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Pumped Storage Deployment for Grid Stability in India
ANDRITZ and Torrent Power cooperate to implement a 3,000 MW pumped storage facility supporting renewable energy integration and grid balancing in Maharashtra.
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ANDRITZ and Torrent Power are collaborating to deliver a large-scale pumped storage plant designed to stabilize India’s electricity grid and support the integration of variable renewable energy sources.
Context of the Cooperation
ANDRITZ, an international supplier of hydropower equipment and systems, is working with Torrent Power, an integrated Indian utility active in generation, transmission, and distribution. The cooperation addresses the increasing need for grid stability as India expands its solar and wind capacity, where intermittent generation requires balancing through energy storage systems.
The scale and technical complexity of a 3,000 MW pumped storage facility necessitate coordination between a technology provider and a utility with project execution capabilities. The Saidongar-1 Karjat project in Maharashtra reflects this requirement for combined expertise in renewable energy infrastructure and large-scale system integration.
Technical Solution and Responsibilities
The project is based on pumped storage hydropower, where excess electrical energy is used to pump water to an elevated reservoir and later released to generate electricity during peak demand.
ANDRITZ is responsible for the design, manufacturing, installation, testing, and commissioning of the plant’s core electromechanical systems. This includes ten reversible pump turbines and motor-generators, which enable bidirectional operation between pumping and generating modes. The equipment is engineered to support high-cycle operation and rapid load response, essential for balancing fluctuating renewable inputs.
Torrent Energy Storage Solutions Private Limited, a subsidiary of Torrent Power, is responsible for overall project development and integration into the regional grid infrastructure. This includes civil works, system coordination, and operational management.
Deployment and Implementation
The Saidongar-1 Karjat plant is being developed in Maharashtra and is designed to become India’s largest pumped storage installation. Manufacturing and assembly of key components will utilize ANDRITZ’s facilities in India, supported by its global engineering network.
The implementation includes phased installation and commissioning of turbine units, along with integration into existing transmission infrastructure to ensure compatibility with grid requirements and dispatch systems.
Applications and Use Cases
The primary application of the facility is grid balancing for renewable energy systems. The plant enables:
- Load shifting between off-peak and peak demand periods
- Frequency regulation and reserve capacity provision
- Stabilization of power supply in high-renewable penetration scenarios
- Such capabilities are critical for maintaining operational reliability in modern energy systems with high variability.
Results and Expected Impact
With an annual energy production of approximately 6,241 GWh, the plant is expected to contribute significantly to regional power availability. The system’s operation can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 4.55 million tons per year by offsetting fossil-based peak generation.
From a system perspective, pumped storage improves grid efficiency by reducing curtailment of renewable generation and enabling more predictable dispatch. The cooperation between ANDRITZ and Torrent Power demonstrates a structured approach to deploying large-scale energy storage infrastructure aligned with India’s long-term energy transition objectives.
Edited by an industrial journalist Sucithra Mani with AI assistance.
www.andritz.com
With an annual energy production of approximately 6,241 GWh, the plant is expected to contribute significantly to regional power availability. The system’s operation can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 4.55 million tons per year by offsetting fossil-based peak generation.
From a system perspective, pumped storage improves grid efficiency by reducing curtailment of renewable generation and enabling more predictable dispatch. The cooperation between ANDRITZ and Torrent Power demonstrates a structured approach to deploying large-scale energy storage infrastructure aligned with India’s long-term energy transition objectives.
Edited by an industrial journalist Sucithra Mani with AI assistance.
www.andritz.com
