27-08-2014, 04:25 PM
Worldwide, hydropower plants produce about 24 percent of the world's electricity and supply more than 1 billion people with power. The world's hydropower plants output a combined total of 675, 000 megawatts, the energy equivalent of 3.6 billion barrels of oil, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Worldwide, hydropower plants produce about 24 percent of the world's electricity and supply more than 1 billion people with power. The world's hydropower plants output a combined total of 675, 000 megawatts, the energy equivalent of 3.6 billion barrels ofoil, according to theNational Renewable Energy Laboratory.
India ranks 5th in terms of exploitablehydro-potential on global scenario .In 2012,Indiais the 7th largest producer ofhydroelectricpower with 114,000GWhours. With installed capacity of 37GW, it produces 3.3% of the world's total
Himachal is extremely rich in hydel resources. The state has about 25% of the national potential in this respect. It has been estimated that about 20,300MW of hydel power can be generated in the State by constructing various major, medium, small and mini/micro hydel projects on the five river basins. The state government has been giving the highest priority for its development, as hydel generation can not only meet the growing need of power for industry, agriculture and rural electrification, but can also be the biggest source of income to the state by way of sale of electricity to the neighbouring states.
The most prestigious and major project on river Sutlej in the state is the Nathpa Jhakri (1500M.W). It is constructed in collaboration with the central government. The project is funded by the World Bank.
TYPES OF HYDRO POWER PLANT:
There are three types of hydropower facilities: impoundment, diversion, and pumped storage. Some hydropower plants use dams and some do not. The images below show both types of hydropower plants.
Many dams were built for other purposes and hydropower was added later. In the United States, there are about 80,000 dams of which only 2,400 produce power. The other dams are for recreation, stock/farm ponds, flood control, water supply, and irrigation.
Hydropower plants range in size from small systems for a home or village to large projects producing electricity for utilities. Thesizes of hydropower plantsare described below