Pumped Storage schemes are typical variant of conventional hydroelectric projects and have two-reservoirs one in the upstream another in the downstream. Pumped Storage Schemes (PSPs) acts as a Grid Scale Battery Storage and helps to improve system reliability. As the 21st century world is grappling with global warming due to increased greenhouse gas emissions, the world is focusing on electricity generation from renewable energy sources like solar and wind etc. India, too, has set up an ambitious target to achieve capacity addition of about 175 GW from renewable energy sources by 2022 to meet-the emission reduction targets as committed in COP-21 under UNFCCC. However, renewable sources-like wind & solar are variable and intermittent and would need large energy storages for their smooth integration into the grid and to avoid their curtailment. PSPs provide Balancing Power/Grid Stabilization and act as ancillary sources for improved frequency. Besides that, features like Large Grid Storage, Long discharge time in hours, Fast ramp rate, Frequency Regulation etc., Grid balancing/ stability & Voltage support against Demand/ Generation variations which Improve overall economy of power system-operation by relative flattening of load curve are pushing the world for faster development of PSPs. The-government of India has also come out with policy interventions to promote Hydro Power Development along with PSPs in the country.
Climate change, Renewable Energy Sources, Pumped Storage Projects, Hydro Projects, Policy Interventions
