India’s Federal Electricity Authority announced a $77 billion transmission initiative to harness over 76 GW of hydroelectric capacity from the Brahmaputra River basin by 2047. This ambitious plan supports India’s growing electricity demand and clean energy targets.
Scope and Capacity
- Covers 208 hydro projects across 12 northeastern sub-basins.
- Includes 64.9 GW from conventional hydro and 11.1 GW from pumped-storage.
- India’s southern state of Arunachal Pradesh alone contributes 52.2 GW of potential capacity.
Crucial River and Regional Importance
- The Brahmaputra River, originating in Tibet and flowing through India and Bangladesh, offers vast hydro potential.
💰 Investment Phases
- Phase 1 (by 2035): $23 billion
- Phase 2 (by 2047): $54 billion
- Projects involve federal public sector utilities such as National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd.(NHPC), NEEPCO, and VN), with some already in progress.
Clean Energy and National Goals
- The Brahmaputra basin holds over 80% of India’s untapped hydro resources.
- Will support India’s goal of 500 GW non-fossil power capacity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070.
The plan is anticipated to enhance energy security, boost regional development, and provide a resilient transmission network to carry clean energy from remote hydro projects to high-demand centers across India.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
