The power sector in India is very dependent on water and has been suffering from droughts and water shortages. More than 80 percent of India’s electricity is generated from thermal (fossil fuel, biomass, nuclear, and concentrated solar) power plants that rely significantly on water for cooling. Another 10 percent of electricity is generated from hydroelectric plants, which depend on water completely.
Freshwater consumption from Indian thermal utilities increased by 43 percent from 2011 to 2016, while withdrawals stayed fairly stable. The increase in consumption is due to the steady growth in electricity generation, and an increased share of electricity generated by plants with recirculating cooling systems. No new freshwater oncethrough cooled power plants were built after 2011 (thus bringing down the total water demand for thermal electricity generation). Although water withdrawals have not increased, the substantial increase in freshwater consumption means there is reduced freshwater available to other sectors.
Fourteen of India’s 20 largest thermal power utility companies have experienced water shortage–related disruptions at least once between 2013 and 2016, losing more than $1.4 billion in total potential revenue.
India lost about 14 terawatt-hours of thermal power generation due to water shortages in 2016, canceling out more than 20 percent of growth in the country’s total electricity generation from 2015.
Among all of India’s freshwater-cooled thermal utilities, 39 percent of the capacity is installed in high water-stress regions. Freshwater-cooled thermal power plants that are located in high water-stress areas have a 21 percent lower average capacity factor, compared to the ones in low and medium water-stress areas.
Some of the most disruptive water shortages occurred in India’s most water-abundant area. We also found that, even in water-abundant or low water-stress regions, thermal plants can still face water shortage–related risks during droughts or when monsoons are delayed. Some of those plants—for example, Farakka, Raichur, and Tiroda—experienced significant, if not the biggest, disruptions in generation caused by water shortages.
Look at the shocking comparison between the best thermal utilities (which happened to be private) and the worst (which happened to be Government owned) by way of freshwater withdrawal intensity :
Freshwater consumption from Indian thermal utilities increased by 43 percent from 2011 to 2016, while withdrawals stayed fairly stable. The increase in consumption is due to the steady growth in electricity generation, and an increased share of electricity generated by plants with recirculating cooling systems. No new freshwater oncethrough cooled power plants were built after 2011 (thus bringing down the total water demand for thermal electricity generation). Although water withdrawals have not increased, the substantial increase in freshwater consumption means there is reduced freshwater available to other sectors.
Fourteen of India’s 20 largest thermal power utility companies have experienced water shortage–related disruptions at least once between 2013 and 2016, losing more than $1.4 billion in total potential revenue.
India lost about 14 terawatt-hours of thermal power generation due to water shortages in 2016, canceling out more than 20 percent of growth in the country’s total electricity generation from 2015.
Among all of India’s freshwater-cooled thermal utilities, 39 percent of the capacity is installed in high water-stress regions. Freshwater-cooled thermal power plants that are located in high water-stress areas have a 21 percent lower average capacity factor, compared to the ones in low and medium water-stress areas.
Some of the most disruptive water shortages occurred in India’s most water-abundant area. We also found that, even in water-abundant or low water-stress regions, thermal plants can still face water shortage–related risks during droughts or when monsoons are delayed. Some of those plants—for example, Farakka, Raichur, and Tiroda—experienced significant, if not the biggest, disruptions in generation caused by water shortages.
Look at the shocking comparison between the best thermal utilities (which happened to be private) and the worst (which happened to be Government owned) by way of freshwater withdrawal intensity :
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