Ministry of Power for storage based hydro scheme

New Delhi: The Union power ministry is likely to give priority to storage-based hydel power projects that involve building of dams instead of run-of-the-river projects, which harness the flow of the water to produce power, for faster capacity addition to meet the growing energy needs of India.

'Storage hydro projects are the way forward to achieve sustainable development of energy,' said Union Power Secretary Anil Razdan in a conference held by an industry body in New Delhi.

'There should be a greater emphasis on tapping the potential of storage hydro projects rather than run-of-the-river projects,' he added

Run-of-the-river, in general, was preferred because of non-displacement of local population while generating power. But these projects are usually located in very remote locations leading to long project delays. Hydro power accounts for more than a quarter of India's power generation capacity.

Recently, many southern states and even Maharashtra have complained of low power generation from hydel projects because of less than normal rainfall during the last few months.

Even run-of-the-river projects that are commissioned were facing problems like silting which result in stalling of power generating equipment, says Razdan. For example, Teesta power project in Sikkim was not operational for one month because of high levels of silting in the water.

The amount of silt carried by the river water -- which goes up significantly especially in the monsoon months like June, July and August -- acts as a major hurdle to the proper functioning of a hydro power plant.

Razdan also added that run-of-the-river projects have a limited scope of operation and generally lead to agitations by the local population due to gradual drying up of the water bed, citing the Bhagirathi Bachao Andalon and urging the states to take required steps for the promotion of storage projects.

'In storage projects, there is a better management of resources which facilitates the diversification of water resource to other purposes also like irrigation and drinking water supply,' says an industry expert. Meanwhile, the state power secretaries recommended the formation of a proper solar policy to tap the vast reserve of solar power available in the country.

'We have already forwarded the draft of the policy to the government which consists of considerations on fiscal, production-related and technological issues,' said the representative from Rajasthan.