Long Way Ahead
The shares of hydro power and thermal power have changed substantially since the early 1970s. The share of hydro capacity declined from 43.4% in 1970/71 to 39% in 1980/81; by 1993/94 it had further reduced to 26.6%. It is difficult to strike an optimal balance between hydro and thermal power, as it may depend upon the system load curve, performance of various types of plants, etc. However, given the Indian energy situation, characterised by shortages in peaking, it is believed that efforts must be made to increase the share of hydro capacity in the future. The share must be in creased to at least 34% over the next 15 years.
Perhaps one of the most important reasons for the decline in the share of hydro capacity is that its gestation Period is considerably longer than that of thermal capacity. Although there have been delays in commissioning both hydro and thermal projects in the past, it is usually less for thermal projects. This is because equipment and construction procedures for thermal projects are largely independent of site conditions, and can therefore be standardized. Such standardization, however, may not be possible for hydro power plants. Hydro development has lagged behind also because of inter-State disputes on sharing of water, inadequate funding, and on account of environmental considerations. Nuclear power
As on March 31, 1994, the installed nuclear capacity was 2.6% of the total installed capacity, and its gross generation in 1993/94 was 1.7% of the total utility generation. Five nuclear%r power stations are in commercial operation at present: Tarapur (Maharashtra), Rowatbhata (Rajasthan), Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), Narora (Uttar Pradesh), and Kakrapar (Gujarat). Together, their total installed capacity is 2005 MW. All are based on the heavy-water reactor technology except Tarapur, which is of boiling water type under the lightwater reactor category. The functioning of the nuclear power stations has been beset with problems in recent years. Large shutdown times have been reported, particularly in Rowatbhata.
During the Eighth Five-Year Plan, 11OO MW of additional nuclear capacity is intended to be commissioned. At present, four units with 2 x 220 MW capacity each at Kaiga (Karnataka) and Rajasthan and another 220 MW unit at KakraPar are at different stages of construction. In addition, 2 x 500 MW units at RAPP (Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant), 4 x 220 MW at Kaiga, 2 x 500 MW at Tarapur, and 2 x 1OOO MW at Kudankulam have been approved for construction. Funds are a major constraint in the timely completion of these projects. Other reasons for delays in the construction schedules in the past include problems in acquiring land, delays in finalizing designs keeping in mind the possibilities of earthquakes, delays in fabricating certain critical items of equipment, and nonavailability of certain construction materials (in the Eighth Five-Year Plan, only 66% of the planned addition to the nuclear capacity addition was achieved).
With indigenously available natural uranium reserves, India can support a nuclear power programme of about 8000 MW (Report of the Working Group on Energy Policy, Government of India, 1979). Therefore, there is considerable scope in expanding the countrys nuclear programme and efforts are being made in this direction. The potential can be several times greater if the fast-breeder reactor technology is introduced.In addition, India has large reserves of thorium oxide (about 363000 mt), which can also support a large nuclear programme. Transmission and distribution network
The T&D (transmission and distribution) system faces several problems. Its expansion and strengthening has not kePt Pace with additions to generating capacity in certain instances, the utilization of generation capacity has been reduced only because the T&D network is not reliable. It needs to be pointed out that, at present, the generation and T&D planning are not carried out simultaneously or in a coordinated manner. This has aggravated power shortages in certain parts of the country.
Furthermore, in the absence of adequate regional and national integration of the T&D network, power supplies cannot be optimized. Although the Rajyadhyaksha Committee (Government of India, 1980) recommended that 50% of the total outlay for power sector should be earmarked for T&D facilities, actual investments during the Sixth and the Seventh Five-Year Plans were only 38%. In the Eighth FiveYear Plan too, only 33% of the total plan resources have been allocated for T&D (including rural electrification). High priority has been accorded only to the construction of high tension transmission lules of 400 kV and 220 kV. However, as in the case of generation projects, there have been significant delays. During the period 1980/81 to 1993/94, the achievements in commissioning 400 kV lines have been 10% short of the target; for 220 kV lines, the shortfall was 28%.
One of the striking features of the expanding T&D network is the rising share of 11 kV distribution lines. The ratio of low tension to high tension lines increased from 4.2 in 1965/66 to 7.9 in 1980/81 and further to 15 in 1992/93. Rising share of low tension lines is attributed to providing electricity to remote areas and increased emphasis on rural electrification.
T&D losses in Indian utilities increased, on an average, from 17.5% in 1970/71 to 22% in 1992/93. The most important reason for high T&D losses is the lack of adequate investment in T&D systems. Some of the other reasons are: (1) too many transformation stages, resulting in high transformer losses, (2) improper load distribution, and (3) extensive rural electrification. In addition to technical losses, non-technical losses are quite significant in most of the utilities on account of pilferage and unmetered supply.