CHUTAK — India

CHUTAK is a 44 MW hydro power plant in Kashmir, India. It is operated by National Hydroelectric Power CORP (NHPC) [100%]. Based on reported annual generation of 49 GWh, it can supply roughly 14k homes. It ranks #1183 of 2,225 India power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2012, it is around 14 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 8.6% of India's electricity; the national grid averages 670 gCO₂/kWh (26.7% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id IND0000084.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100001054731; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 44 MW, CHUTAK is below the median hydro plant in India (80 MW). Technically it is described as run-of-river. Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Load factor

13%, from 49 GWh of reported generation; the median for 173 hydro plants in India that report generation is 35%

Generation trend

35 GWh in 2014 and 49 GWh in 2018 (+38%)

Highest and lowest year

2018: 49 GWh; 2014: 35 GWh

Share of India hydro capacity

less than 0.1% of 45,527 MW across 233 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

206 of 233 dated hydro plants in India are older

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Reported generation trend

Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by National Hydroelectric Power CORP (NHPC) [100%].

Local climate & thermal context

This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a subarctic (boreal) climate (Köppen Dfc) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 34.5°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 159% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 99/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in a mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with thermal cycling the leading environmental stress.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #153 largest hydro power plant of 233 in India by capacity.

India has 233 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 45,527 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• KARGIL · Hydro · 3.8 MW · Kashmir
• UPPER SINDH I& II · Hydro · 105 MW · Kashmir
• NIMOO BAZGO · Hydro · 45 MW · Kashmir
• PAMPORE GT · Oil · 175 MW · Kashmir
• KISHENGANGA · Hydro · 330 MW · Kashmir
• GANDHARBAL · Hydro · 15 MW · Kashmir

Location

Coordinates 34.4903, 76.1137 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions