Indian state problematic over run-of-the-river hydropower

They ended up drawing grid power.

That's what happened to the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh after setting up run-of-the-river hydropower projects instead of dam/water storage projects.

The situation has created periodic problems for surplus power generation for the state.

Himachal PSU, HPSEB Limited, has thus called for backdown of thermal power projects during the periods when rivers are full of water and the total hydel power generated exceeds the demand.

“Sometimes due to sudden revival of power houses after flood/high silt and sudden outages of transmission/distribution system in the State due to heavy rains/flood/snowfall, HP has to under draw power from the grid," according to the Northern Regional Power Committee Operation & Coordination Sub-committee.

The agenda notes continue: “This spilling of water has caused huge generation/financial loss to HPSEBL and IPPs. Had the thermal/nuclear/storage type Hydel projects got backed down, the water spilled at zero cost would have been utilized to generate power and save the coal/gas in the country.”

Thecommitte requested to take suitable decision to avoid such spilling/wastage of water in case of run-of-the-river power plants by backing down the generation of thermal/nuclear/storage type Hydel projects.

It said that this not only will provide cheaper power to power deficit utilities but will also help to save the natural resources of the country.