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Evaluating the greenness of hydroelectric projects of Northeast India: a study with special reference to the Tipaimukh project

Author

Listed:
  • Nazrana Begam Choudhury

    (Assam University)

  • Soma Roy Dey Choudhury

    (Assam University)

Abstract

Urbanization, industrialization and human population explosion not only increased the global power demand, but also led to global warming, pollution and climate change. This encouraged production of power from renewable sources, and thus, hydropower development has been focused. Today, there is more than 1300 GW of installed hydropower across the world, and most of the hydroelectric projects (HEPs) are multi-purpose which includes irrigation, flood and drought mitigation and tourism. Although credited as cheap, clean and green, recent studies demonstrate that the reservoirs of HEPs produce enormous quantities of greenhouse gases (GHGs), including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). A large number of estimates on the amount of GHGs from HEPs are available from across the globe. India is next only to USA and China in terms of number of large dams, and thousands of new dams are being planned or constructed, especially in the northeastern part. However, none of these projects have been analyzed in terms of production of GHGs, which is an essential prerequisite for developing such projects and to determine whether carbon emission reduction credits can be accorded or not. The present study was conducted to determine greenness of some of the HEPs of Northeast India in terms of emission of GHGs, and eligibility of the projects for carbon emission reduction credits. Further, the emission of different GHGs through various processes from the Tipaimukh HEP (Manipur) was estimated. In view of the findings, we have provided recommendations, which may be helpful in decision-making process.

Suggested Citation

  • Nazrana Begam Choudhury & Soma Roy Dey Choudhury, 2020. "Evaluating the greenness of hydroelectric projects of Northeast India: a study with special reference to the Tipaimukh project," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 47(3), pages 293-302, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:decisn:v:47:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s40622-020-00251-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s40622-020-00251-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Varun, & Prakash, Ravi & Bhat, I.K., 2012. "Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions estimation for small hydropower schemes in India," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 498-508.
    2. Jim Giles, 2006. "Methane quashes green credentials of hydropower," Nature, Nature, vol. 444(7119), pages 524-524, November.
    3. Gagnon, Luc & Belanger, Camille & Uchiyama, Yohji, 2002. "Life-cycle assessment of electricity generation options: The status of research in year 2001," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(14), pages 1267-1278, November.
    4. Mirza Sadaqat Huda, 2017. "Envisioning the future of cooperation on common rivers in South Asia: a cooperative security approach by Bangladesh and India to the Tipaimukh Dam," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(1), pages 54-72, January.
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