N.K. Chauhan 
Hydroelectric power is one of the most established and broadly utilized renewable sources of energy.
India is 5th globally for installed hydroelectric power capacity.
India's economically exploitable and viable hydroelectric potential is estimated to be 148,701 MW at 60% load factor. An additional 6,780 MW from smaller hydro schemes (with capacities of less than 25 MW) is estimated as exploitable.
The hydro-electric power plants at Sidrapong, Darjeeling (West Bengal) and Shivanasamudram (Karnataka) were established in 1898 and 1902, respectively. They were among the first in Asia and India has been a dominant player in global hydroelectric power development.
India also imports surplus hydroelectric power from Bhutan.
Small hydropower, defined to be generated at facilities with nameplate capacities up to 25 MW, comes under the ambit of the Ministry of New and Renewable energy (MNRE); whilst large hydro, defined as above 25 MW, comes under the ambit of Ministry of Power.
Hydropower is not completely clean because the dams produce significant amount of CO2 and Methane, both GHGs.
Three gorges project in China on Yang-Yang river is the largest power station in the world having installed capacity of around 18,200 MW.
| Name | River | Location | Capacity (MW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tehri Dam | Bhagirathi | Uttarakhand | 2400 MW |
| Srisailam Dam | Krishna | Andhra Pradesh | 1670 MW |
| Nagarjunasagar | Krishna | Andhra Pradesh | 965 MW |
| Sardar Sarovar | Narmada | Gujarat | 1450 MW |
| Baspa-II | Baspa | Himachal Pradesh | 300 MW |
| Nathpa Jhakri | Satluj | Himachal Pradesh | 1500 MW |
| Bhakra Dam | Satluj | Punjab | 1325 MW |
| Baira Suil Power Station | Suil river, tributary of Ravi | Himachal Pradesh | 180 MW |
| Pandoh Dam | Beas | Himachal Pradesh | 990 MW |
| Baira Siul | Ravi | Himachal Pradesh | 198 MW |
| Chamera-I | Ravi | Himachal Pradesh | 540 MW |
| Chamera-II | Ravi | Himachal Pradesh | 300 MW |
| Pong | Beas | Himachal Pradesh | 396 MW |
| Uri Hydroelectric Dam | Jhelum | Jammu & Kashmir | 480 MW |
| Dulhasti | Chenab | Jammu & Kashmir | 390 MW |
| Salal | Chenab | Jammu & Kashmir | 690 MW |
| Sharavathi | Sharavati | Karnataka | 1035 MW |
| Kalinadi | Kalinadi | Karnataka | 955 MW |
| Baglihar Dam | Chenab River | Jammu & Kashmir | 900 MW |
| Idukki | Periyar | Kerala | 780 MW |
| Sabarigiri | Pamba | Kerala | 300 MW |
| Bansagar Dam | Sone | Madhya Pradesh | 425 MW |
| Bansagar Dam | Sone | Madhya Pradesh | 425 MW |
| Bargi Dam | Narmada | Madhya Pradesh | 105 MW |
| Hirakud Dam | Mahanadi | Odisha | 347.5 MW |
| Omkareshwar | Narmada | Madhya Pradesh | 520 MW |
| Indira Sagar | Narmada | Madhya Pradesh | 1000 MW |
| Loktak | Manipur | Manipur | 105 MW |
| Koyna | Koyna | Maharashtra | 1960 MW |
| Bhira Hydroelectric Project | Mulshi Dam | Maharashtra | 150 MW |
| Teesta VI Hydropower Project | Teesta | Sikkim | 510 MW |
| Tapovan Vishnugarh | Dhauliganga (Alaknanda) | Uttrakhand | 520 MW |
| Tanakpur | Sharda | Uttarakhand | 120 MW |
| Dhauliganga-I | Dhauliganga | Uttarakhand | 280 MW |
| Loharinag Pala | Bhagirathi | Uttarakhand | 600 MW |
| Shivanasamudra | Kaveri | Karnataka | 42 MW |
| Ghataprabha | Ghataprabha | Karnataka | 32 MW |
| Kaplong | Kaplong River | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 5 MW |
