Clean energy through the power of waterRising in the northern glacier regions of the Greater Himalayas, the Alaknanda River in India offers good potential for hydro power. Close to the city of Shrinagar in the district of Uttarakhand the project implemented a hydro electric power plant to provide the North Indian grid with renewable and clean energy. Without this plant, the same amount of energy would need to be generated from the existing energy mix that is mainly fed from high-emission coal based thermal power plants.
By supplying 1,514 GWh to the grid every year, the project saves about 1,204,120 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually and makes clean energy available to more people in India. This new power source also helps to reduce shortfalls in electricity supply. The project implemented a run-of-the-river system that uses the natural elevation gradient of the river and by that having a minimum environmental impact compared to dams that alter the ecosystem of a flowing waters.
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.
