Construction of the 1,680 MW pumped storage hydropower project (PSHP) by Greenko Group at Pinnapuram in Andhra Pradesh has reached an advanced stage. The project is set for dry commissioning by the end of March this year and is likely to be fully operational in another three months or later.

Austria-based Andritz Hydro which caters to hydropower projects in India and the south-east Asian region with its distinct ‘water to wire’ concept, is carrying out the electro-mechanical work of installing eight units (6x240 MW and 2x120 W). A couple of generator-reversible turbine sets have already been placed and are in the final fabrication process.

The hydrological and other civil works by Megha Engineering & Infrastructure (MEIL) are nearing completion. The construction of upper and lower reservoirs with 1.30 tmcft each of live storage capacity and 0.50 tmcft and 0.40 tmcft of dead storage is almost over. The water source is the Gorakallu reservoir.

This PSHP, along with 3,000 MW solar and a 550 MW wind power project, which is coming up in Kurnool and Nandyal districts, constitutes the Pinnapuram Integrated Renewable Energy Project (IREP). Of the 3,000 MW solar component, the generation of 700 MW is likely to commence by the end of March 2024, and 300 MW of wind capacity is poised to be available around the same time.

Greenko is the developer of Pinnapuram IREP, which is expected to be India’s largest gigawatt scale integrated project with an aggregate capacity of 5,230 MW, comprising solar, wind and pumped storage components that can supply power on demand.