NTPC, India’s largest integrated power company, in collaboration with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), successfully organised a two-day National Level Workshop on the Standardisation of Technical Specification for Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) at the Power Management Institute (PMI) in Noida.
NTPC is currently pursuing 8900 MW of PSPs across the country, with the Upper Bhavani PSP (1000 MW) recently allocated to it by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
What is PSP and why is it so important?
Storing excess renewable energy in the energy sector provides significant benefits, including reduced reliance on fossil fuel-based power plants and a consequent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) are an economical, large-scale energy storage solution that is domestically available. These projects balance excess energy generation from variable renewable energy (RE) sources during non-peaking hours and meet rising grid demand during peak hours, ensuring grid stability and round-the-clock (RTC) power for consumers.
The aim of the workshop was to foster collaboration and synergy among PSP developers, civil execution agencies, electro-mechanical equipment manufacturers, consultants, and government authorities. The focus was on standardising technical specifications for PSPs. Key participants and attendees included:
- Organisers: NTPC and the Central Electricity Authority (CEA)
- Over 200 delegates from various Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs), State PSUs, government departments, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and other technocrats
- Representatives from CEA, CWC, GSI, EDF, the Embassy of France and Ukraine, L&T, Tata Projects, AFCONS, RVNL, Andritz Hydro, Voith Hydro, Power Machines, and BHEL
During the workshop:
- The Central Electricity Dept. explained the policy framework and statutory clearance requirements for PSPs.
- Officials from MoEF &CC discussed policies and methodologies for forest and environmental clearances for detailed project reports (DPRs).
- Heavy civil construction companies like Tata Projects, L&T, and RVNL presented innovative methodologies, technological advances, and risk-sharing measures to facilitate the timely completion of PSPs.
- M/s Greenko, executing the Pinnapuram PSP in Andhra Pradesh, presented the issues and challenges in developing PSPs.
- Equipment manufacturers Andritz Hydro and Voith Hydro provided technical insights to standardize electro-mechanical (EM) equipment for PSPs, emphasizing the importance of involving OEMs from the conceptualization stage to save time on model studies and manufacturing of EM equipment.
The meeting was Chaired by Shri MAKP Singh, Member (Hydro), CEA and attended by the Leadership Team of NTPC namely, Shri KS Sundaram – Director (Projects), Shri S.N. Tripathi – RED (Hydro), Shri S.L. Kapil – Ex-ED, Shri R.P. Ahirwar – Head of Project (Koldam) and Shri J.C. Kakoti – GM (Hydro Engineering).
