Deficient rainfall takes a toll on hydel power generation

After taking a toll on the farm sector, poor rainfall now looms on capacity at the hydel power plants. A deficient rainfall would mean a complete halt as most of them are working at about 40% capacity, or plant load factor. Due to a lack of adequate water in their reservoirs, hydel plants are perilously close to a complete shutdown thereby increasing the dependence on other sources of energy to feed the country’s needs.

The apprehension does not end here. The present situation has made thermal power plants to bear the extra load, which in turn, exposes the power plants to disrupt supplies across the country in case of failure.

According to the power ministry, the country is nearing a breaking point in terms of power generation from hydel projects. Power generation from the hydel plants has already slipped by 14% and only about 27,000-28,000 MW is available. This is expected to fall sharply in the coming days if monsoon conditions do not improve over the next few days.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has said the corresponding below-normal rainfall in the catchment areas of reservoirs in the southern, western and eastern parts of the country has resulted in a decline in water storage levels at most hydroelectric projects.

Hydel power plants are now running only in the peak hours, i.e. 6-10 pm due to shortage of water. The situation is likely to get worse if the reservoir levels of hydel projects fall further.