Summary - HYDRO POWER ASIA 2022

The Asian countries have stepped up their efforts to decarbonise economies and increase the share of renewable energy resources in the energy mix. The countries have pledged to undertake carbon-neutral development, with China and Indonesia targeting net-zero emissions by 2060, Thailand by 2065 and India by 2070. Hydro power is a valuable resource to ensure low-carbon energy development and meet the growing energy demand.

The installed hydro power capacity in Asia stood at 594 GW as of end-2021, recording a 4 per cent increase over the previous year. Hydro power accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the renewable energy generation in the region. It quickly responds to varying loads and system disturbances and offers efficient peak demand support. Besides, the flexibility and storage capacity of HEPs offers efficient and economical support for balancing intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

In order to optimise the performance and extend the life of generating assets, modernisation of an aging hydro fleet is imperative. More than 6 GW is in high need of modernisation, representing around $3 billion of investment potential. By 2030, over one-third of Asia’s existing capacity will have undergone, or be due for, modernisation.The operators are undertaking modernisation by replacing, updating or refurbishing the control system, electromechanical equipment and civil infrastructure to optimize the generation performance, improve power plant O&M and enhance water services at multipurpose hydropower sites.

The digitalisation of hydropower technologies and O&M practices is being taken up in a big way. Upgrading HEPs with state-of-the-art digital control, monitoring and communication systems and supervisory control and data acquisition systems supports intelligent condition monitoring and preventive and reliability-centred maintenance strategies, besides improving operational performance and enhancing the life of generation assets.

Another option that is gaining interest is hybrid technologies. Asian countries are synergising solar and hydro, and retrofitting floating solar on hydropower. The electricity Generating Authority of Thailand aims to develop 16 floating solar farms with a combined capacity of over 2.7 GW at nine of its hydropower reservoirs by 2037. Apart from this, the countries are increasingly exploring avenues to develop pumped storage HEPs, which offer reliable and cost-efficient solution for bulk energy storage.

Apart from this, several countries in Asia, particularly South Asia and Southeast Asia, are developing hydro projects for exporting electricity. Thecross-border energy trade based on grid interconnections is expanding to utilise the untapped hydro power potential in the region. The latest hydro power project commissioned in Bhutan – the 720 MW Mangdechhu HEP – has been developed with the Indian assistance. It provides additional energy security nationally as well as the opportunity for further exports to India. Apart from this, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has a hydropower potential of about 26 GW, of which one-third has been utilised so far while several projects are under planning/construction to increase hydro generation which would mainly be exported to the neighboring countries of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and China.

That said, while there is a huge potential for hydro power development, the construction of HEP is complex and time consuming. Besides, the projects face risk from geological uncertainties and natural calamities. There are delays faced in obtaining environmental and forest clearances, land acquisition, and rehabilitation and resettlement. Going forward, there is a need to integrate climate resilience into hydro power planning, development and construction as well as O&M strategies.

The mission of the conference is to highlight the upcoming opportunities, identify the unresolved issues and challenges, and discuss the future outlook for the hydropower segment in Asia. The conference will also provide a platform to showcasenew and promising technologies, best practices in construction methods and O&M strategies, as well as noteworthy projects in the region.