Torrent Power to develop 5.7GW pumped hydro storage projects in Maharashtra

Torrent Power Limited has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maharashtra to undertake the development of three Pumped Storage Hydro Projects in the state.

The combined capacity of these projects is set to reach 5.7GW, requiring an estimated investment of around INR 27,000 crores. The undertaking is projected to generate employment opportunities for approximately 13,500 individuals during the construction phase.

Torrent Power aims to complete these projects within a span of five years.

The selected project sites, namely Karjat, Maval, and Junnar, are strategically located off-stream, and the infrastructure plans encompass a minimum energy storage capability of six hours on a daily basis. With the surging proportion of intermittent renewable power in the grid, the demand for energy storage solutions has intensified to effectively manage loads and meet peak electricity requirements.

In this context, pumped storage hydro (PSH) has emerged as a reliable, flexible, and economically viable technology for generating power. PSH systems consist of two water reservoirs situated at different elevations.

During periods of excess power availability when costs are lower, water is pumped to the upper reservoir. Subsequently, when power demand surges and prices increase, the water flows back from the upper reservoir to the lower one, driving a hydraulic turbine and generating electricity.

Compared to battery storage, pumped storage hydro offers distinct advantages, including lower costs, an extended lifespan of up to 40 years, and the capacity to store energy for durations of 6 to 10 hours with multiple cycle operations throughout the day.

Presently, Torrent Power boasts an aggregate installed generation capacity of approximately 4.1GW, predominantly derived from clean energy sources such as gas (2.7GW) and renewables (1.07GW). The company is actively developing an additional 0.7 GW of renewable capacity.