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Tata Power plans to commission 2,800 MW Pumped Hydro Projects by 2028

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Tata Power Company (TPC), one of India's largest integrated power companies, aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2045. The company focuses on Pumped Hydro Storage Projects (PSP) to achieve this goal. TPC plans to commission two PSP projects, each with a 2,800 megawatts (MW) capacity, by 2027 and 2028. Additionally, the company has identified three new potential sites with a total capacity of 9,000 MW, according to Praveer Sinha, CEO & MD of Tata Power. The company plans to invest approximately Rs 13,000 crore in two projects, including a 1,800 MW PSP at Shirawata in Pune district and a 1,000 MW PSP at Bhivpuri in Raigad district, both in Maharashtra. The construction of these projects is expected to commence next year as various clearances are being processed, Sinha told the media.

Tata Power has identified three new PSP projects in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, each with a capacity of 3,000 MW. The projects will be located at Potalpali in Thokarwadi, Kataldhara at Walwhan, and Nenavali in Mulshi. This brings the total capacity of the new projects to 9,000 MW. Tata Power has been operating in this region for over a century and currently manages three hydropower projects: Khopoli Hydro Generating Station, Bhivpuri Hydro Generating Station, and Bhira Hydro Generating Station, which includes a 150 MW Pumped Storage Hydro project.

Pumped hydro storage projects (PSPs) are used in many countries. Water is pumped from a lower to a higher elevation using low-cost off-peak power. During peak hours, stored water generates electricity to balance grid shortages. India aims to generate over 18 GW of electricity with PSPs by 2032. There are 8 PSPs (4745.60 MW) in operation, 4 under construction (2780 MW), and 24 allotted by States (26630 MW) in different stages of development. Around 18 projects with 73240 MW potential are in Maharashtra, and around 10 are in the North East region.

Following the notification, nearly 40 gigawatts (GW) of PSP hydro projects are being proposed by leading hydropower producers like National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC), Tata Power, Adani Green Energy, Greenco etc and nearly half of these potential sites are in Western Ghats, say sources. JSW Energy's subsidiary, JSW Neo Energy, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Maharashtra for setting up a 960 MW capacity PSP at Pane (Raigarh) Pump Storage Project. JSW's target is to have 10 GW PSPs and MoUs in place for 6 GW PSPs with state governments like Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Rajasthan.

The Greenko Group is currently constructing a 1,680 MW pumped storage hydro power plant (PSP) near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh. The project is close to completion, and the group has plans to build three more large PSPs. Meanwhile, NHPC has signed an agreement with the Maharashtra government to develop pumped storage hydro projects with a total capacity of 7,350 MW. These projects are Kalu (1,150 MW), Savitri (2,250 MW), Jalond (2,400 MW), and Kengadi (1,550 MW). Similarly, Adani Green Energy has agreed to invest around Rs 60,000 crore in PSP projects in Maharashtra over the next five years.