THDCIL commences India’s first ‘Variable Speed Pumped Storage’ at Tehri

State owned THDC India Limited (THDCIL) has announced the successful commencement of COD process of the 1st Unit (250 MW) of the 1000 MW Variable Speed Pumped Storage Plant (PSP) at Tehri in Uttarakhand.

THDCIL held that the landmark achievement marks a historic milestone in India’s renewable energy journey, establishing the Tehri PSP as the largest Pumped Storage Plant by any Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) and the first Variable Speed PSP in the country.

The commencement was virtually attended by Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Eminent dignitaries of the Power Sector including Pankaj Agarwal, Power Secretary, Akash Tripathi, Addl. Power Secretary, Gurdeep Singh, CMD/NTPC, RK Vishnoi, CMD/THDCIL and others.

Manohar Lal Khattar stated that the successful operation of 1st unit of India’s first Variable Speed Pumped Storage Plant at Tehri is not just a technological achievement by THDCIL, but a bold stride towards India’s energy self-reliance. The project will significantly strengthen our grid stability and support the integration of renewable energy. Variable speed technology allows us to manage power flow with precision, making our energy ecosystem smarter and more flexible.

The Union Minister congratulated the entire THDCIL team, implementing partners, and every individual who contributed directly or indirectly to this historic success.

Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, lauded the commissioning milestone, stating that the Variable Speed Pumped Storage Plant at Tehri is a path-breaking development that significantly strengthens our Grid flexibility. “It plays a pivotal role in our mission to integrate increasing amounts of renewable energy and transition towards a cleaner, more reliable energy ecosystem.”

Gurdeep Singh, CMD, NTPC, extended his congratulations, saying that this milestone reflects the high-end engineering capabilities of Indian PSUs in the hydropower sector. It sets a powerful precedent for future PSP developments across the nation.

RK Vishnoi, CMD, THDCIL, conveyed his heartfelt congratulations on this significant achievement and stated that once fully operational, this Project will elevate the Tehri Hydro Power Complex’s capacity to 2,400 MW, making it India’s largest Hydropower Complex. This project will be instrumental in converting off-peak surplus energy into peaking power, enhancing grid resilience and supporting round-the-clock power availability.

Designed to provide flexible peaking power and critical grid balancing support, the Tehri Variable Speed PSP represents a significant leap forward in India’s ability to manage intermittent renewable energy. This commissioning milestone reaffirms THDCIL’s leadership in State-of-the-Art Hydropower solutions and bolsters India’s clean energy credentials on the global stage. The power electronics and controls, along with the 250 MW variable-speed pumped storage hydropower unit, have been supplied by GE Vernova.