India’s green energy transition is entering a decisive phase as private sector giants Greenko, Adani Green Energy, and JSW Energy position themselves at the forefront of the country’s ambitious pumped storage hydropower pipeline.
According to the latest data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), these three developers are set to build nearly 66 per cent of India’s planned 51.24 gigawatts (GW) of pumped storage capacity by 2032. This massive rollout of long-duration energy storage marks a vital shift in the country’s decarbonisation strategy. As India adds more solar and wind power to its grid, the need for flexible, dispatchable storage systems is growing urgent. Pumped storage, which uses gravity and water to store and release power, is emerging as the mainstay solution, especially in states with natural elevation and water resource advantages.
Greenko Group, headquartered in Hyderabad, will develop the largest share—13.2 GW, accounting for roughly 25 per cent of the total pipeline. Adani Green Energy follows closely with 11.4 GW, and JSW Energy is set to contribute 7.7 GW. Combined, the three players will spearhead a national push to scale India’s storage backbone, helping maintain grid stability while reducing dependence on fossil-fuel peaker plants. These developments reflect a sharp acceleration from India’s current status. The country presently has less than 5 GW of installed pumped storage capacity, underscoring the scale of this upcoming transformation. According to the CEA, 39 projects are scheduled for commissioning by 2032, with 10 GW already under construction. Notably, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra will host more than half—around 57 per cent—of the planned capacity, leveraging their natural terrain and water availability.
Greenko’s flagship project, a 1,680 megawatt (MW) installation at Pinnapuram in Andhra Pradesh, will be commissioned this September. This will be the developer’s first pumped storage plant, expanding its portfolio beyond run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects. Adani Green has signalled similar intent, with company executives highlighting superior internal rates of return (IRRs) compared to conventional renewables. Its first 500 MW pumped storage facility, located near the Chitravathi dam in Andhra Pradesh, is expected to go online by 2027. In addition to these private projects, the public sector remains active. THDC India’s 1,000 MW pumped storage project in Tehri, Uttarakhand, is set for commissioning by October, and Tamil Nadu’s power utility TANGEDCO will bring a 375 MW facility online in Kundah by December.
Despite their longer gestation periods—often up to five years—pumped storage plants offer unmatched reliability and scale. Globally, they account for more than 90 per cent of all energy storage capacity. In contrast, battery energy storage systems (BESS), while faster to deploy, remain limited by cost and global supply chains, particularly their reliance on Chinese manufacturing. India’s policymakers have acknowledged this trade-off. By supporting both technologies in parallel, they aim to ensure a balanced and resilient energy ecosystem. With an estimated 176 GW of total pumped storage potential—of which 70 GW is located in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra alone—the resource base exists to back this growth.
As the global energy narrative shifts from carbon-heavy to clean and controllable, India’s investment in pumped hydro—led by Greenko, Adani, and JSW—signals its readiness to power a more sustainable future.
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Greenko Adani JSW to Develop 51 GW Pumped Storage by 2032