Hydroelectric power projects with an aggregate capacity of 15 GW are under construction in India, which will increase the hydro capacity by more than 50 percent from 42 GW to 67 GW by 2031-32, as announced by the Ministry of Power (MoP).
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted higher rainfall in the current financial year, and also project located in the Himalayan region get base flow from melting snow, and any rise in temperature will increase the flow from this source.
Moreover, the development of pumped storage projects (PSPs) will help balance power to the grid. PSPs which is an ideal complement to modern clean energy systems. It is projected that PSP capacity will increase from 4.7 GW to around 55 GW by 2031-32.
India is in the midst of an energy transition, marked by significant additions of solar and wind power to the current energy mix. Currently, PSPs with an aggregate capacity of 2.7 GW are under construction in the county and another 50 GW under development.
As per targets set forth by India in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the COP Paris Agreement, to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 45 percent from 2005 levels by the year 2030 and achieving 50 percent of installed electric power capacity from non-fossil-fuel sources by the year 2030, the government has adopted a proactive stance towards hydropower development.
