(Sample Material) IAS PRE GS Online Coaching : India & World Geography - "Non-Conventional Energy"
Sample Material of Our Online Coaching Programme
Subject: India & World Geography
Topic: Non-Conventional Energy
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HYDRO POWER IN INDIA
Overview:
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India has one of the world’s largest potential for hydro electric power. The hydro power potential in India is around 84,000 MW at 60% load factor (installed capacity 148,000 MW). However, less than 20% of this has been harnessed so far.
- Currently, hydro power contributes about 24% of total installed generation capacity in the country.
- The oldest hydro electric power plant in Asia is the Sidrapong Hydel Power Station in Darjeeling. Its installed capacity was 130 kW and was commissioned in 1897.
- The largest hydro electric power project in India is the 2000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (Assam- Arunachal Pradesh border). Located across the Subansiri river, the project is currently under construction and is expected to be commissioned in 2016-18.
- The Brahmaputra river basin has the largest possible capacity for hydro power in India (66,000 MW)
- The advantages of hydro power include
- Non polluting
- Long life of projects
- Low cost of operation and maintenance
- Ability to start and stop quickly ot meet load demand
- Much higher efficiency than thermal power
Possible hydro power generation by river basins
River Basin | Potential installed capacity (MW) |
Indus Basin | 33,832 |
Ganges Basin | 20,711 |
Brahmaputra Basin | 66,065 |
Central Indian river System | 41,152 |
Western flowing rivers of peninsular India | 9,430 |
Eastern flowing rivers of peninsular India | 14,511 |
Total | 1,48,701 |