India’s hydropower production decreases the most in 4 decades

India’s hydropower production fell at the steepest pace in at least 38 years in the year to March 31, a Reuters analysis of government data showed, as erratic rainfall led to increased reliance on coal-fired power amid rising demand.

A decline of about 16.3 percent in power generation from the country’s largest source of clean energy coincided with a decline in the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix for the first time since Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to boost solar and wind energy capacity at the United Nations climate talks in Paris in 2015.

India is the third largest country in the world in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, and the government often defends the increased use of coal by pointing to its low per capita emissions compared to developed countries.

Indian grid data showed that the share of hydropower in India’s total energy production fell to an unprecedented level of 8.3 percent during the fiscal year ending March 31, compared to an average of 12.3 percent in the ten years to 2020.

The share of hydropower has declined in the past few years amid a slowdown in production that coincided with an increasing share of other sources, including coal, solar energy and wind energy.

The biggest decline in rainfall since 2018 has reduced water levels in reservoirs, pushing annual hydropower generation capacities to a five-year low of 146 billion kilowatt-hours.

At the same time, power generation from all types of coal increased in 2023/24 by about 13.9%, exceeding the 9.7% increase in renewable sources, data from the Grid Regulatory Authority showed.

Grid India data showed that total energy generation increased by 10.3% during the year.