Pumped Storage Hydropower

Key Highlights:

• India targets 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, with 308.027 GW installed as of September 2026.
• Central Electricity Authority (CEA) projects 73.93 GW storage capacity by 2031–32, including 26.69 GW from Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) and 47.24 GW from Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
• India's operational PSP capacity is 7.43 GW (as of August 2026), ranking fourth globally in installed pumped storage capacity.
• Government notified Guidelines to Promote Development of Pumped Storage Projects in India in April 2023 to accelerate PSP development.
• India has identified 320 PSPs with a potential of 345.38 GW, with the Western Region holding the highest potential.
• CEA roadmap envisages adding 100.81 GW PSP capacity by 2035–36, reaching a cumulative 105.56 GW.

Detailed Insights:

• PSPs are crucial for integrating variable renewable energy sources like solar and wind, providing long-duration storage and peaking support to ensure grid stability.
• They store electricity by pumping water to an upper reservoir during surplus generation and releasing it through turbines when demand rises.
• PSPs complement BESS: BESS offers rapid, short-duration response for frequency regulation, while PSPs provide large-scale, long-duration energy shifting.
• PSPs are classified into on-stream, off-stream open-loop, and off-stream closed-loop schemes, with a focus on off-stream projects to minimize environmental impact.
• Government initiatives include budgetary support for essential infrastructure, Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) guidelines, and a 100% Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charge waiver for eligible projects.
• Policy measures also involve faster project approvals by CEA, streamlined environmental appraisal by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), and digital monitoring via the Jal Vidyut DPR portal.
• The Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo (Bharat RE) 2026 serves as a global platform for investment and collaboration in clean energy, including energy storage.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Pumped Storage Project (PSP): A type of hydropower that stores energy by pumping water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir, then releasing it through turbines to generate electricity.
• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): Systems that store electrical energy in batteries for later use, typically for shorter durations and rapid response.
• On-stream Pumped Storage: Both reservoirs are located on a river, stream, or nallah.
• Off-stream Closed-loop Pumped Storage: Neither reservoir is located on a river, perennial stream, or nallah, minimizing environmental impact.