Seasonally Informed Design and Development of Hydrokinetic Turbines for Off-Grid Power Generation in a Himalayan River

This study presents an end-to-end design, analysis, and validation framework for HK turbines, planned for deployment in the Himalayan Rivers, as a construction power alternative to diesel generator (DG) sets, aimed at reducing the carbon footprints.

In hydro projects, the utilization of DG sets for construction power is both unreliable & uneconomical which is a cause of concern in remote areas. Depending on the Hydro power project’s capacity in megawatts (MW), the maximum construction power demand during peak activity can reach up to 20 MW, with significant cost implications.

The adoption of alternative renewable energy sources to meet construction power requirements can significantly reduce CO2 emissions and advance global efforts to address climate change.

This paper highlights one such renewable energy alternative i.e. deployment of site-adapted

HK turbine as a sustainable solution for construction power demand in the Himalayan region.

The discharge data were collected across different seasons and at multiple sections of the site to map the flow fluctuations caused by the water flow cycle and upstream plant operations. The data collected is used to design the system to adapt to changing water levels while maximizing the energy extraction from the flow. Further, the study is conducted to optimize the turbine for the Himalayan hydroelectric projects. This research marks one of the first intensive R&D efforts in India that integrates seasonal flow analysis, laboratory testing, numerical modelling and field deployment of HK systems. By harnessing the kinetic energy of river currents, the

HK turbines aim to serve as a sustainable, affordable and reliable alternative to conventional

DG sets, which are commonly used in remote and off-grid construction hydro projects. It demonstrates a replicable model for sustainable energy generation in remote Himalayan riverine environments of India and contributes toward promoting environmentally responsible energy systems globally.