Context
The Union Budget for 2024-25 promised that a policy for promoting pumped storage projects will be brought out for electricity storage and facilitating smooth integration of the growing share of renewable energy with its variable and intermittent nature.
About
- It is a configuration of water reservoirs at one-of-a-kind elevations that could generate energy as water movements down from one to the other (discharge), passing via a turbine.
- Pumped storage initiatives shop power to stabilize the variety of renewable energy sources like wind and sun.
Types
- Pumped storage is of two types:
- On-River: Traditional hydroelectric projects use river waft.
- Off-River: Uses reservoirs at special elevations in a closed loop. Energy is saved by pumping water to a better reservoir and producing energy by means of letting it float down.
- One such mission is at Kadamparai, Tamil Nadu.
- Capacity: 400MW with four 100MW gadgets.
Status in India
- India has 3.3GW of pumped storage. Main ones are in Nagarjunasagar, Kadana, Kadamparai, Panchet and Bhira.
- China leads the sector with 50GW of pumped storage supporting 1,300GW of wind and sun power.
Need
- India has deliberately created a bold 500GW of non-fossil gas electricity by 2030.
- From 2021 to 2023, it created a few 23GW of non-fossil technology capacity.
- Out of the full 10GW delivered in eight months in 2023-24, 7.5GW have been from wind and solar power pointing to how renewables will account for most of the new power technology on the way to be brought in India.
- India could need to ramp up its pumped storage potential through several instances if it desires to meet its renewable strength era goals.
Advantages
- Quick on/off response of turbine
- Quick Response to technology variability to stabilise grid
- Best mechanism to assist integrate the intermittent energy resources with system
- Help improve grid performance.
- Low O&M Cost
- Environment pleasant as allows reducing Greenhouse gas emission from power generation by fossil fuels
Disadvantages
- Loss of energy whilst pumping.
- At instances Attracts negative effect on surroundings because of massive submergence in reservoirs.
- Initial fee could be very excessive and price economics is a project.
- Long gestation period
- Requires highly meticulous and sensible planning and layout.
- Very hard to locate suitable website and the appropriate website is rare to find
Suggestions and Way Forward
- Given the ongoing energy transitions within the country, the development of Pump Storage Projects is of paramount importance for imparting more inertia and balancing energy to the grid as battery storage answers are nonetheless being scaled up and are required for short duration storage wishes in grid control
- Pump Storage Projects are a herbal enabler for integrating more amounts of wind and solar strength. With its capability to save a huge amount of power, common begins/stops, and faster ramp up/ramp-downs, PSPS are ideally fitted to deal with the dynamic supply and demand.
Source: The Hindu
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Q. What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security? (2020)