CEA accords concurrence to 2 hydro PSPs of 2.6 GW

New Delhi: The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has accorded concurrence to two hydro Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs), said the Ministry of Power on Friday. These two projects are 600 MW Upper Indravati in Odisha, being developed by Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC Ltd, a government of Odisha undertaking), and 2,000 MW Sharavathy in Karnataka being developed by Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL, a government of Karnataka undertaking). The CEA is also looking at proposals of hydro PSPs having a cumulative capacity of 60 GW.

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“India needs Hydro Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) to support faster energy transition with large scale integration of renewable capacity in the country and also ensuring energy security,” said Power Ministry. “In order to ensure that Hydro PSPs get commissioned on a fast track, thereby accelerating the growth of India’s renewable energy and energy storage capacity, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has accorded concurrence to two Hydro PSPs… in record time. CWC, GSI, CSMRS and the stakeholders have jointly fully supported the CEA on a mission mode,” the ministry added.

CEA reviewing proposals for 60 GW hydro PSPs

The CEA has also received a huge number of proposals for Hydro PSPs (worth around 60 GW), under survey and investigation, which are at various stages of preparation of the Detailed Feasibility Report (DPR). After the preparation of DPRs, these PSPs will be uploaded by the developers on the CEA portal (https://ceaclearance.gov.in/hydro/) for concurrence by CEA under Section 8 of Electricity Act, 2003. “CEA assures faster concurrence of these PSPs, which is the need of the hour to fulfil the energy storage demand of the country,” said the Power Ministry.

Revision in guidelines

“To fast track the concurrence process of PSPs in line with the ease of doing business drive of government of India, the CEA has further revised the guidelines to simplify the process for preparation of DPRs of PSPs and its concurrence,” said the government.

“The government has prioritised the development of Energy Storage Systems, particularly PSPs, to ensure the energy security of the country. As per the National Electricity Plan (Generation), the installed capacity of Energy Storage Systems, including BESS, is projected to be 74 GW by 2031-32. It is worth mentioning that there is potential of about 176 GW of Hydro PSPs in the country, out of which 4.7 GW are under operation, 4 GW under construction, 3.6 GW concurred (construction to be started) and around 60 GW under survey and investigation,” said the government.

The Union Budget for 2024-25 had placed a lot of emphasis on PSPs. It said that a policy for promoting pumped storage projects will be brought out for electricity storage and facilitating smooth integration of the growing share of renewable energy with its variable and intermittent nature in the overall energy mix.

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