The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, has recently approved Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for six major Hydro Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) with a total capacity of 7.5 GW. This milestone marks a significant achievement in India’s efforts to develop advanced long-term energy storage solutions. The six projects include: 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 approval process was made possible through the collaborative efforts of PSP developers, appraising organizations, and the CEA’s initiative to make the appraisal process more transparent and efficient. The CEA has set ambitious targets to approve at least 13 more PSPs of about 22 GW capacity in the next financial year, with most of these projects expected to be commissioned by 2030.
Hydro PSPs play a crucial role in the energy transition by allowing excess electricity generated during off-peak hours to be stored and used during peak demand periods. These projects can store energy for over 70-80 years, making them a long-term investment opportunity for developers and investors.
The growth of PSPs in India is exponential, with the country’s PSP potential crossing 200 GW and expected to increase further. The development of these projects will drastically boost India’s energy storage capacity, contributing to grid reliability and supporting the country’s ambitious renewable energy goals.