Small-Hydro Power in India

Hydro Strides: Increased focus on the segment after a period of slow growth

December 7, 2022

Hydroelectric plants (HEPs) have matured as a technology and they now have the ability to rapidly ramp up or down generation in order to adjust according to load, meet peak demand requirements, and compensate for […]

UJVN Limited: Expanding its clean energy pipeline

June 28, 2022

The state-run UJVN Limited was set up in 2001 to enable Uttarakhand to meet its power requirements through the development of new hydropower projects, as well as for the renovation, modernisation and upgradation of the […]

Promoting Pumped Hydro: CSTEP study on the pricing mechanism for PHES in India

February 1, 2022

India plans to raise its non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity to 500 GW and meet 50 per cent of its energy requirements using renewable energy sources by 2030. A key issue with traditional renewable energy sources […]

Preventing Failure: Rajya Sabha passes Dam Safety Bill, 2019

January 3, 2022

By Sarthak Takyar India ranks third in the world in terms of number of dams, after China and the US. There are around 5,700 large dams in the country. The key issue is that about […]

Reviving Hydro: Projects likely to be ramped up to meet clean energy targets

November 30, 2021

India has a rich and economically exploitable hydropower potential. In addition to generating low carbon energy, hydropower has the potential to complement the integration of more intermittent sources of renewable energy such as wind and […]

Getting Greener: Himachal Pradesh to tap more power from the sun and water

March 31, 2021

The renewable energy sector in the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh is on a growth trajectory and it is primarily being driven by solar and hydropower resources. The total installed power generation capacity in the […]

Hydro Incentive: MoP notifies HPO trajectory

March 31, 2021

Back in March 2019, the government had introduced key measures to promote the hydropower segment, including two key announcements – the classification of large hydro projects as renewable energy sources and the introduction of a […]

Beyond RPOs: Policy analysis, compliance and future relevance

March 28, 2021

Following India’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Indian government announced the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC) in 2008. A key part of this […]

A Decade of Growth: Ambitious targets and inclusive policies make India a renewable energy forerunner

November 11, 2020

Over the past decade, India’s net power generation capacity has increased by 212 GW – nearly the total grid size of France. Roughly 40 per cent of this addition came from renewable energy sources, including […]

Global Greening: Renewable energy growth trends and outlook

November 11, 2020

Renewable energy has established itself as a preferred source for meeting energy needs across countries. Having added an unprecedented 200 GW of renewable capacity through the year, the total renewable power capacity (including hydropower) stood […]

Company Highlights: Key developments in the past 12 months

November 11, 2020

Enabled by strong policy support, incentives and focused attention from the government, India’s renewable energy sector has attracted many domestic and international players, including several entrepreneurs. Large and small independent power producers (IPPs), power utilities, diversified business houses, […]

Small Steps: Hydro growth remains modest, but promising

November 6, 2020

Hydropower has been responsible for a sizeable share of energy generation in India for a number of decades. Historically part of the conventional energy category, it has recently received a policy push with its inclusion […]

UJVN Limited: Steering ahead in the hydropower segment

September 25, 2019

Uttarakhand has an estimated hydropower potential of around 25 GW; however, only 4 GW has so far been brought online. Due to low resource utilisation and the state’s growing power needs, it ends up purchasing […]

Green Hydro: Renewables status to give a boost to segment growth

May 23, 2019

To give a major leg-up to the ailing hydropower segment, the government, in March 2019, approved a slew of policy measures, including the much-awaited renewable energy status to large hydropower projects (LHPs) (of more than […]

Inclusive Approach: Large hydro gets a new lease of life with renewable energy status

April 22, 2019

By Ashay Abbhi On March 7, 2019, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its approval for the inclusion of large-hydropower in the renewable energy sector. The move essentially ends the distinction between small-hydro […]

Soham Renewable Energy India: Tapping solar power to enhance its portfolio

March 26, 2019

By Khushboo Goyal India is blessed with abundant small-hydro power (SHP) potential. It is the cheapest power source available, and is also the most mature renewable energy technology. However, with the country witnessing rapid capacity […]

Case for Hydro: Proposed policy could lead to a revival

December 23, 2018

By Reya Ramdev The absence of a hydropower policy that comprehensively addresses the woes of this segment has been one of the biggest areas of contention for the industry. As a result, growth in the […]

Fresh Fillip: Himachal Pradesh focuses on promoting SHP and solar projects

August 24, 2018

By Sarita Barara Hydropower generation is all set to pick up pace in Himachal Pradesh with significant changes in the hydro policy announced recently by the state government. Although small-hydro power (SHP) has been the […]

Interview with Tarun Kapoor: Additional Chief Secretary, Multi-purpose Projects and Power, Non-conventional Energy Sources, Forest, Environment, Science and Technology

August 24, 2018

“Our main focus will be on small-hydro” Himachal Pradesh has significant small-hydro power (SHP) potential but delays in obtaining clearances (pending for 10-20 years in some cases), high capital costs and several other issues have […]

No Silver Lining: SHP segment beleaguered by policy uncertainty and investor reluctance

November 13, 2017

The growth of the small-hydro power (SHP) segment in India has been sluggish year after year. While the government has been fairly optimistic about the segment, it has failed to translate this into a real […]