NHPC and APGENCO join hands for implementation of Pumped Storage Hydropower Projects and other Renewable Energy Projects in Andhra Pradesh.

New Delhi: NHPC Limited, a leading hydropower enterprise in India, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation (APGENCO) Limited, a government undertaking in Andhra Pradesh. This collaboration aims to implement Pumped Hydro Storage Projects and Renewable Energy Projects within the state.

In the initial stage, the MoU outlines the development of two specific Pumped Hydro Storage Projects, with a combined capacity of 1,950 MW. These projects, named Kamlapadu (950 MW) and Yaganti (1,000 MW), are anticipated to generate substantial employment opportunities and stimulate the local economy. The projects will be executed as Joint Ventures between the two entities. The signing ceremony for the MoU took place in Tadepalli, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh on August 23, 2023. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, was present during the event. The agreement was formalized by Shri R.P. Goyal, Director (Finance) of NHPC, and Shri K. V. N. Chakradhar Babu, Managing Director of APGENCO, alongside other officials from both organizations.

The primary objective of the MoU is to leverage Pumped Storage Projects as solutions for energy storage. This aligns with India’s national goal of achieving 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources (including Renewable Energy and Nuclear) by 2030, as well as striving for Net Zero emissions by 2070. The Pumped Storage System functions by utilizing excess power from sources such as thermal power stations to pump water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir. This stored energy is subsequently harnessed during peak demand periods when power availability is limited.

NHPC Limited, a prominent player in the hydropower sector in India, holds a total installed capacity of 7,097.2 MW in renewable power, encompassing wind and solar sources. This capacity is distributed across 25 power stations, including subsidiary operations.