Ministry of Coal is planning to develop Pump Storage Projects (PSP) in de-coaled coal mines, leveraging the economic advantages of vast land bank and economic viability.
Main aim
- The aim of the plan is to diversify towards alternative source of energy.
- Through pump storage projects, it is planned to utilize solar energy to develop hydro electricity promoting sustainable development in the coal sector.
- This initiative aims to harness the solar energy during the day and generation of hydro-electricity at night.
About Pumped storage power plants
- Pumped storage power plants use gravity to generate electricity using water that has previously been pumped from a reservoir in the pit into an upper reservoir at surface.
- During periods of low demand, the water is pumped into the higher reservoir. When demand is high, the water is released to drive a turbine in a powerhouse and feed electricity into the grid.
- Over 200 de-coaled mines with huge land area are available in coal producing areas. Many of these mines are feasible for PSPs as lower reservoir, head of water and land are available.
