Govt Targets 50 GW Pumped Storage Capacity by 2032; To Add 13 GW Annually from FY29

NEW DELHI: The government of India is setting an aggressive pace for its clean energy transition, aiming to add up to 13 gigawatts (GW) of hydro pumped storage projects (PSPs) annually from the fiscal year 2028-29. This massive expansion is part of a larger plan to achieve a total of 50 GW of pumped storage capacity by 2032, a senior official confirmed on Monday.

The ambitious target was announced by Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), at the "Conference on Energy Storage - Driving the Clean Energy Transition," organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Prasad highlighted that pumped storage hydropower has taken a "big leap," with an average addition of approximately 3 GW expected annually starting this year. However, he noted that the real acceleration would begin in FY2028-29, when annual additions are projected to reach "double digits," ranging from 10 GW to 13 GW. This exponential growth is essential to meet the 50 GW target by 2032.

The significant increase in capacity is intended to support the integration of a growing share of renewable energy, particularly from solar and wind, into the national grid. Pumped storage projects act as large-scale energy batteries, storing surplus electricity by pumping water to an upper reservoir and releasing it to generate power during peak demand. The CEA chairperson emphasized that this will multiply the gigawatt-hours of energy that can be integrated into the system, strengthening grid stability and reliability.

The push for pumped storage is a key component of India's strategy to meet its climate goals and build a robust energy infrastructure capable of handling the demands of a modern, clean economy.