PUMPED STORAGE PLANTS IN
HIMALYAN and NON HIMALYAN
REGIONS OF INDIA-
PROSPECTS AND CHALLANGES
APR 2022
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INTRODUCTION
A significant grid transition is underway in India, as it gears up to meet its pledge of taking up the
share of non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030. The large-scale non-fossil RE capacity addition
i.e. solar & wind, known for intermittency /variability in generation, may have implications on the
reliability and stability of the Indian power system.
For smooth integration of RE energy into the grid, there is requirement of sufficient balancing power
and energy storage solution. That’s where Pumped-Storage Projects (PSP) comes in. PSP is a reliable,
time-tested technology, particularly suited for load management. The PSP schemes act as a giant
battery (also called Water Battery).
The water is pumped from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation reservoir, which store
energy as per availability of cheap power and then use it for producing energy during peak hours.
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PSP Potential in India – Earlier CEA Study
• As per the study carried out by CEA during 1978 to 1987, 63 potential
Pumped Storage sites were identified with an aggregate capacity of about
96,524 MW all over India.
• Subsequently, Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) carried out
screening of PSPs in 2017, which suggests that many of the 63 sites in the
list of CEA are not suitable for development by the respective State
Governments, primarily on account of environmental, social or viability
concerns and/or refusal of clearance for Survey & Investigation by
statutory authorities.
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Completed / Under Construction PSPs in India
(As per CEA status report Dec 2021)
8 nos. commissioned/installed Pump Storage plants above 25MW in India with cumulative capacity of
4745.6 MW, viz.
Nagarjuna Sagar, Telangana 705.60MW
Srisailam LBPH, Telangana 900MW
Kadamparai, Tamilnadu 400MW
Bhira, Maharashtra 150MW
Ghatgar, Maharashtra 250MW
Purulia, WestBengal 900MW
Kadana, Gujarat 240MW
Sardar Sarovar Project, Gujarat 1200MW
Note: Kadana and Sardar Sarovar PSP are not working in pumping mode at present on account of
various technical & non-technical reasons.
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Off-River PSPs – NHPC Study
Important Aspects Considered FOR PSP
Length / Head (L / H) Ratio , Head & Energy stored
Location of the project & its accessibility
Geological Aspects
Reservoir & Sedimentation
Environmental Aspects
Proximity to RE (Large solar & wind ) Power Centers
Proximity to Water source
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Off-River PSPs – NHPC Study
Favorable Site Conditions for PSP
• Large head with relatively shorter water ways between upper and lower reservoirs, preferably
sites with Length / Head (L / H) Ratio < 10.
• Higher head requires lesser pondage thus smaller reservoirs, less civil works like smaller dams,
smaller size of water conductor system, smaller electro-mechanical components like smaller
size of turbine and other associated E&M components resulting in smaller power house
complex.
• Higher head reduces overall requirement of land for various components of project like
reservoir , HRT, TRT etc. together with reduction in quarry/borrow and dumping land
requirements.
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Off-River PSPs – NHPC Study
Favorable Site Conditions for PSP
• The minimum practical head for pumped storage project is generally around 100 m, with
higher heads being preferred. However, very little technical know-how is available in the
world for handling a project having high head more than 800m. Therefore, range of head
between 100 m to less than 800m is practicable.
• Other favorable site requirements of PSP are better accessibility requiring less lengths of
new roads, Suitable topography like natural depressions and valley shape for creating
reservoirs , better Geology, sites with less environmental concerns, proximity to RE power
centers and proximity to water source.
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Off-River Pumped Storage Projects Advantages
• Reservoirs are located in areas physically
separated from existing river systems.
Generally the project shall not require flood
mitigation arrangements, Silt management
arrangements and Diversion arrangement
during construction and hence project cost as
well as construction period shall be optimized.
• The construction cost & time of off -river PSP
schemes are more predictable as there is less
uncertainties such as flash floods etc.
• Environmental costs required in river system for
the provision of Fish ladder, longitudinal
connectivity, E-flows shall be avoided in off-
river PSPs.
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PSPs in Himalayan Region – Prospects & Challenges
Large number of Hydroelectric projects (HEPs) are located in Himalayan region and many
others are being planned & constructed.
Some of the constraints for converting existing Projects into PSPs and Developing new PSPs in
Himalayan region are below.
Reservoir Capacity & Type of Scheme
• In pure Run of River schemes (ROR) no additional storage is available to be used for
PSP.
• In ROR schemes with Pondage, the available storage is sufficient only for fulfilling
peaking requirement of that project.
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• The projects reservoirs in Himalayan region are kept at lower levels/MDDL during
the monsoon to manage flood and silt, as such no storage is available during
monsoon period for PSP functioning.
• Some multi purpose reservoirs have very large capacity are planned such that all the silt
get settled in the reservoir and provide silt free water to the downstream. The PSPs can
be planned in such projects. But there are very few big storage reservoirs. Tehri dam is an
example of such project with a very big reservoir.
• For establishing new PSPs there will be requirement to create lower and upper reservoirs.
In Himalayan region these reservoirs will also have lot of silt in flow during the monsoon
season and have issues related to reduction in storage capacity.
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Himalayan Region & PSPs - Prospects & Challenges
Cascade Hydro power project Development
• Most of the projects in Himalayan region have been developed/proposed in cascade pattern
on the rivers for exploiting maximum available head and hence, any additional storage for
using it as lower and upper reservoir for PSP may affect the performance of upstream and
downstream projects.
Sedimentation and Flood management
• Most of the Himalayan region projects are located in heavily sediment prone areas. It is
estimated that more than 80% of average annual sediment comes during the monsoon
season i.e. from June to September along with high flood discharge.
• Flood and silt being important issues in Himalayan region, the cost of silt and flood
management arrangements such as spillways, energy dissipation arrangements, silt
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• All on-river reservoirs need to have proper silt and flood management arrangements and
the cost of these arrangements is very significant as the spillways, sluices, energy
dissipation arrangements, silt exclusion systems and desilting basins are planned from
safety and operation aspects.
Natural disasters & Accessibility
• Himalayan ranges are vulnerable to heavy rains, landslides, cloud burst and other natural
disasters. Many probable PSP sites are situated in inaccessible region so construction of
new roads & bridges to various components of PSP including upper & lower reservoirs,
penstocks & other water conductor system and power house would require large
investments. These expenditures will make the scheme unviable in many cases.
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Himalayan Region & PSPs - Prospects & Challenges
Geological Aspects
• Himalayas are the youngest folded mountains having complex tectonic and geological
setup, prone to land slide hazards and cloud bursts. Most of the projects in Himalayan
terrain are dotted with various geological weaknesses, shear zones, folds, faults and
lineaments.
• The complex geological conditions in the Himalayas and frequent occurring shear zones,
folds & faults, possibility of encountering adverse geological conditions during
construction of underground/surface project components may have high cost implications.
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• In Himalayas, topography is generally rugged and steep and flat terraces/areas are scarce
and generally of small dimensions. Wherever flat areas exist they are generally inhabited
and cultivated. Moreover, flat terraces /areas in Himalayas are generally associated with
faults/ thrusts/ buried channels or other geological anomalies.
Proximity to RE power centers
• There is less probability of developing large solar & wind power projects in Himalayas. It
will be preferable to have PSPs near large wind power and solar power centers.
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Non-Himalayan Region & PSPs - Prospects & Challenges
1. Land Submergence
Generally in peninsular India the land terrain is flatter and hence there will be large
land submergence even for less reservoir capacity. In Madhya Pradesh and
Maharashtra various off river good PSP sites are available but terrain and topography
of the site are such that Large forest land, some agricultural land and some
residential land area submergence shall occur.
2. Rehabilitation and Resettlement issues
In non-Himalayan region, the settlement of habitats in plain area are sparse but in
many dense clusters. As such construction of lower and upper reservoir will require
more rehabilitation and resettlement.
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3. Water rights of the area
The water rights of the stream and pond is the important factor required to be
looked into before finalizing the PSP scheme in the area. Generally rain water
during monsoon is used to be stored by check dams to be used for agriculture and
domestic purpose for the rest of the year. The catchment area of upper and lower
reservoir may be common with the existing ponds and the same may be point of
concern.
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4. Rainfall Dependency & Proximity to Water Source
The peninsular India, which is favorable for development of PSP plants have
rainfall in the monsoon season only. The paucity of water in this region may
discourages construction of PSP plants however it is worked out that reservoirs
shall be filled in one or more years by rain water. Reservoir volume and project
capacity may be adjusted according to rainfall.
The availability of water source in the nearby area is preferable.
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Off-River Pump Storage Plants–(Australian National University Atlas)
• In Off-River (Closed Loop) PHES scheme, the reservoirs are located in areas
physically separated from existing river systems. Development of a off-River
system requires identification of a water source to provide the initial charge
and after the initial filling of reservoirs, the only additional water requirement
is the minimal operational make-up water required to offset evaporation or
seepage losses.
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• The Australian National University (ANU) has found about 16,000 off-river sites
in India with various storage capacities with many of them located in Himalayan
and Non-Himalayan region.
• Recently in November 2021, MOP has directed all CPSUs to explore the
possibility of new PSP in the vicinity of all their existing projects (completed &
ongoing) based on the data provided by Australian National University (ANU).
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Brief Summary of NHPC Study on Off-River Potential
States Operational Issues
• 33 nos. off river PSP schemes in the vicinity of
• Sites Studied NHPC Projects
(In Himalayan Region) • Locations near Narmada River region in MP
appeared suitable
• Head nearly 300 m or more
•Criteria • Separation upto 3 km
(For Detailed Study) • Height & Length of the Dam required for creating
Reservoirs.
• Shortlisted/Probable
• 6 Sites in Narmada River Region in MP state
Sites
***Presently one no. site (Tekwa-II) is selected for pre-feasibility studies. 20
Study by NHPC for Conversion of its Existing Hydro Power Plants/Projects to
PSP
As most of the projects in NHPC are ROR with limited pondage, the sufficient
reservoir capacity is not available round the year to support the Pump
Storage Plant (PSP).
Projects are generally developed in cascade pattern. Hence any additional
storage for using it as a lower reservoir or upper reservoir may affect the
performance of upstream and downstream projects.
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Most of the NHPC projects in Himalayan region have long underground
water conductor systems making L/H ratio unfavorable for pumped
storage. Some of the projects have quite low head and not suitable for
PSP.
If the machines of the existing power plants are replaced as PSP
machines there will be requirement of huge modification/replacements
of many electro-mechanical components and also complicated civil
works.
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Conclusion
On comparing the merits and demerits of the PSP schemes in Himalayan
and non-Himalayan region, part of peninsular India with desired
topography and geological conditions comprising of Deccan trap Basalts
seems a better suited area for locating pumped storage projects.
Due to various limitations existing power stations / projects cannot be
converted into PSP schemes.
As per ANU study there are many sites in India to develop off river PSPs. The
arrangements like spillway, energy dissipation arrangements, silt excluders
arrangements are nor required for off river reservoirs.
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NHPC Initiatives for developing PSPs:
NHPC has been interacting proactively with the different state governments/
agencies to accelerate the development of PSPs.
NHPC is interacting with Odisha government for developing in JV mode 3 PSP
schemes of 1420MW, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh for 7 PSP schemes totally 6600
MW, Jharkhand Govt. for one scheme of 1500MW.
PFR for one PSP using Indirasagar PS & Omkareshwar PS reservoirs.
Detailed study for one off river PSP(near Tekwa water fall) in Narmada river
region in MP.
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NHPC has carried out due diligence for 4 prospective PSPs in Kerala totaling
1400MW and 5 prospective PSPs in Tamilnadu totaling 2550MW. NHPC has
shown interest in these PSP schemes.
Recently MOP/CEA has allotted 10 nos. PSP totaling 15850MW (Six in
Maharashtra, one in J&K, one in Odisha, one in Mizoram and one in Andhra
Pradesh) and the sites assessment is in the progress.
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THANK YOU
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