Pumped hydro storage for intermittent renewable energy: Present status and future potential in India

Abstract

Globally, communities are converting to renewable energy because of the negative effects of fossil fuels. In 2020, renewable energy sources provided about 29% of the world's primary energy. However, the intermittent nature of renewable power, calls for substantial energy storage. Pumped storage hydropower is the most dependable and widely used option for large-scale energy storage. This study discusses working, types, advantages and drawbacks, and global and national scenarios of pumped storage schemes. It discusses global leaders in pumped hydropower storage such as China and the USA and the current status of India in Pumped storage capacity. The study also highlights major pumped storage schemes of India and their contribution to total hydropower generation capacity. The study also discusses the possibilities for high-capacity pumped storage schemes (> 1000 MW) in India going forward with Agencies like the New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh and the Water Resource Department. Graphical Abstract