Page 5 - Water Neutral Electricity Production in India: Avoiding the Unmanageable
P. 5
TERI Policy Brief
CASE STUDY
TERI under its project supported by Shakti
Sustainable Energy Foundation studied the
applicability of concept of water neutrality for
power plants in India. For the study, five thermal
power plants were selected in four geographical
zones of the country-north, west, south and east.
These power plants differ in their capacity and Tanda Thermal Power Plant
in their consumptive water requirement. Being
located in different hydro-meteorological zones,
rainfall patterns, and water demand from other Wanakbori Thermal Power Plant
sectors surrounding the power plant also differ.
Sipat Thermal Power Plant
It was found that specific water consumption of
power plants varied from 4.5 – 7.0 m3/ MW. After Ramagundam Thermal Power Plant
implementation of MOEF&CC directives their
annual water consumption would be in the range Location of Thermal
Power Plant
of 20-70 million m3 depending on plant’s installed Tanda_TPP Tanda Watershed Sipat Watershed
capacity. To make them water neutral, the study Wanakbori_TPP
assessed potential of returning equivalent amount of Sipat_TPP Mettur Thermal Power Plant
Ramagundam_TPP
Mettur_TPP
water to the nature, through two modes: (1) Water Mettur Watershed Ramagundam Watershed
conservation measures like rainwater harvesting Wanakabori Watershed
and aquifer recharge and (2) reduction in water demand of agricultural and domestic consumers by improving
water use efficiency.
The study revealed that bringing about 10000 hectare of agricultural land under 3 most water intensive
crops (rice, wheat, cotton/ sugarcane) under Micro-Irrigation System (MIS) can reduce water footprints of a
typical 500 MW thermal power plant by 60%. This will require an investment of about 100 crore at the current
commercial price of micro-irrigation systems, which is more than 10 times the cost of raw water paid by it. This
will be discouraging on the part of power plants to invest on MIS. However, considering the cost of installation of
power plants (~2500 cr/ 500 MW), environmental cost associated with huge water extraction and the long term
potential benefits in water balance of the watershed, incurring this cost will be an economically wise investment.
Moreover, reorientation of CSR strategies towards integrated watershed management could result in mutual
benefits across different stakeholders.
Additionally, investing in interventions such as construction of rainwater harvesting structures, farm ponds,
etc. can bring in additional water into the watershed. Undertaking a suitable mix of such interventions, power
plants can offset the impact of their water footprint and can gradually achieve the goal of water neutral electricity
generation. This ultimately will help to reduce the overall water stress in the country and would set an example
for many other water intensive industries.
mentions that water requirement should not be more regulation exists and it has been seen that some of the
than that stipulated by CEA and the latest amendment power plants have to be closed during the peak summers
given by MOEF&CC itself provides different values. So owing to unavailability of water. These power plants
there is ambiguity on specific water consumption values are aggravating the situation of water stress in the region.
because of different regulatory guidelines. For existing power plants, there is no environmental
regulation concerning withdrawals and sustainability
As per new TOR for EIA study, upcoming power plants of water source by undertaking interventions at
have to submit source of water and its sustainability in watershed level to improve water situation in the
lean season. Concern about water source is a promising surroundings.
move. However, for the existing power plants, no such
DECEMBER 2016 5
CASE STUDY
TERI under its project supported by Shakti
Sustainable Energy Foundation studied the
applicability of concept of water neutrality for
power plants in India. For the study, five thermal
power plants were selected in four geographical
zones of the country-north, west, south and east.
These power plants differ in their capacity and Tanda Thermal Power Plant
in their consumptive water requirement. Being
located in different hydro-meteorological zones,
rainfall patterns, and water demand from other Wanakbori Thermal Power Plant
sectors surrounding the power plant also differ.
Sipat Thermal Power Plant
It was found that specific water consumption of
power plants varied from 4.5 – 7.0 m3/ MW. After Ramagundam Thermal Power Plant
implementation of MOEF&CC directives their
annual water consumption would be in the range Location of Thermal
Power Plant
of 20-70 million m3 depending on plant’s installed Tanda_TPP Tanda Watershed Sipat Watershed
capacity. To make them water neutral, the study Wanakbori_TPP
assessed potential of returning equivalent amount of Sipat_TPP Mettur Thermal Power Plant
Ramagundam_TPP
Mettur_TPP
water to the nature, through two modes: (1) Water Mettur Watershed Ramagundam Watershed
conservation measures like rainwater harvesting Wanakabori Watershed
and aquifer recharge and (2) reduction in water demand of agricultural and domestic consumers by improving
water use efficiency.
The study revealed that bringing about 10000 hectare of agricultural land under 3 most water intensive
crops (rice, wheat, cotton/ sugarcane) under Micro-Irrigation System (MIS) can reduce water footprints of a
typical 500 MW thermal power plant by 60%. This will require an investment of about 100 crore at the current
commercial price of micro-irrigation systems, which is more than 10 times the cost of raw water paid by it. This
will be discouraging on the part of power plants to invest on MIS. However, considering the cost of installation of
power plants (~2500 cr/ 500 MW), environmental cost associated with huge water extraction and the long term
potential benefits in water balance of the watershed, incurring this cost will be an economically wise investment.
Moreover, reorientation of CSR strategies towards integrated watershed management could result in mutual
benefits across different stakeholders.
Additionally, investing in interventions such as construction of rainwater harvesting structures, farm ponds,
etc. can bring in additional water into the watershed. Undertaking a suitable mix of such interventions, power
plants can offset the impact of their water footprint and can gradually achieve the goal of water neutral electricity
generation. This ultimately will help to reduce the overall water stress in the country and would set an example
for many other water intensive industries.
mentions that water requirement should not be more regulation exists and it has been seen that some of the
than that stipulated by CEA and the latest amendment power plants have to be closed during the peak summers
given by MOEF&CC itself provides different values. So owing to unavailability of water. These power plants
there is ambiguity on specific water consumption values are aggravating the situation of water stress in the region.
because of different regulatory guidelines. For existing power plants, there is no environmental
regulation concerning withdrawals and sustainability
As per new TOR for EIA study, upcoming power plants of water source by undertaking interventions at
have to submit source of water and its sustainability in watershed level to improve water situation in the
lean season. Concern about water source is a promising surroundings.
move. However, for the existing power plants, no such
DECEMBER 2016 5
