Aspiring to become a $trillion economy, Uttar Pradesh is fast emerging as a hub of ‘pumped storage’ energy projects.
While large-scale solar and wind energy projects are being rapidly accelerated in UP, the Yogi Adityanath government is also taking steps to boost pumped storage hydro projects in the state.
‘Invest UP’ has been tasked with overseeing the development of this infrastructure.
To facilitate progress, a high-level committee has been established within ‘Invest UP’ and the selection and allocation process for a consultancy firm to manage these projects has commenced.
Once allocated, the agency will be responsible for preparing a report based on various criteria, including machine configuration, 6-hour peaking capacity, open-closed loop PSP, hydrology, power evacuation, water source availability, indicative CAPEX, round-trip efficiency, surge shaft, powerhouse, land requirements, and upper and lower reservoir capacities, as well as access roads.
The state has formulated a comprehensive action plan for pumped storage projects (PSP) as well as other green energy projects.
Four divisions have been identified for PSP development viz. Chitrakoot Dham, Jhansi, Varanasi, and Vindhyachal.
A 1,200 megawatt (MW) PSP in Sonbhadra has already received in-principle approval from the Yogi government.
PSP offers rapid ramping capacity, essential for addressing sudden shortfalls in energy generation.
When renewable energy sources like solar and wind experience unexpected drops in output, hydroelectric PSPs can serve as a reliable alternative, providing the necessary power.
PSPs are crucial for both intra and inter day energy balancing, storing energy during periods of low demand and releasing it during peak times. This capability helps manage daily and weekly fluctuations in energy supply and demand.
Additionally, PSPs enhance overall energy efficiency by enabling large-scale energy storage, optimizing the utilization of generated power, and improving system efficiency.