HYDROPOWER: INTRODUCTION AND ITS SCENARIO IN THE CONTEXT OF NEPAL

- Suman Chapagain

What we understand about hydropower is the power obtained by falling water of high level to low level. Water that is at high level possess high potential energy, is dropped to lower level with high velocity that possess high kinetic energy, water with high velocity rotates turbine and turbine rotates generators which ultimately generates hydropower energy. It can be summarized as potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, kinetic to mechanical and mechanical to electric energy. Hence, Hydropower generation is completed. It is the half way phase of hydropower projects. The other phase of the project is the transmission of generated power either to the national grids or directly to the consumers.

Several river flows from high Himalayas towards low land of terai within small width of Nepal. High rainfall and huge gradients of such river indicates enormous hydropower potential in Nepal. Rocky geological feature and deep gorges enhance its economic construction. Theoretically, Nepal has gross potential of 83000 MW. However only 42000 MW is technically feasible.

Despite of such a large feasibility, we are unable to utilize those energies due to various internal problems in our country. Poor economic condition, political instability, lack of advance technology for large constructions, etc are the major problems. Thus we are facing the miserable problem of ‘Load shedding’.

According to NEAs ‘A Year in Review- Fiscal Year 2013/2014’
SN	Major Hydropower Projects		SN	Small Hydropower Projects
i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x xi	Kaligandaki-A Middle Marsyangdi Marsyangdi Kulekhani I Kulekhani II Trisuli Gandaki Modi Khola Devighat Sunkoshi Puwa Khola	144 MW 70 MW 69 MW 60 MW 32 MW 24 MW 15 MW 14.8 MW 14.1 MW 10 MW 6.2 MW	i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x xi	Chatara Panauti Tatopani Seti (Pokhara) Tinau Fewa Sundarijal Gamgad Sumaiyagad Ramechhap Many Others	3.2 MW 2.4 MW 2.0 MW 1.5 MW 1.0 MW 1.0 MW 0.64 MW 0.4 MW 0.2 MW 0.15 MW
From Major Projects		459.15 MW	From Small Projects		14.24 MW
Thermal Power Plants		53.41 MW	From Small Isolated Projects		4.53 MW
Solar Power Plants		0.1 MW
Total Electricity from Nepal Electricity Authority's Projects (NEA)					477.93 MW
Total Electricity from Independent Power Producers (IPPs)					255.64 MW
Total Electricity Generation in Nepal					733.57 MW
Forecasted Peak Load Demand (2014/2015)					1426.4 MW

Several hydropower projects are under construction, several are in design phase and several are under study. Power demand is also increasing rapidly. Meanwhile small run-of river projects couldn’t meet rapid energy consumption growth rate. Thus Nepal has been facing severe power cut problem since decades. This problem seems to continue further more until and unless a quick and reliable solution is drawn out and implemented.

Since, peaking run-of river (PROR) projects generate electricity 24 hours a day in monsoon and only at peak hours in dry season with provision of reservoir for daily storage to maintain constant power generation they are best fitted in present scenario of Nepal. They act as like power supply and demand equalizer. Hence they minimize peak hour energy deficit, increase in industrial, agricultural and commercial production and bring radical changes in peoples’ life. Construction of several project like Kaligandaki-A, Marsyangdi, Kabeli-A (Under construction) of PROR addresses the same. Hence we can conclude that PROR projects are emerging modern construction for prosperous Nepal at present context.

SWOT OF HYDRO-POWER DEVELOPMENT IN NEPAL

            - Suman Chapagain

Nepal being a country possessing high potential in hydel energy, but also has numerous Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT).

Strengths

i. Renewable resource: Nepal is a geographically diverse country. It includes low land (Kechana=60m) to world's top (Everest = 8848m) within 200km width resulting high potential for the development of hydropower plants. Nepal is a mountainous country and most of the large rivers are snow fed. So, water is available most of the time for a year. Water being a renewable source, hydropower becomes the most suitable and reliable energy source in the context of Nepal.

ii. Low operation cost: Initially hydropower is an expensive project. In long term perspective, hydropower is very cheap rather than expensive. The return period of the investment and profit thereafter is very high. During operation, maintenance cost and few administrative costs are only the cost.

iii. Non-consumptive use of water: Hydropower uses only the energy stored in free water but do not consume any quantity. After the energy is converted the remaining water and its energy can be further used for other purpose such as irrigation, household purpose or even in developing another hydropower.

iv. Freshens the nature: Hydel energy is a clean energy. It helps to eliminate pollution, brings down the level of greenhouse gases and acidification of rain and soil. This is the most suitable for the substitute of fossil fuels or thermal power. The storage project even help in groundwater recharge and reduces the vulnerability to droughts and floods.

v. Additional benefits: Water used or to be used in this project can also be used for recreation, flood control, fisheries, irrigation, water supply, etc. Thus, a project can also be a multipurpose project. 

Weaknesses

i. Flow variation: There are a lot of rivers which are snow fed in winter and have very high discharge during rainy season. So, there is large fluctuation on the discharge from year to year and even month to month.

ii. High initial cost: As hydropower installation costs a large investments and Nepal is a developing country, hydropower development seems quite challanging and difficult too.

iii. Social controversies: The diversion of water toward reservoir, land use for the project and even transmission system may lead to various social controversy between the upstream users and downstream users.

Opportunities
i. Bright Future: Hydropower energy is the best and easy energy system that can substitute other energy system like fossil fuel. This makes the hydropower project more sustainable.
ii. Solution for peak demand of energy: Power demand is increasing day by day. The energy can easily and quickly be increased or reduced in hydropower as per demand. Hence, this can be the best solution for peak demand of energy.
iii. Source of energy for water rich countries: Hydropower becomes cheap source of energy. Power export to other country results even in the economic development.

Threats

i. Seismic threat: Nepal lies in Seismic Zone V, which means Nepal is prone to seismic activities. Nepal is prone to Earthquake. This may damage the expensive structures of large projects.
ii. Population settlement: Large project covers large land area. Sometime nearby settlement area are affected by such projects like rise of water in storage projects, landslide occurred due to excavation in projects, floods, etc. In such cases, large population need to be resettled elsewhere resulting in high unnecessary expenses.