Indian Institute of Foreign Trade

New Delhi

Master of Business Administration (PT)

2012-15

Dissertation Project Report

-Synopsis

A Select Mapping for Indian Green Energy (Hydropower)

-Opportunities and Challenges

Professor
Dr. Nitin Seth

Submitted by
Namita Thakur
Roll No: 25

TABLE OF CONTENT
1 Scope.3
2 Structure of Dissertation.4
3 Aims and Objectives of the Research4
3.1

Aim of the Research4

3.2

Objectives of Research.4

4 Hypothesis of Research..4
5 Motivation of the Research4
6 Introduction..5
7 Literature Review..6
8 Objectives and Gaps from Literature7
9 References.8

1) SCOPE
Hydroelectric power plays a very critical and important role in the power sector.
It not only helps in providing base load power in many situations but also plays a
very useful role in meeting the peak demand of the system in an overall
economical manner. Less share of hydro in the Indian power scenario not only
adversely affects the efficiency of the power system and plant life but may also
necessitate burning of huge amount of valuable fossil fuel, the biggest culprit in
polluting and making environment un-green.
Here we need to LEAD FOR GREEN ENERGY and use the opportunity to tackle
challenges of Hydro sector in order to;

Save next generation

Save foreign exchange

Improve national economy

Why Hydropower?
When compared to other green energy resources e.g. solar and biomass,
Carbon-di-Oxide emission is less in hydro energy. Similarly wind and geothermal
have limited scope of development due to localized presence in India.

Comparison of Life- Cycle Emissions (Source: University of Wisconsin)

Country's peak power deficit was 5,378 MW or 4 per cent in February 2014. The
total peak power demand in the country in February14 was 1,33,506 MW, of
which only 1,28,128 MW was met, leaving a shortage of 5,378 MW. It can either
be covered using hydropower or using diesel generating-sets. Due to its versatile
operating characteristics and prominent technical features, hydro power is a
favourable option.

(Source: Economic Times Feb 17, 2014)

2) STRUCTURE OF DISSERTATION

Introduction
Literature Review
Reserch Methodology:

Exploratory Research

Secondary Research- NGT, Delfi, FF Analysis

Reserch Findings
Conclusion

3) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH

a) Aim of the Research:
The main aim of the research is to identify the preferred source of green energy
to meet the energy requirement in India.
b) Objectives of the Research
i)

To critically analyse the opportunities

ii) To strategically evaluate the challenges for hydropower sector in India.

4) HYPOTHESIS OF THE RESEARCH
Amongst all the green energy resources hydropower is the best alternative to
meet the growing energy demand in India.
5) MOTIVATION OF THE RESEARCH
The buzz-word today is green-energy. Power in any case is essential for the
development of a country only that we have to find safe ways to generate it and
barter between safe and not so safe source. When it is the question of human
life and long term suffering caused by our activities, our aim should not be to
find quicker and easier short term sources of producing energy and achieve

targets. Safer green ways, in spite of how long do they take to develop and how
difficult it is to develop, are the only option not only in our country but in the
entire globe. Coal-fired power plants are causing irreparable health damages to
our generation and to the future generations too. Surely we would not like our
children to suffer for our mistakes when the other safer renewable sources are
available. Lets make a leap towards the green energy.
6) INTRODUCTION
For meeting the power shortage of the country and to reduce outflow of foreign
exchange used for crude oil import, there is an urgent need to fully explore
Hydro resources of the country.
The installed generation capacity has over the period been increasing in the
country.

As on 31.03.2014, the installed capacity in the country is 2,43,028

MW. As against this, the peak demand is in the range of 1,30,000 MW. On a
pan India basis, therefore, we possibly have adequate capacity to meet the
demand. However, given the diversity of power procurement pattern of different
utilities in the country, we experience shortage or surplus in one or the other
State. This also leads to a situation where we have stranded capacity in some
parts and deficit or load shedding in other parts. This is a paradoxical situation
which needs to be addressed for the sake of optimum utilization of assets and
for avoiding economic loss to the society.
The fuel source-wise breakup is given below:
a) Installed Capacity (MW wise):

b) Peaking Shortage:

(Source: CEA- March 2014)

7) LITERATURE REVIEW

Installed Capacity
Thermal

Nuclear

Solar

Diesal

Wind

Hydro

Scope of Present Work

a) Thermal Energy: Thermal energy is neither green nor sustainable. It results
in faster rate of depleting ground water level thats why half of the worlds
coal-producing and consuming countries face acute water scarcity.
b) Nuclear Energy: The latest nuclear disaster at Fukushima Power Plant has
again brought to limelight dangers of nuclear energy. If such tragedy can
happen in a developed country like Japan, the consequences in developing
countries like India may be catastrophic. The disposal of nuclear waste is
also a challenge till date.
c) Solar Energy: A very ambitious plan of 1,00,000 MW solar power
development has been drawn in India. However, there is huge debate
whether Solar energy, in its present form, is green or not. The lead battery
cells used to store solar energy has challenges of disposal and lead is known
to be the biggest contaminator of environment for lack of proper disposal
methods.

d) Diesel Energy: There are an estimated 24 lakh diesel gensets in operation

across the country, up from 20 lakh pegged around 2010-11. The aggregate
capacity of gensets of all sizes operating is 105,512mw. This is roughly 20
times more than Delhis daily demand for power. The cost of generation, at
Rs 54 a liter (as per CEA) works out to be 11.54 per unit. Gensets are known
as a major contributor to air pollution and a fall in their running hours has a
positive bearing on environment.
e) Hydro Energy: Need of today is going green energy driving the need for
higher share of Renewable Energy. Hydro Power due to its versatile
operating characteristics and prominent technical features as mentioned
below is a favourable option.
i) Ideally suitable for frequent starts and stops.
ii) Low starting losses.
iii)Wide, quick and easy output variation rates.
iv)Part loading can be easily implemented.
v) Better capability to handle voltage fluctuation.
vi)High line charging capability.
8) OBSERVATIONS AND GAPS FROM LITERATURE
New found environmental awareness and increased judicial activism has
resulted in stoppage of ongoing projects. Unilateral decision of handling over
of projects under Govt. Sector to the Private developers by the State
Government and other factors has resulted in rising cases of demand for
unreasonable compensation and employment, social aspects, religious
sentiment of the locals, socio-political issues etc. have derailed the
developmental works.
a) GAPS :
i) Official scrapping of projects like Lohari Nagpala atadvance stage of
development has opened up a Pandoras Box generating several similar
demands. Instead of dealing with the technical challenges, now the focus
has shifted to courtroom battles and every project has to be justified in
courts. We all know how painstakingly slow our judicial system is which
gives the petitioners unfair advantage over the developers.

ii) Many projects like (2000MW) Subansiri Lower Hydro Power Project, have
been plagued by delays due to stiff opposition over its potential
environmental impact though the Project authorities secured all clearances
including environmental clearance before commencement.
iii)There is no study conducted to assess the cumulative impact of all the
reservoirs and the upstream and downstream impacts.
(Source: Economics of Hydropower in the New Millenium by Mr. A.B. L. Shrivastave, D(F), NHPC Ltd)

b) OBJECTIVES:
i) Study and Identify the Drivers, Opportunities for Hydropower for
sustainable development
ii) Find the Challenges
iii)Suggest a suitable framework for development
9) REFERENCES:
i) CEA, Load Generation Balance Report (2014-15),
ii) Planning Commission, government of India,
iii)Economic Times
iv)Wikipedia.