Renewable energy Vs Hydro Power

• The renewable energy sector in the country has for the first time surpassed hydro power generation.
• The total capacity of renewable energy projects expanded to 42,850 megawatts, overtaking hydropower that stood at 42,783 mw, out of the country's total capacity of about 3 lakh mw on April 30, as per the latest assement of Central Electricity Authority.
• The renewable energy investments in solar and wind have benefited from a strong central policy and several years of early-stage private sector investment, respectively.
• The government has ambitious plans for deployment of 175 GW renewable power capacities by 2022, including 100 GW of solar and 60 GW of wind, which may require investment of around $150 billion in the next seven years.
• The total capacity of the thermal sector stood at 2,11,420.40 MW.
• In international climate talks, the government had stated that India will achieve 40% cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030 with the help of transfer of technology and lowcost international finance, including from Green Climate Fund.
• India is on track to becoming one of the world's largest producers of green energy and will surpass many developed countries in this endeavour.

Why there is fall in hydroelectricity

• Hydro power suffered from multiple challenges, including non-availability of long-term financing; the cost imposed by royalty power to be offered free to the state government; and limited opportunities for the private sector.
• Hydropower capacity has increased only marginally — from 40,531.41 mw in March 2014 to 41,267.42 mw in March 2015, to 42,783.43 mw at present.
• The states with major potential for big dams at present are Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. But the Supreme Court stopped construction of 23 out of 24 new hydro projects in Uttarakhand whilewhile numerous legal and civil objections hindered projects in Arunachal Pradesh.
• There is a perception that hydropower is neither environmentally friendly nor economically viable
• India has good hydropower potential, but submersion is a big issue. Hydropower has become an activists' target. Benefits have to be weighed against negative aspects.
• Hydropower's share has declined steeply from the mid-1960s, when it was over 45%. That was the time when energy experts shared the Nehruvian view that large dams were "the temples of modern India". By 2005, hydropower's share of the energy mix had dropped to 26%.
• Only large dams are classified under hydropower. Small dams, with capacities up to 25 mw, come under the ambit of renewable energy. Small hydro capacity increased from 4025 mw at the end of March 2015 to 4273.47 mw at present. There is a proposal to increase the small dam size limit from 25 mw to 100 mw to encourage their growth, since that will make them eligible for tax benefits.
• Globally, too, dam-building has suffered because of its ecological ramifications, especially after the World Commission on Dams, headed by Nelson Mandela, in its 2000 report, said large dams have not provided the benefits that were expected while their negative impact has been greater than imagined.

By: Vishal