Summary | Hydro India 2027

Summary

Hydropower: Enabling India's Energy Transition

Energy transition goals are driving India towards a cleaner and more reliable power system. Hydropower plays an important role in this transition by providing renewable, firm, round-the-clock (RTC) electricity and operational flexibility to meet peak demand and balance variations in renewable energy generation. Pumped storage projects (PSPs) are also gaining importance as a source of long-duration energy storage, enabling surplus electricity to be stored and released when required.

Market Trends and Capacity Addition

As of August 2026, India's installed hydropower capacity stood at 52 GW, accounting for 9.39 per cent of the total installed capacity. Hydropower contributed over 9.1 per cent to the total power generation mix in 2025-26. The segment has continued to expand, with capacity additions of 3,620 MW in 2025-26. Further, the National Generation Adequacy Plan projects that large hydropower capacity will reach 78 GW and PSP capacity will reach 94 GW by 2035-36.

Government Policies and Initiatives

Recognising the role of hydropower in strengthening grid flexibility and energy security, the government has introduced several policy initiatives to support its development. The draft National Electricity Policy (NEP) 2026 proposes streamlining environmental and forest clearances, improving project execution and introducing appropriate financing mechanisms to enhance project viability.

The Central Electricity Authority's master plan for the Brahmaputra basin also envisages an investment of Rs 6.42 trillion to strengthen transmission infrastructure for the evacuation of around 76 GW of hydropower and PSP capacity. Further, the Small Hydro Power Development Scheme, approved in April 2026, aims to develop 1,500 MW of new small hydro capacity by 2030-31, with an outlay of Rs 25.84 billion.

Pumped Storage: The Next Growth Driver

PSPs are expected to drive the next phase of growth, with 15.87 GW of capacity under construction as of August 2026. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has set out a roadmap to commission 100 GW of PSP capacity by 2035-36, with an estimated investment requirement of around Rs 5.8 trillion.

Key Challenges and the Way Forward

Despite the strong growth outlook, the segment faces challenges related to project financing, lengthy approval processes, construction delays, land acquisition and regulatory clearances. Addressing these issues will be essential to accelerate capacity addition and improve project viability.

Conference Mission

The mission of this conference is to provide a platform to discuss recent trends and key developments in the hydropower segment, deliberate upon upcoming opportunities, identify key issues and challenges, and discuss the future outlook for the segment in India. Further, the conference will showcase new technologies, best practices in operations and maintenance (O&M) and asset management, and noteworthy projects.