Govt plans to add 40,000 MW of hydro power capacity by 2022

To tide over energy shortfall, the government is planning a 40,000-MW
hydro power generation capacity during 12th (2012-17) and 13th Plan
(2017-22).

"We are making preparations for power projects in the 12th and 13th
plan, and are planning to add 40,000 MW capacity in the hydro sector,"
Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Chairman Rakesh Nath told
reporters here.

Project sites in states with hydro potential are being identified.

"We have identified the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh,
Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand to set up these hydro power
projects," Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh said.

The Eleventh Five-Year Plan focuses primarily on adding power
generation capacity using coal and gas as fuel.

"We expect a growth of 9 per cent in power sector in the XIth Plan and
the need of the hour is to develop hydro power," Nath said.

Government was also looking for high efficiency and new technologies
for the sector, right now the efficiency of power plants is low, he
said.

"We need to focus on efficiency. High Plant Load Factor (PLF) is not
always high efficiency. We also need to put in place Renovation and
Modernisation (R&M) programmes for efficiency," he said.

To meet the shortfall in natural gas for power plants, the government
is working on an ambitious project to convert coal into gas in
underground mines. Coal gasification projects are on the anvil.

Besides, coal production is being doubled in the next five years from
the 450.50 million tonnes in 2007-08, to fuel requirement of thermal
plants