Hydropower

Khorlochhu Hydropower Project in Bhutan to commission in 2029: Tata Power

The construction work of the Rs 6,900 crore Khorlochhu Hydropower Project in Bhutan has started, and the plant is likely to be commissioned by 2029, Tata Power CEO and MD Praveer Sinha has said. The 600 MW project is being developed on the Kholongchhu River in the eastern part of the neighbouring nation. "We are looking at Bhutan. Work has already started for the 600 MW project in Khorlochhu...the tunnel diversion work," Sinha told PTI in reply to a question on plans for hydro projects outside India. The project is expected to be commissioned in September 2029, he said. In August, Tata Power and Bhutan-based Druk Green Power Corporation Ltd (DGPC) partnered to develop the hydropower project at an estimated cost of Rs 6,900 crore. The partnership involves a 40 per cent equity investment by Tata Power in Khorlochhu Hydro Power Ltd, a public-private partnership company. Later in November, Tata Power announced entering into a strategic partnership with Druk Green Power Corporation Lt

Centre approves Rs 4,136 cr for 15 GW hydropower projects in Northeast

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved equity support of Rs 4,136 crore to northeast states for developing hydropower projects, totalling 15,000 MW capacity over the next eight years. The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Power for providing central financial assistance (CFA) to the state governments of NER (North East Region) towards their equity participation in the development of hydroelectric projects through Joint Venture (JV) collaboration between state entities and Central Public Sector Undertakings, an official statement said. This scheme has an outlay of Rs 4,136 crore to be implemented from 2024-25 to 2031-32, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a briefing on the Cabinet decisions. A cumulative hydro capacity of about 15,000 MW would be supported under the scheme, the statement said. The scheme will be funded through 10 per cent gross budgetary support (GBS) for the northeastern regi

14 hydropower projects damaged by flash floods in Himachal since July 25

At least 14 hydroelectric projects in Himachal Pradesh have suffered damage due to flash floods since July 25, with some being affected multiple times over the past 10 years, according to a new analysis. As damage to hydroelectric projects from flash floods and cloudbursts becomes a recurring issue -- impacting both communities and power generation -- experts are calling for disaster risk analyses to be conducted before such projects are undertaken. They also recommend the preparation of robust disaster management plans, and the installation of early warning systems and flood forecast stations. According to the analysis by the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers, and People (SANDRP), two hydroelectric projects (HEPs) suffered significant damage due to a "cloudburst-induced flash flood" in the Palchan area of Kullu district on the intervening night of July 25-26. Both HEPs -- the 2-megawatt Pinnacle HEP on the Serai river and the 9-MW Beas Kund HEP on the Beas river -- are owned and

India races to build hydropower plants in region claimed by China: Report

Under the scheme, about Rs 9,000 core will likely be allotted for the 12 hydropower projects in Arunachal Pradesh, said the sources, who have direct knowledge of the matter

Nepal aims to export 10,000 MW hydroelectricity to India: President Paudel

The Nepal government has accorded top priority to the development of the hydropower sector and aims to export 10,000 MW of hydropower to India in the next decade, President Ramchandra Paudel said on Thursday. Nepal wants to contribute towards promoting renewable and green energy in our neighbouring market by harnessing its immense hydro-potentiality, said Paudel while inaugurating the three-day Himalayan Hydro Expo 2024 at Bhrikutimandap here. The Nepal government is moving ahead in collaboration with the private sector by pursuing the aim to export 10,000 MW of hydroelectricity to India in the next ten years as per the bilateral agreement reached between the two countries a few months ago, he said. He urged the government to make necessary legal reforms so that both the private sector within the country, as well as foreign investors, may find a conducive environment to invest in the hydropower sector. The economic prosperity and development sought by the people of Nepal is only ..

12 Gw pumped storage hydropower projects get govt's green signal

Pumped storage hydropower is a type of hydroelectric energy storage that uses water stored in two reservoirs at different elevations to generate electricity

Reliance Power to sell 1,200 MW Kalai II hydropower project to THDC India

Reliance Power has inked an agreement to sell its 1,200 MW Kalai II hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh for Rs 128.39 crore to THDC India. The purpose of entering into the agreement was to monetise the hydroelectric power project, Reliance Power said in a regulatory filing on Sunday. According to the filing, the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Kalai Power Private Ltd (a subsidiary of the company), and THDC India Ltd (THDC) have inked an agreement in this regard on December 30, 2023. Under the pact, there will transfer of the development rights and associated physical assets, studies, clearances, designs and intellectual properties of the proposed 1,200 MW Kalai-II hydroelectric project located at the Lohit river basin of Arunachal Pradesh to THDC for an aggregate consideration of Rs 128.39 crore, subject to certain indemnities, representations and covenants, it stated.

Centre approves DPRs of 2 SJVN projects in Arunachal worth Rs 40,000 cr

SJVN Ltd on Friday said the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has given its approval to the company's detailed project reports (DPRs) for two hydro projects worth around Rs 40,000 crore. While the Etalin hydroelectric power (HEP) is of 3,097 MW, the Attunli HEP is of 680 MW, SJVN said in a statement. "Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Ministry of Power has transferred concurrences of DPRs of 3,097 MW Etalin HEP & 680 MW Attunli HEP in favour of the Company. CEA has also extended the validity of said concurrences," the company said. The project cost of Etalin HEP at March 2022 price level is Rs 32,813 crore and for Attunli HEP it is Rs 6,866 crore. The 3,097 MW Etalin HEP is the largest hydro project under development in the country. A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between the company and Arunachal Pradesh government for executing these five hydro power projects in August 2023. The DPR of these projects are under the process of revalidation from the CEA. On ...

NHPC's two hydropower plants in Sikkim affected due to flash floods

State-owned NHPC's two hydro power plants in Teesta Basin in Sikkim have been affected following flash floods on Wednesday. According to a BSE filing, the two affected projects are Teesta-V Power Station (510 MW) and Teesta-VI (500 MW), being executed by Lanco Teesta Hydro Power Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NHPC. "It is also to inform that considering the emergent situation, all units of Teesta-V Power Station have been shut down," the filing said. Detailed assessment of losses/ damages will be carried out after the water level recedes.

China and India lead Asia's biggest hydropower generation crunch in decades

The two countries, which account for about 3/4 of Asia's power generation and most of its emissions, are also to a lesser extent using renewables to make up for the hydropower shortfall

Arunachal inks MoA with 3 Central govt PSUs, allots 12 hydropower projects

The MoAs were signed in the presence of Union Power Minister R. K. Singh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein

SJVN CMD reviews hydro projects in Himachal, Uttarakhand amid deluge

SJVN CMD Nand Lal Sharma on Monday reviewed the company's hydro projects in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, which have been battered by heavy rainfall, causing widespread damage. "The chairman and managing director (CMD) held meetings through video conference to review the preparations at 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station & 412 Rampur Hydro Power Station for ensuring the safety of men and material," SJVN said in a statement. Sharma also reviewed the status of under-construction 210 MW Luhri Stage-I Hydroelectric Project (HEP), 382 MW Sunni Dam HEP, 66 MW Dhaulasidh HEP in Himachal Pradesh, and 60 MW Naitwar Mori HEP in Uttarakhand, it said. The water level of rivers on which these projects are located has increased manifold, the company said. "Our priority is to ensure the safety of the people. I have directed the head of projects to constitute high-level committees to closely monitor the situation in the areas around the projects. The officials concerned are to take ...

India looking to merge hydropower units to create single company: Minister

NTPC, the country's largest power producer, acquired the two hydro companies -- THDC India Ltd (THDCIL) and NEEPCO -- three years ago for about $1.34 billion under a consolidation plan

Arunachal to sign deal with CPSUs to set up five hydropower plants

The Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to hand over five terminated hydropower projects with a generation capacity of 2823 MW to two Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs)

Mizoram plans to set up 5 hydro power plants of 800 MW capacity

The Mizoram government has prepared Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for five hydro-electric power plants in the state with a total generation capacity of around 800 MW, Power & Electricity Department officials said on Tuesday.

Mandaviya flags off 75 trucks for awareness drive against Tuberculosis

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on flagged off 75 Trucks with TB awareness messages that have been provided by Apollo Tyres Foundation, who are actively supporting the Ni-kshay scheme

India faces high power cut risks after years of coal, hydropower neglect

A rapid addition of solar farms has helped India avert daytime supply gaps, but a shortage of coal-fired and hydropower capacity risks exposing millions to widespread outages at night

NHPC's Rs 32k-cr hydel project near China border gets Centre's approval

The approved investment includes Rs 6,720 crore of government support for flood moderation and enabling infrastructure, such as roads and bridges connecting the construction site

Nepal preparing MoU with NHPC, state-run VUCL to develop hydropower project

Nepal is preparing an MoU in which India's hydroelectric major NHPC will collaborate with state-run VUCL to develop a 480 MW semi-reservoir hydropower project in the western part of the country at an estimated cost of Rs 92 billion, an official said on Friday. The move comes days after Nepal and India inked an agreement to increase the power import and export capacity through the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line from 600 MW to 800 MW. "Our government has asked NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation), a government of India company, to collaborate with Nepal's Vidyut Utpadan Company Ltd (VUCL), to develop a hydropower project," Baburaj Adhikari, information officer at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation told PTI. According to the draft MoU, the Nepal government is planning for a 51:49 NHPC-VUCL joint venture. If this MoU gets inked, the Phukot Karnali Hydropower Project, which is a semi-reservoir project with a capacity of 480 MW, will be constructed

Power ministry plans tax breaks for pumped storage hydro projects

To promote pumped storage hydro-power projects in India, the Ministry of Power has proposed giving incentives such as tax breaks, easy environment clearance and providing land at concessional rates. The ministry has released draft guidelines on pumped storage projects (PSPs) to seek comments from states and state-run companies as well as private firms within a fortnight till March 2, 2023. Keeping in view the immense utility of the PSPs in grid stabilisation as well as meeting the peaking power demand, a need for formulating separate guidelines to promote PSPs was felt to set the direction of its development, the minsitry said in the guidelines. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimates regarding on-river pumped storage potential is 103 GW in India. Apart from this, a large number of off-river pumped storage potential is also available, the ministry added. As of now, eight projects (4,745.60 MW) are presently operational, four projects (2,780 MW) are under construction, and