Pumped Storage Hydropower Emerges as Focus of India's Clean Energy Debate
India's pumped storage hydropower (PSH) sector holds vast potential but capacity expansion remains central to the country's clean energy transition, according to reporting by ANI News on 19 October 2026, corroborated by Drishti IAS on 20 October 2026 and two further outlets on 21 October 2026. The coverage reflects growing policy and industry attention on PSH as a storage-capable complement to variable renewable energy sources.
Projects India tracks the broader power sector, where hydel-based power accounts for 2,128 live projects nationally — one of the largest sub-sector counts on the platform.
Recent Projects Entering the Pipeline
Four new hydel-based power projects were added to the Projects India database in the last 90 days, reflecting continued developer activity. Among the recently highlighted projects, several pumped storage schemes are at advanced stages of development across multiple states. Key projects tracked by Projects India include a Rs 7,457.68 crore pumped storage hydel power project in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, promoted by Jhariya Ananturja Private Limited, and a Rs 7,048 crore hydroelectric power project in Pune, Maharashtra, promoted by Adani Renewable Energy Fifty Two Limited, both currently under approvals.
Tata Power's Bhivpuri Off-Stream Open Loop Pumped Storage Project in Raigad, Maharashtra, valued at Rs 2,470 crore, has moved into construction. JSW Energy PSP Two Limited's Bhavali Pumped Storage Project in Thane, Maharashtra, is under approvals, though its value has not been recorded in the database. Avaada Group's Rs 5,800 crore pumped storage project in Sirohi, Rajasthan, is also under approvals.
| Project | Promoter | Location | Value (Rs crore) | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pumped Storage Hydel Power Project | Jhariya Ananturja Private Limited | Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh | 7,457.68 | Under Approvals |
| Hydroelectric Power Project | Adani Renewable Energy Fifty Two Limited | Pune, Maharashtra | 7,048 | Under Approvals |
| Hydel Power Project | APGENCO | Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh | 11,054 | Approvals Received |
| Pumped Hydropower Storage Project | Avaada Group | Sirohi, Rajasthan | 5,800 | Under Approvals |
| Pumped Storage Hydro Power Project | Odisha Hydro Power Corporation Limited | Kalahandi, Odisha | 3,160 | Under Approvals |
| Bhivpuri Off-Stream Open Loop Pumped Storage Project | Tata Power | Raigad, Maharashtra | 2,470 | Construction Started |
| Hydroelectric Project (Shongtong Karcham) | Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited | Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh | 2,807 | Construction Started |
| Dikhu Hydro Power Project Dam-III | Manu Energy Systems Private Limited | Nagaland | 1,950 | Under Approvals |
| Bhavali Pumped Storage Project | JSW Energy PSP Two Limited | Thane, Maharashtra | Not recorded | Under Approvals |
| Thana Plaun HEP | Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited | Mandi, Himachal Pradesh | Not recorded | Approvals Received |
Geography: Where the Projects Are Concentrated
Projects India's hydel-based power project database shows a strong concentration in the Himalayan and north-eastern states. Himachal Pradesh leads with 437 tracked projects, followed closely by Arunachal Pradesh with 415 and Uttarakhand with 259. Maharashtra accounts for 182 projects, reflecting the state's growing interest in pumped storage schemes. Jharkhand records 98 projects and Madhya Pradesh 76.
The Himalayan corridor — Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand combined — accounts for over 1,100 of the 2,128 tracked projects, making it the dominant geography for hydel capacity development in India. Suppliers and civil contractors targeting volume should note that activity in these three states alone represents more than half the national pipeline.
Stage Breakdown: Approvals Dominate the Pipeline
Of the 2,128 hydel-based power projects tracked by Projects India, 1,070 are currently under approvals — the single largest stage cohort, representing just over half the total pipeline. A further 70 have received approvals and are awaiting construction mobilisation. Projects in active construction stand at 264, while 208 remain at the planning stage. An additional 247 projects are recorded as completed and 142 are on hold.
The large proportion of projects in the approvals stages indicates a substantial forward pipeline for equipment suppliers and engineering contractors, though conversion from approvals to construction will depend on regulatory progress and financing timelines, neither of which can be predicted from the data available.
What this means for suppliers and contractors
The scale of the under-approvals cohort — 1,070 projects — signals significant potential future procurement activity in civil engineering, electromechanical equipment, tunnelling, dam construction and transmission infrastructure. However, suppliers should note that projects at this stage have not yet secured all regulatory clearances, and timelines to tender issue are uncertain.
With 264 projects already in construction, near-term procurement opportunities exist, particularly in Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh where project counts are highest. Maharashtra's 182 tracked projects, several of them pumped storage schemes now entering construction or approaching approvals, represent a distinct opportunity cluster for contractors with experience in off-stream and reservoir-based pumped storage configurations.
There are currently no open India tenders recorded by Projects India in the broader power projects sector at the time of publication. Suppliers are advised to monitor the pipeline closely as projects move from approvals to construction. Live tenders across all sectors can be tracked here.
Frequently asked questions
How many pumped storage and hydel power projects are tracked in India?
Projects India tracks 2,128 live hydel-based power projects across India. Of these, 1,070 are under approvals, 264 are in construction, and 70 have received approvals. Four new projects were added to the database in the last 90 days.
Which states have the most hydel power projects in India?
Himachal Pradesh leads with 437 tracked hydel projects, followed by Arunachal Pradesh with 415 and Uttarakhand with 259. Maharashtra accounts for 182 projects, with Jharkhand at 98 and Madhya Pradesh at 76, according to Projects India data.
What is the status of pumped storage hydropower development in India?
Multiple outlets reported in October 2026 that India's pumped storage sector holds vast potential but that capacity expansion remains key to the clean energy transition. Several large PSH projects are currently under approvals or in construction across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.
Who are the promoters of major pumped storage projects in India?
Promoters of recently tracked pumped storage projects include Tata Power, Avaada Group, JSW Energy PSP Two Limited, Adani Renewable Energy Fifty Two Limited, Jhariya Ananturja Private Limited and Odisha Hydro Power Corporation Limited, among others, across multiple states.
