There are two objectives of constructing big dams like Tehri. First is collection of rain water in the rainy season, which is left for irrigation in the winter and summer. The second objective is the generation of electricity.
The rainfall in plains is many times more than in the hilly areas. There are many examples available where we can irrigate by collecting rain water in the plains. Therefore, the construction of dams like Tehri for the purpose of water storage is a doubtful option. Read our detailed post here in this topic.
In this post we will show that instead of making electricity from dams like Tehri, if solar panels are installed in the submerged area then more power can be generated.
According to presently available technologies, solar panels can generate 375 mWh (mega watt hours) of electricity in one year in one acre of land. We give the calculation given by Shri Shankar Sharma, Electricity Consultant, in this context below. Generally, we measure electricity in kilowatt hours. It means that one kilo-watt energy is used for one hour. It is known as one kilowatt hour or 1 kWh. 375 Mwh of electricity means that this electricity can run water heater of 1 KW for 375,000 hours. This much electricity can be generated by installing solar panels on one acre of land.
The area of Tehri Dam is 52 square kilometers. There is 247 acres area in one square kilometer. Accordingly, if solar panel is installed in the area of this lake, then 4816,000 Mwh of electricity can be generated.(52x247x375 = 4816000). In comparison to the present generation from Tehri is about 3000,000 Mwh per year (see below). If we remove the Tehri Dam and water from its lake, and put a solar panel on that land, then we can increase the generation of power from 3,000,000 MW to 4816,000 MW. As far as power generation is concerned, solar power is more suitable than a hydropower project like Tehri.
Similar condition is also there in proposed Pancheshwar Dam on the border of Uttarakhand and Nepal. The area of the dam’s lake is 211 square kilometers. If we put solar panel on this land, then it can produce 19,500,000 Mwh of electricity. In comparison, the estimated power generation from Pancheshwar dam is only 11,885,000 Mwh. Therefore, we can get more electricity if solar panel is placed on the same land in place of the Pancheshwar dam.
A meaningful aspect of hydro projects is that it can be used at the time of the desired requirement. Demand of electricity is higher in the morning and evening. Turbines of a hydroelectric project can be started and stopped at the time of need. There is a problem with solar panels that it can produce during the day time only. But now such technologies are available, which only costs 30-40 paisa per unit to convert the daytime electricity to morning and evening electricity.
We believe that water should be stored in the plains for irrigation; and power generation should be done by installing solar panels. Tehri Dam should be removed so that the power generation can increase and we should not make the big dams like Pancheshwar dam.
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