According to a new report by the World Resources Institute (WRI), India’s thermal power plants, about 90% of which rely on fresh water for cooling, facing serious shortage of water.
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The water shortage between 2013 and 2016, which leads to 14 of India’s 20 largest thermal utility companies experienced one or more shutdowns, cost the power producers more than
91 billion ($1.4 billion) in potential revenue from the sale of power.
India lost about 14 terawatt hours of thermal power generation due to water shortages in 2016, cancelling out more than 20% of growth in the country’s total electricity generation from 2015.
About 40% of the country’s thermal power plants are facing great stress in terms of water availability.
According to the report, not only does high water stress result in equipment shutting down, it also results in a lower level of effciency when it is running.
When power plants rely on water sourced from scarce regions, they put electricity generation at risk and leave less water for cities, farms and families. Without urgent action, water will become a choke point for India’s power sector.
Even in water abundant or low water stress regions, thermal plants can still face water shortage related risks during droughts or when monsoons are delayed. Some of those plants — for example, Farakka, Raichur, and Tiroda — experienced significant, if not the biggest, disruptions in generation.
The report says that by 2030, 70% of India’s thermal power plants are likely to experience increased competition for water from agriculture, industry and municipalities.
World Resource Institute
The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research non-profit organization that was established in 1982
They maintain offices in the United States, China, India, Brazil, and Indonesia.
The organization's mission is to promote environmental sustainability, economic opportunity, and human health and well-being.
WRI partners with local and national governments, private companies, publicly-held corporations, and other non-profits, and offers services including global climate change issues, sustainable markets, ecosystem protection, and environmental responsible governance services.
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