Greenko, Adani, JSW to Lead Development of Majority of India’s 51 GW Pumped Storage Pipeline

According to recent data released by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), three major energy companies—Greenko, Adani Green, and JSW Energy—are poised to develop a significant portion of India’s ambitious pumped storage hydropower capacity target. By 2032, India aims to commission a total of 51 gigawatts (GW) of pumped storage capacity, a crucial technology designed to support grid stability and enhance renewable energy integration. Notably, nearly two-thirds of this capacity will be constructed by these three players, underscoring their dominant role in the country's evolving energy landscape.

Pumped storage hydropower is an essential grid-balancing tool, especially as India increasingly integrates variable renewable energy sources like solar and wind power into its electricity grid. These renewables, while clean and sustainable, are intermittent by nature, leading to challenges in ensuring consistent power supply. Pumped storage projects address this by storing energy during periods of low demand and releasing it when demand spikes, thereby maintaining grid stability.

The technology behind pumped storage involves two reservoirs located at different elevations. When electricity demand is low, often during nighttime or non-peak hours, surplus renewable energy (primarily solar power) is used to pump water from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir. This process effectively stores energy in the form of potential energy. When demand rises, the stored water is released back down through turbines to generate electricity, providing power during peak hours or when solar generation is unavailable. This cycle allows the grid to balance supply and demand efficiently.

Currently, India’s installed pumped storage capacity stands at less than 5 GW. However, plans are underway to increase this capacity more than tenfold, targeting over 51 GW by 2032. This dramatic scale-up is expected to be achieved through the commissioning of approximately 39 projects, spread across multiple states. Out of these, about 10 GW is already under construction, including 3 GW scheduled for commissioning within the current financial year.

The development of these projects has occurred through various routes: some have been self-identified by private developers who see strategic value in pumped storage; others have been awarded via competitive bidding processes; and some have been allocated to public sector enterprises. This diverse approach ensures broad participation from both the private and public sectors, facilitating robust growth in the pumped storage segment.

Regionally, over 57% of the planned capacity is expected to be located in two key states—Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. This concentration reflects favorable geographic and hydrological conditions, along with supportive state policies that encourage renewable and storage infrastructure investments.

Among the key developers, Hyderabad-based Greenko Group leads with plans to develop 13.2 GW, accounting for 25% of the total pipeline. Following closely is Adani Green, with a target of 11.4 GW (22%), and JSW Energy, aiming to develop 7.7 GW (15%). Together, these three firms will drive the majority of the country’s pumped storage capacity expansion.

In combination with battery energy storage systems (BESS), pumped storage is positioned to play a pivotal role in India's energy transition. As the nation moves towards higher shares of renewable energy, such storage solutions will be indispensable for ensuring grid reliability and avoiding power shortages.

This expansion of pumped storage capacity aligns with India’s broader goals of reducing carbon emissions, increasing energy security, and supporting the country’s commitment to a sustainable energy future. The involvement of major energy players and the strategic geographic distribution of projects indicate strong momentum towards achieving these objectives by the early 2030s.