Clean hydropower in Northeast IndiaSikkim is a thinly populated state with the population concentrated around the state capital Gangtok. The economy is mainly agriculture based with very little technological advancement of industrial base. Our climate project located in the East district of Sikkim, on the major river system in Teesta, saves carbon emissions and improves the regional electricity supply through clean hydropower.
The power plant produces about 2,6 Million MWh of energy per year which are fed to the NEWNE grid. While fossil fuel plants are still dominating in the grid, the project helps increase the share of renewable energies. The hydropower plant has installed a capacity of 510 MW, with three turbines of 170 MW each. The project consists of a 96.45 meters high concrete gravity dam across river Teesta with a 15 km long head race tunnel and an underground power housing. The power house is located near Singtam, about 4 km upstream of the confluence of Rongnichu with Teesta. Besides improving electricity supply the project also causes some social and economic benefits in the region.
How hydropower contributes to climate actionHydropower plants use the energy of water to generate electricity. The energy is harnessed by passing water through a turbine. Under the pressure of the water, the turbine turns and transfers this energy to a generator, which converts kinetic energy into electricity. This principle applies to all types of hydroelectric power plants: from small run-of-river power plants to pumped-storage power plants on bodies of water like lakes. In many parts of the world, electricity is still primarily generated from fossil fuels. Clean hydropower can replace some of this emission-intensive energy and thus verifiably save carbon emissions. In most hydropower projects, the electricity is fed into a regional power grid, diversifying the energy supply and improving energy security in areas affected by power shortages and blackouts. Often, these projects also create jobs for the local population. Hydropower projects thus make an important contribution to clean energy supply as well as contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hydopower projects in the ClimatePartner portfolio are registered with international standards.
