Site selection and hydropower potential assessment in Upper Sutlej River Basin: a case study of Indian and Tibetan regions using RS-GIS, SWAT and T-F models

This research explores the untapped hydropower potential in India and Tibet's Upper Sutlej River Basin (USRB). By leveraging remote sensing and GIS methods, the study identifies 901 new sites in India and 95 sites in Tibet for potential hydropower generation. The present study estimates that the Indian sites have 2,923 megawatt (MW), 1,830 MW and 1,274 MW, while the Tibetan sites have 289 MW, 178 MW and 98 MW hydropower potential at 50%, 75% and 90% dependability flows, respectively for medium or high-head in the USRB. The future hydropower generation potential is also assessed at the Bhakra dam site, a significant project in the USRB region, utilising historical streamflow data (1993-2013) and projected streamflows (2014-2053) through calibrated SWAT and T-F models results. This research offers valuable insights for sustainable development and highlights the immense hydroelectric power possibilities in the USRB region.