India is set to embark on a significant expansion of its pumped hydro storage capacity to meet the growing demands of its renewable energy sector. 

According to Ghanshayam Prasad, Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the country aims to add 2.8 GW of pumped hydro capacity annually until 2027. 

This ambitious plan will be followed by an accelerated addition of over 10 GW per year from 2028-29 onwards, with a goal of reaching a total capacity of 57 GW by 2032. 

This is a substantial increase from the current level of approximately 5 GW.

This expansion is deemed critical for addressing the inherent intermittency of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. By developing robust energy storage systems, India can ensure a stable power supply during non-solar hours and other periods of low generation. 

This initiative is part of a broader government strategy to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based power generation capacity by 2030, a target that has already reached 252 GW. 

The government is also promoting battery storage through its production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) battery storage.