Hydropower Generation potential and benefits

Hydropower is one of the most important sources of renewable energy globally. It utilizes the energy of flowing water to generate electricity and has significant potential to meet the growing power needs. As per estimates, only about 21% of the global economically feasible hydropower potential of about 14,000 TWh/year has been tapped so far. many regions especially in developing nations have untapped hydropower sources that can be harnessed. Developing hydropower projects will not only meet the basic energy needs but also promote socio-economic development in remote areas.

Hydropower Generation is a mature technology and the power generation process does not involve any greenhouse gas emissions. It is a sustainable solution to replace fossil fuels and reduce carbon footprint. Large hydropower plants can store excessive power during off-peak seasons and release it when demand spikes. This makes hydropower highly suitable for baseload power generation and ensuring grid reliability. The zero-emissions attribute also makes it compliant with stringent environmental norms.

Project development challenges

While hydropower has immense potential, developing large-scale hydropower projects faces considerable challenges. Identification and evaluation of suitable reservoir sites is a major task requiring extensive hydrological and geological surveys. Significant capital investments running into billions are required for civil works like dams, tunnels, powerhouses etc. Long gestation periods of 5-10 years are common for hydropower projects.

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