Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity in the Himalayas in India
Emissions reduction: 3,540,000 t CO2 emissions per year
Being in a state of flux
The waterworks is located at the banks of the Satluj River between the villages of Karcham and Wangtoo in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. As a run-of-the-river hydroelectricity, it uses the natural flow velocity of the river at the gradient to generate energy - without any dam or reservoir. In the underground turbine house, the water drives four turbines before it is returned to the riverbed. The electricity generated is fed completely into the North Indian transmission grid - so it requires less electricity from coal-fired power plants.
Clean hydropower
At about 7% per year, India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The population is also growing. In the medium and long term, energy demand will continue to rise. So far, the country has mainly relied on fossil energies. However, it also has a high potential for the generation of renewable energies, which will have to be expanded. The run-of-the-river hydroelectricity in the Kinnaur district of the state of Himachal Pradesh on the Himalayas in India is an excellent example of this.