Tata Power To Develop Two 2800 MW Pumped Hydel Project In Maharashtra
Energy
5 min read
Tata Power has signed an agreement with the Maharashtra government to develop two 2800 MW pumped hydro storage projects at the cost of Rs 13,000 crore.The pumped hydro storage projects will support renewable solar and wind projects to ensure a reliable, 24x7, consistent power supply.
Where is the Project being set up ?
The two projects with a combined capacity of 2800 MW will be situated in
Shirvata,Pune (1000MW) and Bhivpuri, Raigad (1000 MW).
The two storage projects are located in Western Ghat where the topography supports the building of pumped hydro storage projects .
Tata power already operates three hydropower projects in the region.
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The 72 MW Khopoli Hydroelectric plant ,built on Patalganga river.
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The 75 MW Bhivpuri Hydroelectric plant , built on Bhivpuri river in Raigad district of Maharashtra.
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The 300 MW Bhira Hydro power project uses the water of Mulshi dam built on Kundalika river.The Bhira project also has a 150 MW Pumped Storage Hydro project.
How does the Pumped Storage Hydropower work ?
The principle behind the working of the pumped storage hydropower plant is similar to a conventional hydropower plant . The only difference is that the pumped storage hydropower plant has the capacity to use the same water again and again . When the demand for electricity increases ,water is flown from the upper storage to the lower storage and falls on a pipe which rotates the turbine ,which in turn rotates the generators ,producing electricity.
When the electricity demands increase then the turbines spin backward to pump the water back into the upper reservoir so it can once again be used to generate electricity when needed.
Pumped Hydro: The Battery of the Grid for Renewables
The pumped hydro storage projects will support renewable solar and wind projects to ensure a reliable, 24/7, consistent power supply.
Generation of power from solar or wind is dependent on weather phenomena . Electricity can be produced by the solar panel only when it is charged by sun rays which can happen only in the day or on a sunny day. It cannot produce electricity during the night or in a cloudy atmosphere. Also the production of wind energy depends upon the prevailing wind condition . It requires an optimum wind speed to produce electricity .
The problem with these renewable sources of energy is that its production cannot be increased or decreased as per the demand of the consumers and it is not reliable also.
To provide a backup and stabilise the electricity grid , the pumped storage hydropower can be used to supplement the electricity supplied through wind or solar power.. If the demand of electricity is high then the pumped storage hydropower project will start electricity production and if it is low then the water can be pumped back into lower reservoirs and it will stop producing electricity.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra : Eknath Shinde
Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra: Devendra Fadnavis.
