1. Small Hydro Power
Development In India
Arvind Gupta
Enrollment- 12512006
M.Tech.(AHES) ‘12-’14
IIT Roorkee

2. Contents:
1. Introduction
2. SHP – A Brief Description
3. A Brief History Of SHP
4. SHP – Today
5. SWOT Analysis
1. Strength
2. Weaknesses
3. Opportunities
4. Threats
6. Government policies and private sector
initiatives for SHP development in India
7. References

3. Introduction
• As India aspires for a growth rate of 8-9%, its energy needs
are increasing correspondingly.
• It is expected that the power demand is expected to rise at
the rate of 10% every year.
India’s Energy Consumption

4. Consequences:
1.Increasingly dependent on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and
gas.
2.Rising prices of oil and gas along with shortages in future are
causing concerns about the security of energy supply.
3. Increased use of fossil fuels also causes environmental
problems both on local and global scales.
What We Need??
There is urgent need for the country to develop a sustainable
path of energy development.

5. Sustainable Energy!! How???
 Promotion of Energy Conservation
 Increased use of Renewable Energy Sources
Options We Have…
 Wind
 Small Hydro
 Solar
 Biomass

6. Potential and Installed Capacity Of RE - 2011

7. Why Small Hydro Power!!??
 Small Hydro represents “Highest Density” resource among
the Renewable sources.
Economically viable.
Reliable, Continuous & Inflation free.
Energy pay-back time(EPBT) is less.
Green house gas emission is less.
Clean Renewable Water Power.
No process Waste.

8. Small Hydro Power – A Brief Description
Small hydro is the development of hydroelectric power on a scale serving
a small community or industrial plant.

9. Indian Classification of SHP
Hydro power project up to 25000kW is known as small hydro
power project.
Further SHP is classified as follows:
MICRO Up to 100kW
MINI 100kW to 2000kW
SMALL 2001kW to 25000kW

10. Let Us Know
The total potential of Small Hydro Power in India is estimated to
be 15384.15 MW as on 30.06.2011.
As on 30.06.2011, 20% of the available potential has been
exploited totaling 2953.58 MW.
In addition to these a total of 369 projects are under installation
across India which will add another 1192.55 MW

11. A Brief History of SHP
First SHP was commissioned in 1897 at Darjeeling, W.B., with
capacity of 130kW.
Secondly, in 1902, the Sivasamudram project of 3000kW was
installed in Mysore, Karnataka.
Till 1947, we had an installed capacity of 1362 MW, it included 508
MW from hydro power, mainly from small and medium size projects.
Till 1997, India added 85,019 MW to its power generation. It
included 21644 MW of Hydro Power, this time mainly from large
hydro.
In late 80’s for focused attention to SHP, small Hydro was brought
under the ambit of Ministry of New And Renewable Energy(MNRE).

12. Then Came the 90’s
The decade of 90’s saw a firm footing for the development of small
hydro power in India.
Demonstration projects with new technical and engineering
concepts.
R&D projects and a dedicated center namely Alternate Hydro
Energy Center(AHEC) at University of Roorkee(now IIT, Roorkee)
were supported
Database of potential SHP sites developed, master plan prepared.
A preinvestment study by Energy Sector Management Assistance
Program(EAMAP).
Manufacturing base for SHP equipment was strengthened

13. SHP - Today
Small Hydro Power ( SHP) Programme is one of the thrust areas
of power generation from renewable in the MNRE.
The Ministry is encouraging development of small hydro projects
both in the public as well as private sector.
Aim Of MNRE
Capacity addition of 1400 MW by the end of 11th plan.
Capacity up to 6000 MW by the end of 12th plan.
Lower the cost of equipment, increase its reliability.
Set up projects in areas which give the maximum advantage.

14. Potential In India
 Estimated potential 15, 500 MW.
50% lies in the States of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh.
MNRE has created a database of 5,415 potential sites with an
aggregate capacity of 14,305.47 MW.
By the end of 11th plan capacity would be 3375 MW.
In January’12, the total capacity of SHP has been reported as
3300 MW.

15. State wise Potential and Projects(As on 30.06.2011)
Contd…

16. Contd…

17. 3 MW Small Hydro Power Project,
Darjeeling Distt., WB

18. 1 MW Small Hydro
Project
Kullu, Himachal
Pradesh

19. 1 MW Small Hydro Project, Sangrur, Punjab

20. SWOT Analysis
1.Strengths
 No fuel cost, Inflation free.
 Operational flexibility.
 No issues like deforestation and resettlement.
 Potential to meet power requirements of remote and isolated
areas.
 Can improve the economic activities in villages and remote
areas.
 Now good manufacturing base and almost all equipment
requirements are indigenously meet.
 Equipments efficiency more than 85%.

21. SHP for Rural Development:

22. Also…

23. 2.Weaknesses
water being State subject, projects are governed by the State
policies and the potential sites are allotted by the State to private
developers.
Time consuming process for allotment of sites and statutory
clearances including land acquisition, forest clearance, irrigation
clearance etc.
The projects have relatively longer gestation period due to
difficult terrain and limited working season.

24. 3.Opportunities
The estimated potential for power generation from SHP is over
15,000 MW. So far only 20% of the identified potential in the
country has been exploited.
The States of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu &
Kashmir and Uttarakhand have highest potential for development
of small hydro. All the four States have policy to invite private
sector to set up SHP projects.
The State of Karnataka has allotted 300 projects of about 2000
MW, Chhattisgarh has allotted 70 projects aggregating to 685 MW,
Maharashtra has allotted 41 projects of 135 MW and the State of
Odisha has allotted 29 SHP projects of 369 MW to the private
sector. These States can contribute a lot in providing
opportunities to harness this potential.

25. 4.Threats
States may be reluctant to sign long term PPAs with the
developers.
SHP projects are normally set up in hilly areas. The land
required to set up project may have some trees or forest cover.
Hence, the project would require compulsory forest clearance.
Water of the river / canal is also diverted for a limited distance to
generate electric power and hence this may also have some
impact on the environment.
Sometimes SHP developers do face objections from the local
community.
Time taken in obtaining various clearances at the State level,
transfer of land, forest clearance, availability of reliable
hydrological data, timely creation of suitable power evacuation
facilities are the main issues

26. Government policies and private sector
initiatives for SHP development in India
Soft loans are provided to small hydro projects through
government financial institutions such as Indian Renewable
Energy Development Agency (IREDA), Power Finance Corporation
(PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC).
Government of India provides financial subsidy
to power generating companies in public/private sector and NGO's
for establishing new, renovation, modernization and up rating
of small hydro plants.

27. References:
1) Ministry of New & Renewable Energy
2) Small Hydro Development in India, Praveen Saxena,
International Conference on Small Hydro Power, Sri Lanka
Oct’2007
3) Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency(IREDA)
4) Alternate Hydro Energy Centre, IIT Roorkee
5) Energy Alternatives India(EAI)
6) United Nations Industrial Development Organisation(UNIDO)
7) ICRA Limited (formerly Investment Information and Credit
Rating Agency of India Limited)

28. Thank You!