New Delhi, April 12
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) approved a record number of detailed project reports (DPRs) of six hydro pumped storage projects (PSPs) of about 7.5 GW during FY2024-25, the Ministry of Power said on Saturday, marking a key milestone in India's ongoing commitment to developing advanced and long-term energy storage solutions.
These six projects are Upper Indravati (600 MW) in Odisha; Sharavathy (2,000 MW) in Karnataka; Bhivpuri (1,000 MW) in Maharashtra; Bhavali (1,500 MW) in Maharashtra; MP-30 (1,920 MW) in Madhya Pradesh and Chitravathi (500 MW) in Andhra Pradesh.
The participation of private sector in this segment is quite encouraging and with the help of self-identified PSP, the PSP potential in the country has crossed 200 GW and it is further increasing almost every month.
Further, CEA has made ambitious plan to concur minimum 13 PSPs of about 22 GW during 2025-26. Most of these PSPs are targeted to be commissioned in 4 years and latest by 2030.
The development of these projects will boost energy storage capacity drastically in the country, making a major contribution to grid reliability and supporting India's ambitious renewable energy goals.
Hydro PSPs are vital for the energy transition, as they allow excess electricity generated during off-peak hours to be stored in the form of water in elevated reservoirs.
This stored energy can then be used back during non-solar hours peak demand periods, ensuring a reliable, consistent, and flexible power supply.
"From a meagre 3.5 GW of operational hydro PSP capacity in the country, the development needs to be taken up in an accelerated mission mode to harness this potential. This year, two PSPs around 3,000 MW will get commissioned and by 2032, we expect around 50 GW," said the ministry.
At present, eight projects of 10 GW are under construction and DPR has been concurred for 3 projects of around 3 GW.
In addition, 49 projects of 66 GW are under survey and investigation. All these DPRs are expected to be finalised by the developers in two years, the ministry informed.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is fantastic news for India's renewable energy push! Pumped storage is such a smart way to balance our grid as we add more solar and wind. The 50 GW target by 2032 seems ambitious but achievable. ðŸ‘
While I appreciate the focus on renewable energy, I hope proper environmental impact assessments are being done for these projects. The Sharavathy project in Karnataka is in a sensitive ecological zone - we can't sacrifice biodiversity for clean energy.
7.5 GW approved in one year is impressive! These projects will create so many jobs too. The Bhivpuri and Bhavali projects in Maharashtra are much needed - our state faces frequent power issues during peak hours.
The 4-year commissioning timeline seems optimistic. Hope the government ensures timely execution without cost overruns. Still, pumped storage is our best bet for energy storage until battery tech becomes more affordable.
Great to see private sector participation! The 200 GW potential figure is mind-blowing. India could become a global leader in pumped storage technology at this rate. #CleanEnergyFuture
I'm curious how these projects will affect local communities. The article mentions the technical aspects well, but what about rehabilitation plans for displaced families? That's equally important.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.