An Embattled Green – Reconsidering the Hydro-power projects in the Himalaya after Joshimath crisis | 6th February 2023 | UPSC Daily Editorial Analysis

What's the article about?

• It talks about the reconsideration of the Hydro-power projects in the Himalaya after Joshimath crisis

Relevance:

• GS1: Geography of India; Important Geophysical Phenomena;
• Prelims

Context:

• The Joshimath crisis has led to conversations on the relevance of hydropower in the Himalayan region.
• Though hydropower is considered a clean source of energy, it does have huge environmental and social costs that must be considered while planning them.

Importance of Himalayan region to ensure water and energy security:

• The Himalaya is a major water source for much of South Asia.
• Most countries in the region, including India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan, 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.
• Nepal has also identified hydropower as a major source of energy.
• In Bhutan, hydropower is the main source of revenue, and the government has set a target to export surplus electricity to India.

The cost of hydropower:

• Hydropower is often 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.
• However, the environmental impact of hydropower can vary depending on projects and the ways in which they are implemented.
• Large-scale hydroelectric dams impact local ecosystems and communities — they displace people (social cost) and result in loss of habitat for fish and other wildlife.
• The building and maintenance of large hydroelectric dams can also have a significant environmental impact.

Negative impacts of hydropower on the environment:

• The construction of dams can disrupt the flow of rivers, leading to changes in water temperature and chemistry.
• It can also cause erosion, landslides, and sedimentation which can have a negative impact on the local environment.
• Dams also 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.

Solution lies in Micro hydro systems:

• Micro hydro 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, and small communities.
• 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, and 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 and storage systems.
  • Run-of-river systems use the natural flow of water in a stream or river to generate electricity.
  • In contrast, storage systems use a reservoir to store water and release it as needed to generate electricity.

Way Forward:

• The  recent Joshimath crisis in the Himalaya necessitates a relook at the present development model. The Micro hydro systems can be a viable solution.
• However, it’s important to note that 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.