In a significant push toward enhancing India’s long-term energy storage capabilities, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has approved a record six hydro pumped storage projects (PSPs) totaling approximately 7.5 GW during the fiscal year 2024-25, the Ministry of Power announced on Saturday.

The approved projects include Upper Indravati (600 MW) in Odisha; Sharavathy (2,000 MW) in Karnataka; Bhivpuri (1,000 MW) and Bhavali (1,500 MW) in Maharashtra; MP-30 (1,920 MW) in Madhya Pradesh; and Chitravathi (500 MW) in Andhra Pradesh.

The Ministry highlighted the encouraging participation of the private sector in the PSP segment, driven significantly by self-identified projects. As a result, the total PSP potential in the country has exceeded 200 GW and continues to grow steadily each month.

Looking ahead, the CEA has set an ambitious target to approve at least 13 PSPs amounting to 22 GW in FY2025-26. Most of these projects are expected to be commissioned within four years, with all targeted for completion by 2030.

This rapid development is expected to substantially bolster India’s energy storage capacity substantially, improve grid reliability, and further advance the country’s renewable energy transition.

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Hydro PSPs play a crucial role by storing surplus electricity generated during off-peak periods as water in elevated reservoirs. This stored energy can be dispatched during peak demand hours, particularly during non-solar periods, ensuring a steady and flexible power supply.

The Ministry noted that India currently has only 3.5 GW of operational hydro PSP capacity. However, efforts are underway to expand this drastically, with two PSPs of around 3,000 MW expected to be commissioned this year and a target of 50 GW by 2032.

Currently, eight PSPs totaling 10 GW are under construction, and DPRs for three projects aggregating 3 GW have already been concurred. Additionally, 49 more projects, with a combined potential of 66 GW, are under various stages of survey and investigation. The ministry expects all DPRs for these projects to be finalised within the next two years.

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