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India hydropower output records steepest fall in nearly four years

India's hydroelectricity output fell at the steepest rate in at least 38 years during the year ended March 31, a analysis of government data showed, as unpredictable rains required more reliance on coalfired power amid higher demand.

The 16.3% drop in generation from the country's most significant tidy energy source accompanied the share of renewables in power generation moving for the first time considering that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made dedications to improve solar and wind capacity at the United Nations environment talks at Paris in 2015.

Renewables represented 11.7% of India's power output in the year that ended in March, below 11.8% a year previously, a. analysis of day-to-day load despatch information from the federal. grid regulator Grid-India revealed.

India is the world's third-largest greenhouse gas emitter,. and the government typically indicates lower per-capita emissions. compared to established countries to protect increasing coal use.

A five-year low in tank levels implies hydro output will. most likely stay low during the hottest months of April-June,. professionals say, potentially increasing dependence on coal during a. duration of high demand before the monsoon starts in June.

K. J. Ramesh, previous chief of the Indian Meteorological. Department, stated there is increased chance of high rainfall. during the annual monsoon this year, but any effect on. hydropower output would not be visible before July.

When hydro increases due to good rainfall, it should be. used to lower reliance on thermal, he stated, including that. irregular rainfall means India needs to not depend on hydro as a. dependable power source in the future.

DECLINING SHARE

Hydro's share in India's overall power output was up to a record. low of 8.3% throughout the ended March 31, Grid-India. data showed, compared with an average of 12.3% in the ten years. through 2020.

The share of hydropower has actually progressively decreased in current. years amidst a downturn in addition of brand-new capability, with other. sources including coal, solar and wind getting share.

The lightest rains since 2018 meant reduced water levels. in reservoirs, pushing annual hydro generation to a five-year. low of 146 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Meanwhile, power generation from coal and lignite in 2023/24. increased 13.9%, outpacing the 9.7% boost in sustainable sources'. output, information from the grid regulator showed. Overall power. generation increased 10.3% in 2023/24, Grid-India data showed.

India missed out on a 2022 target to install 175 gigawatts (GW) of. renewable resource, and remains 38.4 GW short of that objective, with. Grid-India data showing India's dependence on nonrenewable fuel source for. power struck a five-year high of 77.2% in 2023/24.

India's addition of renewables slowed to a five-year low in. 2023.

Worldwide, hydropower output succumbed to just the 4th time. because 2000 due to lower rainfall and warmer temperature brought. about by the El Nino weather condition pattern, according to energy believe. tank Ember. Hydro output in India, the sixth-biggest hydropower. manufacturer, fell nearly seven times faster than the international. average, Ember data revealed.

(source: Reuters)