In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Shripad Naik, Minister of State for Power shared the measures taken by the government to harness hydroelectric potential, including hydro pumped storage. These include:
- Declaring large hydropower projects (over 25 MW) as renewable energy sources.
- Establishing Hydro Purchase Obligation (HPO) within the non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO).
- Implementing tariff rationalisation to lower hydropower tariffs.
- Providing budgetary support for flood moderation and storage hydroelectric projects.
- Funding infrastructure development such as roads and bridges.
- Issuing guidelines on April 10, 2023, to promote Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs).
- Waiving inter-state transmission system charges for hydroelectric projects and PSPs.
- Reducing the timeline for detailed project report (DPR) approval by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
The minister also shared that a CEA reassessment study (2017-2023) has revealed an exploitable large hydro potential of 133,410 MW and identified a PSP potential of 176,280 MW. Over the last ten years, CEA has approved 24 hydroelectric schemes, including PSPs, with a total capacity of 15,569 MW. Additionally, 17 hydroelectric projects (11,376 MW) and 38 PSPs (55,330 MW) are under survey and investigation for DPR preparation.
