Empowering India’s Energy Transition: Pumped Hydropower’s Vital Role
As India forges ahead in its clean energy transition, the challenge of energy storage looms large. Wind and solar power, while abundant, are intermittent. To ensure a consistent energy supply, we need either costly battery storage or controllable clean energy sources.
Adani’s Bold Investment in Pumped Hydropower
In this context, the Adani Group’s ambitious investment plan stands out. Adani Green Energy Ltd intends to invest ₹25,000-27,500 crore in pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) dams over the next five years, targeting an initial capacity of 5 gigawatts (GW) and eventually scaling up to 25 GW. This move complements their existing investments in wind and solar projects.
Industry Leaders Embrace Pumped Hydropower
Other major players like Tata Power, JSW, and NTPC are also venturing into PSH dams. The Union environment ministry has already approved PSH projects worth over ₹80,000 crore, with Adani’s investment being the most substantial. This collective effort will significantly boost India’s sustainable power generation endeavors.
The Unique Advantages of Pumped Hydropower
PSH units offer a distinct advantage: their power generation is not reliant on weather conditions, making them ideal for addressing the intermittency issues of other non-fossil fuel sources. These dams can be seamlessly integrated into grids to ensure a continuous power supply.
How Pumped Hydropower Works
Unlike traditional dams that rely on natural water inflows, PSH units have self-fed reservoirs. Water is pumped back uphill after use, minimizing the dependence on natural sources and expanding the geographical possibilities for hydropower projects.
Technological Advancements Enhance Efficiency
While the concept of PSH is not new, recent technological advancements have significantly improved its energy efficiency, making it an even more attractive option.
Addressing India’s Summer Power Crisis
India’s peak electricity demand this summer exceeded its fossil-fuel capacity of around 237 GW. Despite having over 179 GW of additional capacity from other sources, large parts of the country experienced outages.
The Need for Controllable Clean Energy Sources
A robust network of PSH plants would be instrumental in providing the controllable clean energy sources needed to meet India’s future energy demands.
Pumped Hydropower: The Missing Piece
Pumped hydropower dams, though capital-intensive, are ideal gap fillers in India’s clean energy mix. As India aims for 500 GW of non-fossil-fuel power by 2030, a significant portion should come from these innovative solutions.
Sunil Garnayak is an expert in Indian news with extensive knowledge of the nation’s political, social, and economic landscape and international relations. With years of experience in journalism, Sunil delivers in-depth analysis and accurate reporting that keeps readers informed about the latest developments in India. His commitment to factual accuracy and nuanced storytelling ensures that his articles provide valuable insights into the country’s most pressing issues.
