Usage of Hydro Power Potential: Out of the 145320 MW that have been developed, 42104.6 MW (or 29 percent) are currently under development, making up 10.3 percent of the total. According to the Central Electricity Authority’s (CEA) Reassessment Study, which was conducted between 1978 and 1987, the country’s hydropower potential is estimated to be around 145320 MW (for projects with capacities above 25 MW). Out of the total 145320 MW, 42104.6 MW (29 percent) have been developed, and 15023.5 MW (10.3 percent) is currently being built. According to data from the International Hydropower Association (IHA), the United States has developed more than 80 percent of its hydropower capacity, while the European Union has developed more than 70 percent.
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Remoteness, unpredictable geology, natural calamities, concerns with the environment and forests, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) issues, law and order issues, and inter-state issues are the main obstacles to the development of country’s hydroelectric potential. The government has implemented several policy initiatives to increase hydropower generation in the nation, including: designating large hydropower (> 25 MW projects) as a renewable energy source; including the hydropower purchase obligation (HPO) as a separate entity within the renewable purchase obligation (RPO); and notifying of tariff rationalisation measures to lower hydropower tariffs. A provision for budgetary support for the cost of enabling infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and flood mitigation, has also been made by the government. Notification of a “Dispute Avoidance Mechanism” through an “Independent Engineer” and a “Dispute Resolution Mechanism” through a “Conciliation Committee of Independent Experts (CCIE)” has also been made in order to swiftly and effectively resolve contractual disputes. Guidelines were established to reduce the possibility of time and expense overruns in hydropower projects and waive the fees associated with using the interstate transmission system (ISTS) for the transmission of electricity produced by new hydroelectric projects.
