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.

Comments

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Kolkata dialogue flags policy and finance deficit in wetland sustainability

By A Representative Wetlands were the focus of India–Germany climate talks in Kolkata, where experts from government, business, and civil society stressed both their ecological importance and the urgent need for stronger conservation frameworks.

Beyond Lata: How Asha Bhosle redefined the female voice with her underrated versatility

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The news of iconic Asha Bhosle’s ‘untimely’ demise has shocked music lovers across the country. Asha Tai was 92 years young. Normally, people celebrate a passing at this age, but Asha Bhosle—much like another legend, Dev Anand—never made us feel she was growing old. She was perhaps the most versatile artist in Bombay cinema. Hailing from a family devoted to music, Asha’s journey to success and fame was not easy. Her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, had already become the voice of women in cinema, and most contemporaries like Shamshad Begum, Suraiya, and Noor Jehan had slowly faded into oblivion. Frankly, there was no second or third to Lata Mangeshkar; she became the first—and perhaps the only—choice for music directors and all those who mattered in filmmaking. Asha started her musical journey at age 10 with a Marathi film, but her first break in Hindustani cinema came with the film "Chunariya" (1948). Though she was not the first choice of ...

Maoist activity in India: Weakening structures, 'shifts' in leadership, strategy and ideology

By Harsh Thakor* Recent statements by government representatives have suggested that Maoism in India has been effectively eliminated, citing the weakening of central leadership and intensified security operations. These claims follow sustained counterinsurgency efforts across key regions, including central and eastern India. However, available information from security agencies and independent observers indicates that while the organizational structure of the CPI (Maoist) has been significantly disrupted, elements of the movement remain active. Reports acknowledge the continued presence of cadres in certain forested regions such as Bastar and parts of Dandakaranya, alongside smaller, decentralized units adapting their operational strategies.

From Manesar to Noida: Workers take to streets for bread, media looks away

By Sunil Kumar* Across several states in India, a workers’ movement is gathering momentum. This is not a movement born of luxury or ambition, nor a demand for power-sharing within the state. At its core lies a stark and basic plea: the right to survive with dignity—adequate food, and wages sufficient to afford it.

Midnight weeping: The sociology of tragic vision in Badri Narayan’s poetry

By Ravi Ranjan* Badri Narayan, a distinguished Hindi poet and social scientist, occupies a unique position in contemporary Indian intellectual life by bridging the worlds of creative literature and critical social inquiry. His poetic journey began significantly with the 1993 collection 'Saca Sune Hue Kaï Dina Hue' (Truth Heard Many Days Ago). As a social historian and cultural anthropologist, Narayan pioneered a methodological shift away from elite archives toward the oral traditions and folk myths of marginalized communities. He eventually legitimized "folk-ethnography" as a rigorous academic discipline during his tenure as Director of the G.B. Pant Social Science Institute.

Why link women’s reservation to delimitation? The unspoken political calculus

By Vikas Meshram* April 16, 2026, is likely to be recorded as a special day in the history of Indian democracy. In a three-day special session of Parliament, the central government is set to introduce a comprehensive package of three historic bills: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The stated purpose of all three is the same: to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitutional Amendment) passed in 2023. However, the political intent concealed behind these measures — and their impact on the federal balance — is far more profound. It is absolutely essential to understand this.

Catholic union opposes FCRA amendments, warns of threat to Church institutions

By A Representative The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as growing threats to religious freedom, minority rights, and constitutional safeguards in India, warning that recent policy and legislative trends could undermine the country’s secular and federal framework.

'It's power grab, not reform': Uttarakhand hills fear marginalization under new delimitation

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The proposed delimitation bill, coupled with the women’s reservation bill, is a calculated attempt to divert attention during state elections while laying the groundwork for long-term power consolidation through a north Indian hegemony. India’s constitution-making process was arduous, but it was guided by leaders deeply committed to unity and integrity. They ensured no community felt betrayed, and the foundation of modern India was laid on inclusivity. Any attempt to alter this balance must be approached with caution and respect for that legacy.

Search This Blog