Hydroelectric Power Stations

India, with its vast network of rivers and mountainous terrain, harnesses significant energy from water. Hydroelectric power stations are crucial to the nation’s energy security and sustainable development goals. Here’s an enriched look at some of the most prominent hydroelectric power stations across the country, detailing not just their capacity but also their unique features and contributions.

Tier 1: The Giants (1000 MW and above)

1. Koyna Hydroelectric Project, Maharashtra

• River: Koyna (a tributary of the Krishna River)
• Location: Satara district, Maharashtra
• Capacity: 1960 MW
• Key Features: One of the largest completed hydroelectric power plants in India, it is a complex of four dams. The project is a key supplier of electricity to Maharashtra and has significantly contributed to the state’s industrial and agricultural growth. Its underground powerhouse is a remarkable engineering feat.

2. Srisailam Dam, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana

• River: Krishna
• Location: Border of Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh and Nagarkurnool district, Telangana
• Capacity: 1670 MW (total for both powerhouses)
• Key Features: This dam is a multipurpose project, catering to both power generation and irrigation. It features two power stations: one on the left bank (900 MW) in Telangana and another on the right bank (770 MW) in Andhra Pradesh. The dam is a significant source of power for the southern grid.

3. Nathpa Jhakri Hydroelectric Project, Himachal Pradesh

• River: Sutlej
• Location: Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh
• Capacity: 1500 MW
• Key Features: A run-of-the-river project, it is one of the largest hydroelectric projects in the country. The project includes a 62.5-meter-high concrete gravity dam and a 27.4 km long headrace tunnel, one of the longest of its kind. It is a vital source of power for several northern Indian states.

4. Sardar Sarovar Dam, Gujarat

• River: Narmada
• Location: Navagam, Kevadia, Narmada district, Gujarat
• Capacity: 1450 MW
• Key Features: A gravity dam that is the centerpiece of the Narmada Valley Project, it provides water for irrigation and drinking to four states: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. The project has been both celebrated for its benefits and a subject of controversy regarding its environmental and social impacts. It includes two powerhouses: a 1200 MW riverbed powerhouse and a 250 MW canal head powerhouse.

5. Bhakra Dam, Himachal Pradesh & Punjab

• River: Sutlej
• Location: Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh
• Capacity: 1325 MW
• Key Features: A concrete gravity dam, it is one of India’s earliest and most iconic river valley projects. The dam forms the Gobind Sagar reservoir. Its primary purpose is irrigation for the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, along with power generation. The Bhakra Nangal project as a whole has a larger capacity.

6. Teesta-V Hydroelectric Power Station, Sikkim

• River: Teesta
• Location: East Sikkim district, Sikkim
• Capacity: 1200 MW
• Key Features: As part of a cascade of projects on the Teesta River, Teesta-V is a significant contributor to the eastern and north-eastern grids. It is a run-of-the-river scheme with a concrete gravity dam.

7. Chamera-I, Himachal Pradesh

• River: Ravi
• Location: Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh
• Capacity: 1071 MW (across Chamera I, II, and III)
• Key Features: The Chamera-I (540 MW) is a major component of the Chamera hydroelectric project. It is a concrete arch-gravity dam. The project is crucial for the economic development of the region and supplies power to the northern grid.

8. Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Plant, Himachal Pradesh

• River: Sutlej
• Location: Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh
• Capacity: 1000 MW
• Key Features: This is another major run-of-the-river project on the Sutlej. It has a concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse. The plant plays a vital role in harnessing the hydroelectric potential of the Sutlej River.

9. Indirasagar Dam, Madhya Pradesh

• River: Narmada
• Location: Narmada Nagar, Punasa, Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh
• Capacity: 1000 MW
• Key Features: A multipurpose project, the Indirasagar Dam is a concrete gravity dam. It is a cornerstone of the Narmada Valley Development Project, providing significant irrigation benefits and power generation.

10. Tehri Dam, Uttarakhand

• River: Bhagirathi
• Location: Tehri district, Uttarakhand
• Capacity: 1000 MW (for the Tehri Dam & HPP component)
• Key Features: The highest dam in India and one of the tallest in the world, the Tehri Dam is a multi-purpose rock and earth-fill embankment dam. The entire Tehri Hydro Development Corporation complex, including the Koteshwar Dam and a pumped storage plant, has a much larger capacity. It is a critical source of power and water for several states in northern India.

Tier 2: Major Contributors (500 MW to 999 MW)

11. Dehar Hydel Power, Himachal Pradesh

• River: Beas
• Location: Pandoh Dam, Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh
• Capacity: 990 MW
• Key Features: The Dehar Power House is a part of the Beas Project Unit II. Water from the Beas River is diverted through a series of tunnels and channels to generate power before it joins the Sutlej River.

12. Purulia Pumped Storage Project, West Bengal

• Location: Bagmundi, Purulia district, West Bengal
• Capacity: 900 MW
• Key Features: This is a pumped-storage hydroelectric power station, which means it uses surplus electricity during off-peak hours to pump water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir. This water is then released to generate electricity during peak demand. It does not rely on a conventional river source.

13. Kalinadi-Nagjhari Power House, Karnataka

• River: Kalinadi
• Location: Lalguli, Karnataka
• Capacity: 900 MW
• Key Features: Part of the larger Kali River Project, the Nagjhari Power House is a major contributor to Karnataka’s power supply. The project harnesses the power of the west-flowing Kalinadi river.

14. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana

• River: Krishna
• Location: Border of Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh and Nalgonda district, Telangana
• Capacity: 816 MW
• Key Features: A masonry dam, it is one of the earliest and largest multipurpose projects in India. It has created a massive reservoir and is a vital source of irrigation and power for both states.

15. Idukki Dam, Kerala

• River: Periyar
• Location: Idukki district, Kerala
• Capacity: 780 MW
• Key Features: This is a double curvature parabolic, thin arch dam, an engineering marvel located in the Western Ghats. It impounds the Periyar River and creates a large reservoir. The powerhouse is located underground at Moolamattom.

16. Salal Hydroelectric Power Station, Jammu & Kashmir

• River: Chenab
• Location: Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir
• Capacity: 690 MW
• Key Features: A run-of-the-river project, the Salal power station is a significant contributor to the northern grid. It was the first major hydroelectric project undertaken by India in Jammu and Kashmir.

17. Upper Indravati Power Station, Odisha

• River: Indravati (a tributary of the Godavari)
• Location: Kalahandi district, Odisha
• Capacity: 600 MW
• Key Features: This is a major multipurpose project in Odisha, providing irrigation and generating a substantial amount of power. It involves a system of four dams and eight dykes.

18. Omkareshwar Dam, Madhya Pradesh

• River: Narmada
• Location: Mandhata, Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh
• Capacity: 520 MW
• Key Features: A gravity dam, it is another key project on the Narmada River. It provides irrigation and power and also helps in regulating the water flow to the downstream Sardar Sarovar Project.

19. Balimela Power Station, Odisha

• River: Sileru (a tributary of the Godavari)
• Location: Malkangiri district, Odisha
• Capacity: 510 MW
• Key Features: A joint project between the governments of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, the Balimela Reservoir is shared between the two states. The powerhouse is located in Odisha.

Tier 3: Significant Regional Power Stations (Below 500 MW)

20. Uri-I Hydroelectric Project, Jammu & Kashmir

• River: Jhelum
• Location: Uri, Baramula district, Jammu & Kashmir
• Capacity: 480 MW
• Key Features: A run-of-the-river project, it is a crucial power source for Jammu and Kashmir and the northern grid. The project has been expanded with the Uri-II project.

21. Varahi Hydroelectric Project, Karnataka

• River: Varahi
• Location: Udupi district, Karnataka
• Capacity: 460 MW
• Key Features: An underground powerhouse is a key feature of this project, which harnesses the west-flowing Varahi river.

22. Bansagar Dam, Madhya Pradesh

• River: Son (a tributary of the Yamuna)
• Location: Shahdol district, Madhya Pradesh
• Capacity: 425 MW
• Key Features: A multipurpose project, it provides irrigation to Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, along with power generation.

23. Ranganadi Hydro-Electric Plant, Arunachal Pradesh

• River: Ranganadi
• Location: Lower Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh
• Capacity: 405 MW
• Key Features: A run-of-the-river project, it is a significant contributor to the power supply in the northeastern states.

24. Koteshwar Dam, Uttarakhand

• River: Bhagirathi
• Location: Tehri district, Uttarakhand
• Capacity: 400 MW
• Key Features: This is a gravity dam located downstream of the Tehri Dam. It serves as a balancing reservoir and has its own powerhouse.

25. Hirakud Dam, Odisha

• River: Mahanadi
• Location: Sambalpur, Odisha
• Capacity: 347.5 MW
• Key Features: One of the first major multipurpose river valley projects started after India’s independence. It is one of the longest dams in the world and is crucial for flood control, irrigation, and power generation in Odisha.

26. Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project, Jammu and Kashmir

• River: Kishanganga (a tributary of the Jhelum)
• Location: Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir
• Capacity: 330 MW
• Key Features: A run-of-the-river project, it involves the diversion of the Kishanganga River through a tunnel to a powerhouse. The project has been a subject of the Indus Waters Treaty discussions between India and Pakistan.

27. Umiam-Umtru Hydroelectric Power Project, Meghalaya

• River: Umiam
• Location: East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya
• Capacity: 185.2 MW (total for all stages)
• Key Features: The Umiam-Umtru project is a series of dams and powerhouses on the Umiam River. The Umiam Lake (Barapani) created by the dam is a popular tourist destination.

28. Loktak Hydroelectric Project, Manipur

• River: Manipur (Imphal) River
• Location: Loktak Lake, Manipur
• Capacity: 105 MW
• Key Features: This project is unique as it is located on the Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. It has a significant impact on the ecology of the lake and the livelihoods of the people dependent on it.

29. Rangit-III Hydroelectric Project, Sikkim

• River: Rangit (a tributary of the Teesta)
• Location: South Sikkim, Sikkim
• Capacity: 60 MW
• Key Features: A run-of-the-river project, it is part of the cascade of projects on the Rangit River, contributing to the power generation capacity of Sikkim.