used for head between 1.5 to 30 m
5. Tubular – This is used for
low and medium height projects. Normally for head
less than 15 m.
How energy is generated in Hydroelectric Power
Plant?
A hydroelectric power plant consists of a high
dam that is built across a large river to create a
reservoir, and a station where the process of
energy conversion to electricity takes place.
The first step in the generation of energy in a
hydropower plant is the collection of run-off of
seasonal rain and snow in lakes, streams and
rivers, during the hydrological cycle. The run-off
flows to dams downstream. The water falls through
a dam, into the hydropower plant and turns a large
wheel called a turbine. The turbine converts the
energy of falling water into mechanical energy to
drive the generator which in turn produces
electric power. After this process has taken place
electricity is transferred to the communities
through transmission lines and the water is
released back into the lakes, streams or rivers.
This is entirely not harmful, because no
pollutants are added to the water while it flows
through the hydropower plant.
Which is the largest Hydropower station in the
world?
Three gorges project in China on Yangtez river is
the largest power station in the world having
installed capacity of around 18,200 MW.
Which is the largest under ground Hydro Power
Project in India?
Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station having
installed capacity of 1500 MW.
How does cost of generation from Hydropower
Plant compare with other sources of
electricity?
The hydro power generation is highly
capital-intensive mode of electricity generation
but being renewable source of energy with no
consumables involved; there is very little
recurring cost and hence no high long term
expenditure. It is cheaper as compared to
electricity generated from coal and gas fired
plants. It also reduces the financial losses due
to frequency fluctuations and it is more reliable
and inflation free.
Why hydropower is called renewable source of
energy?
Hydropower is called renewable source of
energy because it uses and not consumes the water
for generation of electricity, and the hydropower
leaves this vital resource available for other
uses.
Which is the oldest Hydropower Plant in
India?
The oldest Hydropower power plant is in
Darjeeling District in West Bengal. It’s
installed capacity is 130KW and was commissioned
in the year 1897.
What is the estimated total Hydropower
potential of India?
The hydro power potential of India is around
1,48,701 MW and at 60% load factor, it can meet
the demand of around 84,000 MW.
How much of the total Hydro power potential has
been exploited so far in India?
Around 19.9% of Hydropower potential has been
exploited in India.
What are the different types of dams?
Different types of dams are conventional
concrete dam, Roller compacted concrete dam, rock
fill dam, Concrete Faced Rock fill Dam(CFRD),
Earth fill dam, arch dam, barrages etc.
Why the unit sizes of hydro generating machines
are not standardized as in case of thermal power
plants?
Since the size of hydro generating machines
are based on availability of water in river and
the water head available at a particular project
site, the size of the machines keeps varying from
location to location and river to river. The sizes
are also based on logistics and variation of water
in river during the year.
What are the different types of Hydro
Schemes?
Different types of Hydro Schemes are :
- Purely Run - of - River Power Station.
- Storage type Power Station.
- Run – of – River Stations with Pondage.
Why Hydropower stations are preferred solution
for meeting peak loads in grids?
Due to its unique capabilities of quick
starting and closing, hydropower stations are
found to be economical choice to meet peak load in
the grid.
What is the project Cost and how it is
funded?.
Total capital expenditure incurred for
commissioning of a project is project cost and it
is mainly funded by the equity and loan.
What are the main sources of Debt and
Equity?
Generally main source of Debt is loan from
Domestic Financial Institutions and multilateral
funding institutions like World Bank, Consortium
of Foreign Commercial Banks etc. Equity is
generally raised through budgetary support of
Government, IPOs and internal accruals of existing
power generating companies.
What is the standard debt equity ration for
financing a hydropower project?
Standard Debt Equity Ratio is 70:30
What are the benefits of hydropower
projects?
Hydropower is a renewable, economic, non
polluting and environmentally benign source of
energy. It saves scarce fossil fuel
resources of the country, which are non renewable.
Hydropower projects have certain distinctive
advantages over other sources of electricity
generation, as discussed below:
a) Technical Benefits
Hydropower projects are known to have much
longer life and provide cheaper electricity as
there is no fuel cost and as the recurring cost
involved in generation, operation and maintenance
is lower than that in case of other sources
of energy.
b) Environmental Benefits
- Uses Renewable and pollution free source of
Energy i.e water
- Increase in Agriculture Productivity through
development of irrigation and multipurpose
schemes, having generation of electricity as
one of the objectives, wherever possible and
feasible.
- Avoided Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from
equivalent thermal and other fuel based power
projects.
- Involve large scale afforestation activities
under various schemes like Compensatory
Afforestation, Catchment Area Treatment, Green
Belt Development, Voluntary Afforestation etc.
which ultimately improves the environmental
quality of the project area.
- Flood Mitigation through large storage dams.
- Source of Drinking Water
c) Social Benefits
Hydro projects are a boon to the society and
the population at and around the projects. With
enhanced employment opportunities, increased
earnings, enriched life style and improved
standard of living, the people in these localities
experience an economic and social upliftment.
Reservoir area is an ideal place for recreation
and source of eco-tourism promotion in the area.
The reservoirs are also used for promoting
pisciculture. There are other direct benefits
accruing from hydro projects and dams such as
increased water for improved irrigation, and
drinking water to villages and people living in
and around the project area.
What is the capacity of the Hydro Power
Station being operated by SJVN?
SJVN is operating Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power
Station (NJHPS) which is the first project
executed by SJVN having installed capacity of
1500MW with design energy of 6950MU per annum.
What is the present tariff of Power being
generated from Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS)?
CERC has fixed the provisional tariff of Rs.
2.35 per unit.
What is the completion cost of Nathpa Jhakri
Hydro Power Station (NJHPS)?
The approved completion cost of Nathpa Jhakri
Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) is Rs. 8187.713 crores.
What is the cost of RHEP?
2047.03 crores at March 2006 price level.
What is the estimated levellised tariff of
the power to the generated from RHEP?
RHEP is expected to generate 1770MU of power
during a year with a estimated levellised tariff
of Rs. 1.80 per unit.
When will the RHEP is expected to generate
power?
By February 2012.
From where the loan is being arranged for
meeting the debt portion of RHEP?
The entire loan component for RHEP is being
raised through World Bank
Whether all statutory clearances have been
obtained for RHEP?
All statutory clearances including Forest and
Environment clearance have been obtained.
What are the benefits from Rampur Hydro
Electric Project and who are the beneficiaries?
The people of the state of Himachal Pradesh
will benefit as a whole from the Project, because
royalty of 12 percent of the total electricity
generated from the project(at an estimated value
of U$12 million per year) will be passed on to the
Government pf Hiamchal Pradesh. In addition, in
recognition of its investment in the project, the
state of Himachal Pradesh will receive an
additional allocation of around 109 MW of power
and will also receive dividends from the project.
The state will also be entitled to a share in the
remainder of the power generated from the project.
As much as 1,770 million units of electricity
from this Project will be fed annually into the
Indian power system-through the Northern Region
Electricity grid – where it will improve the
quality of electrical supply to existing
consumers, especially at peak times, and also
benefit farmers and other consumers in the
northern Indian states who currently have either
no access or constrained access to electricity.
The Project will also have significant
environmental benefits. If a coal or oil-fired
thermal plant of the same capacity were to be
built of the Rampur hydropower project, the
emission of greenhouse gases would add about
12,000 tons of Sulphur oxides (Sox), 6000 tons of
Nitrogen oxides (NOx), and about 2 million tons of
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. By
building and operating the Rampur Hydropower
Project, the citizens of India will avoid this
pollution.
Whether environment impact of setting up of
RHEP has been assessed and what is likely amount
to be spent on environment management?
The environment impact has been assessed and
the adverse impact will be mitigated in
collaboration with the works of state level
environment agencies. As a part of the project,
SJVN will provide funds to improve forest cover
and treat catchment areas to reduce soil erosion
from the flood impacts. An amount of Rs 388.26
millions shall be spent on environment.
What about R&R plan of RHEP and the
amount likely to be spent on the same?
The Project’s R& R plan has been
prepared after careful and continued consultations
with the Project Affected People and is now being
implemented. It can be assessed on the Public
Information Center set up at the project site in
village Bael, Public Liabraries at Rampur, Shimla
and from the World Bank’s infoshop.
The rehabilitation package for the displaced
person is as per Resettlement and Rehabilitation
Scheme for Project Affected Families (PAFs) as has
been agreed between SJVNL and GOHP, which includes
besides other normal provisions, the innovative
Income Generation Scheme and Technical Education
Scheme for local youths and free medical check up
and medicine dispensation to the villagers
adjoining the project area through mobile health
van. The financial assistance up to a maximum of
Rs. 30.000/- shall be given to each family for the
activities like dairy farming, bee keeping,
poultry farming, cottage units and handicrafts
etc. Under Technical Education Scheme (TES) for
PAFs and local youths, every year 35 students
shall be sponsored for ITI courses with a
scholarship of Rs. 700 per month. Director
(Technical-Education) GOHP has already
allocated/earmarked 30-40 seats in various ITIs of
State for sponsoring youths under Technical
Education Scheme. An amount of Rs. 1255.00
millions shall be spent on R&R of RHEP.
What are the definitions of the searchable
field and other data in the details page
 |
NJHPS |
Nathpa Jhakri Hydor-Power Station |
|
RHEP |
Rampur Hydro-Electric Project |
|
LHEP |
Luhri Hydro-Electric Project |
|
KHEP |
Khab Hydro-Electric Project |
|
DHEP |
Devsari Hydro-Electric Project |
|
JSHEP |
Jakhol Sankri Hydro-Electric
Project |
|
NMHEP |
Naitwar Mori Hydro-Electric Project |
|
PAFs |
Project Affected Families |
|
PPA |
Power Purchase Agreement |
|
CERC |
Central Electricty Regulatry Comission |
|
GOI |
Govt. of India |
|
GOHP |
Govt. Of Himachal Pradesh |
|
R&R |
Resettlement & Rehabilitation |
|
