Tata, Adani, JSW among firms seeking to build ₹3.1 tn of pumped storage

livemint.com:

NEW DELHI : NHPC Ltd, Tata Power Ltd, Adani Green Energy Ltd and JSW Energy Ltd are among companies that have proposed to build pumped storage projects (PSPs) totalling 39GW in the country, an official aware of the development said, potentially attracting investments of as much as ₹3.12 trillion. In PSPs, excess energy is used to pump water to an upper reservoir when power demand is low. When demand rises, water is released, turning a turbine which generates electricity.

PSPs and battery storage projects are often used alongside solar or wind power projects to ensure stable power supply. “So far, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has received proposals for 39,000 megawatts (MW) capacity; it keeps adding every day. The applicants have submitted the PFR (pre-feasibility report)," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Typically, PSPs require an investment of ₹7-8 crore per MW, requiring aggregate investments in the range of ₹2.73-3.12 trillion. Queries sent to spokespeople for CEA, NHPC, Tata Power, Adani Green and JSW Energy remained unanswered till press time. Several energy companies have plans to set up PSPs in India, adding to the country’s installed PSP capacity of 4.7GW.

Mint earlier reported that NHPC was planning PSPs totalling 20,000-22,000MW. In June, it signed an initial agreement with an Odisha state utility to build 2,000 MW of pumped storage and 1,000MW renewable energy projects in the state. It has also signed an agreement with Maharashtra to set up PSPs totalling 7,350MW.