Pumped Storage Hydropower

Current Context : Recently, Uttar Pradesh government approved a 1,200 MW pumped storage power project in Sonabhadra district.

ABOUT PUMPED STORAGE HYDROPOWER

• It is a type of hydroelectric power generation used to store and manage electrical energy.
• Pumped storage plants use the principle of gravity to generate electricity.
• It is a configuration of two water reservoirs at different elevations that can generate power as water moves down from one to the other (discharge), passing through a turbine.
• The system also requires power as it pumps water back into the upper reservoir (recharge).
• Central Electricity Authority estimates on-river pumped storage hydro potential in India to be 103 GW.

GLOBAL EXAMPLES OF PUMPED STORAGE HYDROPOWER

1. Bath County Pumped Storage Station (USA): It is one of the largest pumped storage plants in the world, located in Virginia, with a capacity of around 3,000 MW.
2. Daya Bay Pumped Storage Station (China): A significant facility in Guangdong province, contributing to grid stability and energy storage in the region.
3. Festiniog Pumped Storage (UK): An older but still operational facility in Wales, providing valuable grid support and energy storage.