Hydropower on tap: India clears 12 GW pumped storage projects

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's Committee has approved environmental clearances for pumped storage hydropower projects totaling 11.98 GW. The clearance encompasses eight projects, requiring an investment of Rs 81,981 crore and spanning five states.

During the fifth Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) meeting on River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects, the largest project to receive an environmental clearance recommendation was Greenko Energy's 3.66 GW project in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, Sterlite Grid and Gandhwani Energy secured recommendations for their 1.2 GW projects in Chhattisgarh, along with Oju Subansiri Hydro Power Corporation's 2.22 GW project for Arunachal Pradesh and JSW Energy's 1.5 GW project for Maharashtra.

Non-conventional Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh's (NEDCAP) 1.2 GW project in Annamayya district received terms of reference (ToR) clearance, while NREDCAP's one GW project in YSR district obtained environmental clearance. The projects have been allocated a combined land area of 2,507 hectares.

Anticipated to be operational within the next three to four years, the only deferred project was JSW Energy PSP Six's 1.68 GW project in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh. Comments are being sought from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) regarding potential project overlaps with the Kandhaura Closed Loop Pumped Storage Project (1.68 GW) and Sonbhadra Pumped Storage Project (1.2 GW).

Pumped storage hydropower, utilizing water stored in two reservoirs at different elevations, plays a crucial role in facilitating the integration of additional renewable resources into the grid.

News by Rahul Yelligetti