India's Pumped Hydro Potential
The Survey of Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Projects was earlier completed by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) during August, 1984. According to this survey, the pumped storage hydroelectric potential of the country was assessed as about 96,529 MW. This very first attempt of country's Pumped Storage hydro potential assessment was extremely useful for Pumped Storage hydro planning in the country
Due to the Energy transition from fossil fuel to non-fossil fuel, the focus is on speedy development of time tested and proven pumped storage development for integration of Variable Renewable Energy sources like Solar and Wind to the Grid. The Pumped Storage Projects provide much needed solutions of the necessary scale (large volume of energy storage) with a long life cycle. Hence, the need was felt by the Central Electricity Authority for reassessment of On-River Pumped Storage hydroelectric potential in the Country
In June 2023, CEA issued its report, "Reassessment of On-River Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Potential in the country" containing all the Pumped Storage Projects for which both reservoirs are located on any river/stream/nallah
Table below captures India’s Pumped Hydro Potential at a glance, comprising 59,035.6 MW of exploited / exploitable potential (above 25 MW) and 46,375 MW unexploitable at present
Table below captures state-wise break up of exploited / exploitable pumped hydro potential of 59,035.6 MW
Northern region has 3,330 MW, Western region has 20,020 MW, Southern region has 22,155.6 MW, Eastern region has 7,000 MW and North Eastern region has 6,530 MW
We would like to highlight that this is only the Pumped Hydro potential, and does not include the Conventional Hydro potential
