(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM) Rishikesh, 01 May 2025:
A high-level Brainstorming Session on *“Pumped Storage Projects: Powering India’s Renewable Future”* was successfully held at the SCOPE Convention Centre in New Delhi. The event was jointly organized by THDC India Ltd. and the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), in association with NTPC and supported by CBIP and INCOLD. It brought together over 300 delegates from nearly 95 institutions across India, including policymakers, regulators, developers, environmental experts, and senior officials from the public and private sectors.

Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India, addressed the gathering as Chief Guest. He emphasized the critical need to ensure grid stability and urged all states to take responsibility for creating regionally self-sufficient grids. Stressing on the urgency for flexible generation and load management, he called for the removal of procedural bottlenecks and emphasized that platforms like this are essential for collective policy development and implementation.

Akash Tripathi, Additional Secretary (Hydro), Ministry of Power, participated as Guest of Honour. He noted that the workshop was conceived to facilitate collaboration among key stakeholders and fast-track the development of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs). He emphasized that PSPs are integral to India’s renewable energy roadmap and called for the acceleration of strategic planning and execution.

M.G. Gokhale, Member (Hydro), CEA, highlighted the immense potential of PSPs in helping India meet its net zero targets. He noted that around 3 GW of PSP capacity is likely to be added in FY 2025–26, including the forthcoming commissioning of the 1000 MW Tehri PSP, which represents a major milestone in the country’s energy storage journey.

Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of NTPC, underlined the need for large-scale deployment of PSPs, stating that energy transition cannot be realized without robust storage solutions. He pointed out that renewable sources like solar and wind are intermittent and therefore must be supported by storage infrastructure to ensure stability and reliability of the grid.

R.K. Vishnoi, Chairman and Managing Director of THDC India Ltd., welcomed the dignitaries and participants, stating that the workshop was organized to identify bottlenecks and chart a faster and more efficient pathway for PSP development. He emphasized the role of automation in improving operational efficiency and ensuring seamless execution of future projects.

A.K. Dhinkar, Secretary, CBIP, delivered the vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to all participants for their insights and support. He reiterated the strategic importance of pumped storage projects in ensuring a resilient, stable, and sustainable energy future for the country.

The event included four focused panel discussions on:
1. Policy, Planning & Regulatory Framework for PSPs
2. Geological, Civil & Material Considerations
3. Environmental & Forest Clearances – Challenges & Streamlining
4. Implementation Challenges & Way Forward

The first session was moderated by Mohammad Afzal, Joint Secretary (Hydro), Ministry of Power, and featured Bhupender Gupta, Director (Technical), THDCIL, who offered key insights on the developer’s perspective under the current regulatory regime.

Expert voices from organizations including MoEF&CC, CEA, NHPC, SJVN, Greenko, MAHAGENCO, Adani Group, JSW Energy, APGENCO, TATA Power, KPCL, and academic institutions like IIT Roorkee contributed to the deliberations. Discussions focused on policy clarity, streamlined clearances, innovative financing models, and the need for tighter coordination between state and central agencies.

The session concluded with a comprehensive summary presented by the CEA and closing remarks by THDC. A notable highlight was the announcement that THDC is in the final stages of commissioning India’s first 1000 MW Variable Speed Pumped Storage Plant at Tehri, Uttarakhand—an achievement that marks a new chapter in India’s renewable energy journey.

This event underscored the nation’s growing focus on pumped storage as a key enabler of clean energy and grid resilience.