Bhubaneswar: In a significant stride towards India’s ambitious sustainable energy goals, an agreement was signed today between Odisha Hydro Power Corporation Ltd. (OHPC) and WAPCOS Ltd. for project management consultancy services for the 600 MW Upper Indravati Pumped Storage Project (UIPSP) at Mukhiguda.
This crucial collaboration, witnessed by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, and Principal Secretary, Energy and Chairman OHPC, Vishal Kumar Dev, underscores Odisha’s commitment to enhancing grid stability and integrating a growing share of renewable energy.
India has set a target of achieving 500 GW of installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030, building on the 220 GW achieved as of March 31, 2025. With renewable energy sources like wind and solar being intermittent and not available during peak demand periods, particularly at night, the need for robust energy storage solutions like pumped storage projects (PSPs) has become paramount for generation-demand balancing and overall power system stability.
The Upper Indravati Pumped Storage Project, with a capacity of 600 MW, will be constructed by OHPC in the vicinity of its existing 600 MW Upper Indravati Hydro Electric Project. This strategic co-location leverages existing infrastructure and expertise. WAPCOS Ltd., which prepared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the UIPSP, will now provide essential project management consultancy services.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Singh Deo emphasized the project’s importance, stating, “This collaboration marks a crucial step in advancing Odisha’s energy sector while ensuring efficiency and sustainability.”
Essentially, the UIPSP will function as a large-scale energy storage system. During periods of surplus power in the grid (often when renewable energy generation is high), water will be pumped from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir. This stored energy will then be released during peak power demand times by allowing the water to flow back down, generating electricity.
The proposed PSP will feature an underground powerhouse housing four vertical-axis reversible-type Francis Hydroelectric units, each with a capacity of 150 MW, totaling 600 MW. These units are designed to operate efficiently in both pumping and generating modes, circulating water between the two reservoirs in a daily cycle.
The signing ceremony was attended by senior officers from the Water Resources and Energy departments, along with representatives from OHPC and WAPCOS. This project is a testament to Odisha’s proactive approach in contributing to India’s clean energy transition and ensuring a resilient and sustainable power supply for the future.