New Delhi: India is about to initiate a mega hydropower project, which has been in work-in-progress for 20 years, proving to be a vital step in the country’s energy transition. State-run hydro power firm NHPC Ltd to start trial runs in July for the Subansiri Lower project, which runs through the states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in North-East.
The first unit is anticipated to be commissioned in December, as per finance director Rajendra Prasad Goyal. By the end of the year 2024, all eight units will be commissioned, he stated.
Due to the rise in the intermittent generation of solar and winder power, hydropower with its potential to quickly respond to variations in electricity needs has become of utmost importance to balance that phenomenon.
The project cost hiked to 212.5 billion rupees ($2.6 billion), more than three times the original estimate. Back in 2019, the National green tribunal approved to resume the work after eight years of suspension. Opposition to dams in India has been a constraint to tapping barely a third of its hydropower potential of 145 gigawatts.
“We need to get nearly 40 approvals from different departments before we start building a hydropower project. All the scrutiny should be done at this stage. Any stoppages after the construction has begun is problematic.” said Goyal
Significance of Dams
Big enormous dams are a way for India to boost local economies in areas along its tense borders with China and Pakistan. As Subansiri reaches the final point, NHPC is finalising plans to award construction orders for the 2.0-gigawatt Dibang project, which is a mega hydropower plant India has planned to construct.
The government of India has given large dams clean energy status to stimulate hydropower. The Government also agreed to give budgetary support in some cases relating to the civil construction and flood moderation work.
