India’s largest government hydroelectric production company NHPC Limited has partnered with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to form pump storage projects (PSP). Senior officials said NHPC, which operates India’s large hydroelectric projects, is spreading feet in PSP to expand its geographical access and spread its energy portfolio.
Officials said that the total capacity of these projects could increase from 6 to 8 GW. A joint venture called Angel (APGENCO NHPC Green Energy Company) has been given the job of 2 PSPs by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, which has a total capacity of 2 GW.
NHPC Chairman and Managing Director RK Chaudhary said that the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has approved the formation of Angel. Chaudhary said, ‘Initially the Andhra government has given Angel the work of 2 GW of projects. They will serve 5 more projects. Solar power projects will also be set up in these PSPs. Chaudhary said, “The Andhra government has agreed to give land near PSP for solar power plants.” He said that the solar electricity available from it would be used to offer water to the storage project.
Chaudhary said that NHPC is also interacting with Maharashtra, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, which aims to increase the PSP portfolio to 15 to 16. He said, ‘PSP is likely to be planned in existing dams. We are working on making PSP in Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar Dam in Madhya Pradesh. The Gujarat government has requested the NHPC to provide technical assistance for Sardar Sarovar Dam and help 1.2 GW of PSP operation there.
The central government has recently given policy force to PSP. This technology has been included in some existing schemes and new financial exemption for green energy. In the last Union Budget, the Finance Minister had said that pump hydro storage and policy for small modular nuclear reactors will be included in India, which will be made in India.