Small Hydro refers to hydroelectric power plants with a capacity of up to 25 MW. These projects harness the energy of flowing water—often through canal-based or run-of-river setups—without large dams or reservoirs. They are considered environmentally friendly, have minimal land requirements, and are suitable for rural and remote areas. India has an estimated potential of over 21,000 MW from more than 7,000 identified sites, with significant opportunities in hilly states like Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal agency for this subsector.
