Online Training Program for Power Sector Professionals on Renewable Energy Grid Integration through Hydro Pumped Storage

The Government of India set a target of 175 Gigawatt (GW) of Renewable Energy capacity by the year 2022 and a further target of 450 GW by the end of 2030. The generation from wind and solar has already increased substantially during the past few years and forms a significant portion of the total electricity mix in the grid. Excess Renewable Energy needs to be stored so that it can be used when needed. Integrating a significantly increased amount of wind and solar facilities into the electricity supply system requires balancing strategies and storage options. While many forms of energy storage systems have been installed globally, Pumped Storage Plants (PSP) are playing an increasingly important role in providing peaking power and maintaining system stability in the power system of many of the developed countries. So far, PSP hydro is one of the very few, large scale, long term and technically proven, cost-effective and highly efficient energy storage options available which also allows flexible operation at short notice.

 

The Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP) and The Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF) jointly organised a virtual visit to a PSP plant and online training on Renewable Energy Grid Integration through Pumped Hydro Storage on 20-21 August 2020. The program was attended by 127 participants from 35 organisations in India including various State utilities, PSU’s, NHPC, NTPC, POSOCO, TCS, BSES Rajdhani, ANDRITZ HYDRO, Marubeni and 40 officials from four neighbouring countries - Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The program had been approved by the BIMSTEC Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India.

 

The topics of the training included technical and economic advantages and assessed the role of pumped storage balancing load and generation as well as providing reliably available capacity. The highlight of the training program was a virtual tour through the Kadamparai PSP plant itself. Dr. G.P. Patel, Secretary of CBIP welcomed all the dignitaries and expressed his gratitude on behalf of CBIP. Shri Anil Kumar Bellary, Co-Director of the IGEF-Support Office gave the introductory address and briefed the delegates regarding the objectives of the online training program. The keynote address was delivered by Chief Guest Shri K.V.S. Baba, Chairman & Managing Director of POSOCO. Mr. Baba complimented both CBIP and IGEF for the excellent initiative of organising an online training program with a virtual visit to a PSP plant. He recalled the significant role played by hydropower on an event on 5 April 2020 when at the clarion call of the Honourable Prime Minister of India to shut down electrical lights for 9 minutes at 9 pm throughout the country to show solidarity with COVID-19 warriors. The security and stability of the national grid were ensured successfully by the national dispatch centre POSOCO to a great extent because of the flexible hydro systems.

 

More information and the presentations can be downloaded here.

IN