28/06/2023
📘 PRESS RELEASE - 15th HYDRO VISION Conclave 2023” - Coverage In-Retrospect
🌊 “15 th HYDRO VISION Conclave – 2023 – A continuing effort for increasing ‘Hydro Energy’ share in the National Power Generation Mix (NPGM) for achieving “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” – Targets 200 GW Hydro Energy by 2032 (100 GW PSPs by 2032 - Embedded).
👉The concurrent generic theme was “Ujwal Jalprawaha + Ujwal Urja = Ujwal Bharat”.
Google Photos of 15th Hydro Vision Conclave 2023 :
https://photos.app.goo.gl/k7NsAtXSm1Rf16NC6
“15th Hydro Vision Conclave 2023” was organised on Friday, 23rd June 2023 by ENERTIA Foundation - HyFI (Hydropower Forum of INDIA), INDIA’s Non-Profit Think-Tank with Theme ‘EASE’ (ENERTIA Alliance for Sustainable Energy), supported by Renewable Energy Promotion Association (REPA), INDIA’s Apex Umbrella Association and Non-Profit Body and Think-Tank for Renewable Energy aimed at twin goals of PACE (Positive Actions for Climate Equity) and PACT (Positive Actions for Climate Transformation) and in association with the New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM) – INDIA’s First and only Mentor B-School and most Awarded Industry Oriented Management Institution.
The deliberations on the Theme “Resurgence of Hydro Energy - Target 200 GW by 2032 with 100 GW of Pumped Storage” potential expansion was co-Partnered by NHPC Limited, AFCONS Infrastructure Ltd (A Shapoorji Pallonji Group Co) - A Life Patron Member of REPA, NREDCAP (New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd.) - Platinum Member of REPA was PSP Partner while SJVN Ltd and Envirex India Pvt. Ltd. were the Supporting Partners.
“Hydro Vision Conclave (HVC)” has also been held in the past in Thimphu, BHUTAN in 2008, 2013 and 2014 as International Editions of the Summit and as a Hydro & RE (Renewable Energy) Round-Table, Circa 2020. The aim is to expand the Hydropower co-operation towards SARG (South Asian Regional Grid) that enables the Transmission Sustainability and Grid stability for Electricity / Power Trading across INDIA, BHUTAN and NEPAL with BANGLADESH and MYANMAR to tango in due course with INDIA being the predominant consumer of Hydro-Electricity and Renewable-Energy.
“15th Hydro Vision Conclave (HVC) 2023”, was a continuing effort for increasing ‘Hydro Energy’ share in INDIA’s National Power Generation Mix (NPGM) via “Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) and Hydropower Plants (Storage Hydro and RoR - Run of River)” for achieving National “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. A Target of 200 GW of Hydropower by 2032 encompasses upto 100 GW traction for PSPs or PHES (Pumped Hydro Energy Storage) which has been envisioned by the august forum and a “WHITE PAPER” - embedded outcome will be prepared via “ENERTIA – Asia’s Premier Journal on Sustainable Energy, Power and Renewables” journal and its publishing entity, Falcon Media.
ENERTIA Foundation – HyFI, a pioneering Non-Profit Organization for promotion of Clean, Green and Sustainable Energy in INDIA, SAARC and Rest of Asia, founded under the theme ‘EASE’ was the Principle Organizer.
Meeting was moderated by Prof. A G Iyer, Founder President, ENERTIA Foundation and REPA; Editor-in-Chief, ENERTIA and Hon. Associate Dean and Professor of Global Business Environment, Public Policy and Government, NDIM ; Chairman, REPA - WIRE (World Institute of Renewable Energy) and Hon. Dean, REPA - NDIM Centre of Excellence in Renewable Energy.
As a prelude to the deliberations, Rajeev Kumar Vishnoi, Chairman & Managing Director of NHPC Limited and THDC India Ltd (Tehri Hydro Project) was felicitated with the prestigious “HYDRO RATNA” award instituted by ENERTIA Foundation - HyFI and supported by REPA - for his Yeomen Contribution to the Hydropower Sector.
Without adequate Hydropower the limitations of 416 GW+ of present National Installed Power Generation Capacity Index stands exposed with the deficits leading to load-shedding across INDIA this peak summer. The 47 GW of Hydropower accounting for just over 11% of Installed Capacity, albeit marginally higher in real generation, is insufficient to fulfil the peak that is bound to cross 300 GW by March 2024. This needs 25% or 100 GW minimum to come from the Hydro and Gas Power Plants. Presently, that total is 35 GW (max of Hydro Energy Conversion in Generation terms) + 5 (20 GW of Gas Assets Starving for want of Natural Gas-NG Fuel Supply & tariff bottlenecks) = 40 GW only, way below or 60 GW short of the mark for 25% Flexible Peak Shaving. The Pumped Storage Capacity is 4.75 GW while assessed potential is now around 103 GW. In the year 2003, INDIA’s share of Hydropower was 27.1% in the NPGM.
Hydro Development encompassing both Water Resources and Energy is among the prime movers of the economy with an all pervading impact on the UN-SDGs as no economic activity can be progressed without the energy aspect while water is the key to sustenance of life on the planet.
Several Renewable Energy and Hydro stalwarts were part of the deliberations with those on Dias being R N Khazanchi, Presidential Awardee (Pravasi Bharatiya) and DRUK Thuksey (Highest Civilian Honour bestowed by BHUTAN) & Former MD, THPA (Tala Hydropower Project Authority) & PHPA (Punatsangchuu Hydroelectric Project Authority), BHUTAN ; Dr V K Garg, Former CMD, PFC (Power Finance Corporation) & Ex Chairman, JERC (Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission); T C Arora, Advisor TOSHIBA INDIA ; M A K P Singh, Member (Hydro), Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Ministry of Power (MoP), Government of INDIA ; D P Goyal, Ex MD, Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Project - Jaiprakash Ventures Ltd (Jaypee Group) ; Rajeev Bhatnagar, Ex ED, BHEL ; K K Gupta, former VP, Hydel Business Unit, L&T Ltd ; Dr Jagveer Rawat, Founder President, FICATS (Federation of Indian Chambers of Agriculture , Trade & Services) and G S Bawa, Senior Advisor to Government and Former GM AAI.
Inderdeep Singh Oberoi, Executive Director, A. D. Global Synergies Pvt. Ltd. and FIE and Hon. Secretary, Institution of Engineers India (IEI), Faridabad Chapter, was felicitated with the “Individual Life Membership (ILM)” and prestigious “Hon. Global Fellowship in Renewable Energy (GFRE)” of REPA.
Other dignitaries included R Thiagarajan Iyer, Secretary General, REPA and Hon. Executive Director, ENERTIA Foundation and Convenor, HyFI ; Kaushlendra K Pandey, Hon. Regional Director, MARKENOMY Foundation ; Dr. Supriya Sharma, Head ESG, DMA (Delhi Management Association) ; S K Shukla, Ex Director THDC India Ltd (Tehri Hydro) & Former Advisor, IREDA; S C Sharma, Ex Director, THDC & Former President (Hydro), Jindal Power Ltd ; B K Arora, Vice President, Business Development, AFCONS Infrastructure Ltd ; Pradeep Kumar Shukla, Chief Engineer, Hydro Projects Planning & Investigation Division, CEA, Ministry of Power; Col. R N Khosla ; Om Prakash, Former General Manager, PFC ; S K Mazumdar, Individual Consultant (Hydraulics & Water Resources Engineering) ; Padmanabhan Paleri, Ex Senior Functionary, CBIP (Central Board of Irrigation & Power) & CEA (Central Electricity Authority) ; Kavita Jha, Secretary , ESG Division, DMA ; Ajay Tiwari, IES ; Ms Dolly Bhasin - Climate Startup Entrepreneur & Founder, Smart Edge ; R K Bagrodia, Chairman, Winsome Group and Faculty of NDIM.
M A K P Singh revealed exclusively at the forum that DPRs (Detailed Project Reports) for 50 GW of PSPs are under consideration and review at the CEA, Ministry of Power, which are aggregate of those received from Centre, States and Private Sector. Thereof a target of 100 GW+ by 2032 for PSPs may be a very achievable and genuine target to fulfil the current assessed potential for the PSPs.
It may be noted that the MoP, Government of INDIA, had issued the draft guidelines to promote development of Pump Storage Projects (PSPs) in the country on 15th February 2023 and subsequently the guidelines to promote development of PSPs were issued on 10th April 2023. While various incentives were handed out to the PSPs, one of the key issue was to provide for automatic clearance to PSPs devoid of necessitating EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) making it on par with the SOLAR Renewable.
However, the issue is still under public discourse as experts feel that it is necessitating to find the optimal capacity in design Mega Watt (MW) terms for Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) that will entail automatic clearance based on ZERO or Negligible / Nominal submergence ensuring there are no Project Affected People / Persons (PAP) or the impact is absolutely nominal or manageable in proportions. This is still a challenge for assessment. It is observed by the ENERTIA Foundation and REPA Think-Tanks that the general range for PSPs are in the 100 – 250 MW range for machine size and in terms of project size, the assessment should look at range of 500 MW to 2,000 MW per project. However, it needs a detailed study so that the environmental issues are scientifically addressed and settled both in capacity index terms and machine / unit rating terms.
As per the CEA documents of 10th April 2023, the estimated PSP potential was placed at 103 GW in INDIA. Apart from these a large capacity of “Off-River Pumped Storage (ORPS)” potential is also available which is under estimation. Presently, 8 Projects aggregating 4.75 GW are in operation under the PSP mode, 4 Projects of 2.78 GW are under construction and 27 Projects amounting to 29.9 GW have been allotted by the States which are under different stages of development. ANDHRA PRADESH via NREDCAP is leading the PSP movement with the State having produced a workable document titled “Compendium of documents on Pumped Hydro Storage Power Projects” Circa 2022 under the auspices of the Chief Minister of ANDHRA PRADESH, H. E. Y S Jaganmohan Reddy ; the Hon’ble Minister of Energy, Forest, Environment, Science & Technology, Mines & Geology, Government of ANDHRA PRADESH and Dr. Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy ; led by the team of K Vijayanand, IAS, Special Chief Secretary to Government, Energy Department, Government of ANDHRA PRADESH ; K K Raju, Chairman, NREDCAP and S Ramana Reddy, IRPS, Managing Director, NREDCAP, Government of ANDHRA PRADESH.
ANDHRA PRADESH’s Report, Circa July 2022, has cited Techno-Commercial Feasibility Report (TCFR) for 29 sites in Phase-I (of 30 possible sites) for a total estimated potential for PSP Projects at 34,000 MW (30,800 MW in Off-River sites and 3,200 MW On-River sites). Additional DPRs have been prepared for further 4 sites under Phase-II for which Feasibility Reports and DPRs were under preparation for an aggregate of 3,650 MW. It may be noted that 6,600 MW aggregate for 7 Feasible sites have been identified, DPRs for which are already approved for On-River PSPs in ANDHRA PRADESH.
T C Arora made a Special Address on PSPs and Sustainability of the Power Sector and it may be noted that first ever Pumped Storage Scheme in the country is the Purulia Pumped Storage Project of the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. configuration comprising of Francis Pump-Turbine of 225 MW each x 4 (900 MW) Pumped Storage System which was commissioned in December 2007 at an approx. overall project cost of INR 2,500 crores less than the expected revised cost of INR 3,000 crores which works out to INR 30 million per MW (INR 3 crores per MW).
It may be noted that in the present scenario and on today’s cost the development cost for PSPs could range between INR 70 to 80 million per MW (INR 7 – 8 crores per MW). For Conventional Storage Hydro Power Plants, this could go up to INR 100 million per MW (INR 10 crores per MW) due to quantum of civil works that are far more extensive in the Conventional Hydro Power Plants especially Storage Hydro Power.
D P Goyal and K K Gupta brought up the Construction Contractors and Project Development perspective for both PSPs and Hydro Power Plants. The timely completion of projects was the key issue flagged off. In addition, D P Goyal in particular, felt that Storage based Peaking Hydro Projects need to also get favour at the policy making level together with the PSPs.
R N Khazanchi and Dr. V K Garg favoured the development of PSPs and the policy construct with a rider that the development should ensure the affordable access to electricity while benefits like Time of Day tariff and HP-DAM (High Price Day Ahead Market) enable advantage of price differential between Peak and Off-Peak tariffs for the PSPs.
The manufacturers’ perspective was brought out by Rajeev Bhatnagar who pitched variable speed designs too to be considered as BHEL was in a position to deliver such technology matching the foreign players in the segment such as TOSHIBHA and ANDRITZ Hydro.
G S Bawa advocated that projects like PSPs that are in National interest need developmental policy construct and laws like it happened in the case of development of MRTS (Mass Rapid Transport System) of the Metro Rail Project.
Dr. Jagveer Rawat brought out the opportunity to educate the Farm Sector to look at the favourable opportunities of the PSPs and also the multipurpose benefits to the Rural Economy from the overall Hydropower development.
Dr. Supriya Sharma brought out the ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) angle for PSPs and Hydropower Projects and added that electricity for the consumer is just commodity while in reality the sources of Renewable Energy like Hydropower bring out the multi-purpose nature and that communities benefit in experiential terms from such renewable energy development that enable SDG-7 (Sustainable Development Goal) impacting their very lives and economy for better.
This year 2023, REPA–WIRE (World Institute for Renewable Energy) together with NDIM have Certified 60 MBA students under the “REPA - NDIM Centre of Excellence in RE” commemorating the 78th Birth Anniversary Year of HYDROguru Yogendra Prasad that fell on 6th April 2023 and ENERTIA Foundation - HyFI and REPA had declared the period of 6th April to 22nd April as “INDIA HYDRO DAYS” in honour of the Legendary Hydro Engineer and Ex-CMD NHPC and SJVN, Late Shri YOGENDRA PRASAD. The RE-CERT – “Certification in Renewable Energy & Sustainability – CRES” was given away on 27th April 2023 at the NDIM Campus.
This is the 1st of its kind “RE & Sustainability” Certification Program for B-School Students in INDIA.
Released by :
ENERTIA Foundation ;
Renewable Energy Promotion Association – REPA &
ENERTIA journal
E : [email protected] / [email protected]
Date : 28th June 2023
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