A Parliamentary panel has urged NHPC to prioritise its planned 20 GW pumped storage pipeline and accelerate project implementation across multiple states. The panel highlighted the critical role of pumped storage and battery energy storage in supporting renewable energy integration, grid flexibility and long-term power system reliability.
A Parliamentary panel has urged NHPC to accord the highest strategic priority to its planned 20,000 MW pumped storage project (PSP) pipeline, highlighting the critical role of large-scale energy storage in strengthening India’s power grid and supporting the country’s renewable energy transition.
In a report tabled in Parliament, the Committee on Public Undertakings recommended that the Ministry of Power provide dedicated support to NHPC by expediting site allotments, prioritising statutory clearances and introducing off-take guarantee mechanisms to facilitate the timely implementation of pumped storage projects.
The committee noted that NHPC is developing nearly 20 GW of pumped storage capacity across multiple states and has also been designated as a battery energy storage system (BESS) implementing agency with an allocation of 1,500 MWh of battery storage capacity.
Pumped storage projects have been identified as a key technology for balancing the variability of solar and wind power. The committee observed that PSPs offer round-trip efficiency of around 79-80% and an operational life of up to 100 years, making them one of the most cost-effective and environmentally sustainable forms of grid-scale energy storage.
The report emphasised that India’s renewable energy expansion will require a substantial increase in storage infrastructure to maintain grid stability and ensure reliable electricity supply. According to the Ministry of Power, the country has a pumped storage potential exceeding 280 GW, while only about 7.1 GW has been installed so far.
The committee highlighted NHPC’s hydropower expertise and reservoir infrastructure as strategic advantages that position the company to play a leading role in India’s pumped storage expansion. It recommended greater emphasis on both pumped storage and battery energy storage projects as essential components of the country’s clean energy infrastructure.
The panel also raised concerns over the prolonged shutdown of NHPC’s 510 MW Teesta V Power Station following the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). According to the report, the disruption has resulted in generation losses exceeding 3,770 million units over the past two years.
The committee recommended that NHPC adhere strictly to the recommissioning schedule for Teesta V and submit monthly progress reports to the Ministry of Power on restoration activities. It also advised the company to undertake a comprehensive manpower planning exercise aligned with its long-term capacity expansion targets.
The recommendations underscore the growing importance of pumped storage in India’s energy transition strategy. Accelerated development of PSP infrastructure is expected to become a key enabler of grid flexibility, renewable energy integration and long-term power system reliability.