Policy analyst urges Govt of India to prioritize battery storage over pumped hydro, citing ecological concerns

By A Representative 

A prominent power and climate policy analyst, Shankar Sharma, has raised significant concerns regarding India's current reliance on pumped storage plants (PSPs) for energy transition, advocating strongly for the adoption of battery energy storage systems (BESS) instead. In a detailed communication addressed to top government officials and ministers, including the Chairman CUM Managing Director of Grid-India, the Chairman of the Central Electricity Authority, and the Secretaries of Power, MNRE, and MoEF&CC, Sharma highlighted the "unacceptable ecological costs" associated with PSPs and called for a strategic re-evaluation of India's energy storage policy.

Sharma’s letter underscores the widespread opposition to PSPs due to their massive ecological footprint, citing specific proposals in the ecologically sensitive Sharavathi and Varahi river valleys in Karnataka. He argues that while state governments and the Ministry of Power project PSPs as crucial for integrating large-scale solar and wind capacities, they remain "callously silent" on the environmental damages and societal costs. Conversely, civil society groups have consistently advocated for BESS, citing their advantages of minimal ecological damage, lower carbon footprint, shorter gestation periods, and technical superiority.

The communication points to international experiences, particularly a recent article detailing how batteries are enhancing grid reliability in the US, to illustrate the clear advantages of BESS over PSPs. The article highlights the rapid growth of grid-scale battery storage, projecting it to surpass pumped hydro as the largest source of grid-scale electrical storage in the US around 2029. Sharma contends that this global trend is highly relevant to the Indian power sector, given the comparable complexities of the grids.

Sharma criticizes the lack of a comprehensive strategic policy paper from Indian authorities objectively comparing PSP and BESS technologies. He emphasizes the urgent need for diligent studies to assess their relative costs and benefits under Indian conditions, leading to concrete policy recommendations that prioritize the overall welfare of society in the medium and long term. While acknowledging that both technologies can meet grid demand variations, he points out the superior cycle efficiencies of BESS (around 85% compared to PSP's 76%) and their significantly lower carbon footprint and project construction periods. For India, he asserts, the substantial forest loss and ecological concerns associated with PSPs in river valleys should be the decisive factor favoring BESS technology.

Until a societal consensus is achieved through an objective analysis of environmental, social, and economic considerations, Sharma urges a pause on the approval and construction of multiple PSPs, particularly those facing public opposition. He expresses hope for a rational policy on critical energy storage issues and reiterates the urgent need for a comprehensive National Energy Policy to guide India's energy future.