An embattled green

General Studies Paper 3

Context:

• The crisis in Joshimath for over a month has led to conversations on the relevance of hydropower in the Himalayan region. Glacier burst led to concerns over the Rishiganga hydroelectric project in Uttarakhand.

Hydropower:

• Hydroelectricity is a renewable energy source that uses the potential energy of the water stored in the dams, reservoirs, flowing rivers etc.
• The falling or flowing water rotates the turbine which spins a generator and the mechanical energy of the generator is converted to electric energy and hence the electricity is generated from the water.
• Hydroelectricity accounts for about 17% of the total electricity sources worldwide.
• Hydropower is considered green energy because it generates electricity from the natural flow of water without releasing any emissions or pollutants.
• It also does not rely on fossil fuels.

Environmental impact of hydropower

• Large-scale hydroelectric dams impact local ecosystems and communities
• They displace people and result in loss of habitat for fish and other wildlife.
• The building and maintenance of large hydroelectric dams have a significant environmental impact.

Himalaya and hydropower:

• They are a major water source for much of South Asia.
• Most countries in the region,including India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan.
  • They have built or are planning to build hydropower projects in the Himalaya.
• In India: the government has identified hydropower as a key renewable energy source.
• Indian Himalaya:
  • Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh
  • Teesta Low Dam Hydroelectric Project in Sikkim.

Nepal:

• It has identified hydropower as a major source of energy.
• It has many hydropower projects in the planning and development stages, including:
  • Arun III Hydroelectric Project
  • West Seti Hydroelectric Project.

Bhutan:

• Hydropower is the main source of revenue.
• The government has set a target to export surplus electricity to India.
• The country has built several hydropower projects:
  • Chukha Hydropower Project
  • Tala Hydropower Project.

Controversies about development of hydropower projects in the Himalayas:

• Environmental impacts — in Joshimath and other parts of Uttarakhand.
• Concerns about the potential conflicts over water resources in the region.
• The Himalaya is a fragile ecosystem and home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.
• It is threatened by deforestation, overgrazing, and construction activities that harm the environment and local communities that depend on it.

Negative Impact of dams:

• The construction of dams can disrupt the flow of rivers, leading to changes in water temperature and chemistry.
• It can cause erosion, landslides, and sedimentation which can have a negative impact on the local environment.
• Dams disrupt the migration patterns of fish and other aquatic species and impact the local wildlife, particularly if the dam’s construction leads to habitat loss.
• Large-scale hydroelectric dams displace local communities, affecting their livelihoods and cultural heritage and impacting the overall well-being of the local population.

Alternatives to hydropower:

Micro hydro:

• It is a small-scale hydroelectric power generation system that typically generates up to 100 kilowatts (kW) of electricity.
• These systems use the energy of falling water to turn a turbine, which, in turn, generates electricity.
• They can be used for various applications,including:
  • powering homes
  • businesses
  • small communities.
• Micro hydro systems are less expensive to build and maintain than large hydroelectric dams
• They have a smaller environmental footprint.
• They can be located even in inaccessible areas where it is difficult to transmit electricity from larger power stations
• They can provide a reliable source of energy to communities that are not connected to the grid.

Micro hydro systems can be classified into two main types:

• Run-of-river systems use the natural flow of water in a stream or river to generate electricity.
• Storage systems use a reservoir to store water and release it as needed to generate electricity.

Way Forward

• Micro hydro systems can be tailored to minimize the ecosystem’s negative impact and provide sustainable energy solutions.
• Even micro-hydropower projects can have some impact on the environment and local communities.
  • A detailed assessment should be carried out to evaluate the potential impact before proceeding with the project