'Pumped storage projects ecologically damaging, prioritize battery energy storage systems'

By A Representative

In a letter addressed to the Secretaries of Power, New & Renewable Energy (N&RE), and Environment, Forest & Climate Change (EF&CC), climate and energy policy analyst Shankar Sharma has made a strong case for prioritizing Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) over Pumped Storage Projects (PSP) in India’s quest for sustainable energy security.

Highlighting the growing environmental opposition to large river valley PSPs such as the 2,000 MW Sharavathi Valley project in Karnataka, Sharma emphasized the clear advantages of BESS in terms of land use, cost, and ecological impact. He noted that BESS requires only about 0.1 to 0.5 acre per MW, compared to hundreds of acres of forest land needed for PSPs. Furthermore, the cost of BESS in India is estimated at ₹2.20–₹2.40 crore per MWh, which, he argued, is justified given its minimal ecological footprint and flexibility of deployment across the grid.

Sharma pointed out that BESS can be installed at substations and distributed locations without affecting wildlife sanctuaries or cutting forests. In contrast, PSPs, particularly in fragile ecological zones, can lead to irreversible damage to biodiversity and water systems.

He also cited recent developments to support his argument, including large-scale BESS tenders floated by Gujarat and Maharashtra (each for 2,000 MW/4,000 MWh), and regulatory approvals for similar projects in Karnataka and Kerala. International advancements, such as Australia’s moves towards a 100% renewable-powered grid with long-duration BESS, further underscore the relevance of battery storage as a key component of the future energy mix.

Sharma expressed concern over the lack of rigorous policy-level evaluation of PSPs versus BESS in India. He criticized authorities for proceeding with ecologically sensitive PSP projects without conclusively establishing their necessity or exploring BESS as a viable alternative.

Calling for an immediate pause on the clearance process for the Sharavathi Valley PSP and similar projects, Sharma urged the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to withhold permissions until a comprehensive, national-level comparative policy on PSP and BESS is developed.

He concluded by stressing that energy planning must align with ecological wellbeing, and that technology choices like BESS offer a pathway that avoids environmental degradation while meeting the country’s power needs.

The “Dr” debate masks a larger crisis in allied-health education

By Dr P K Gupta* India’s allied-health professions have long operated in a fragmented landscape of universities, hospitals, State authorities and private institutions, each with its own nomenclature, curriculum and standards. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 was meant to correct this by creating a unified national framework for education, professional regulation and institutional recognition. Few dispute the need for such oversight. The real question is whether standardisation is quietly becoming synonymous with longer courses, additional internships and new professional titles—changes that risk masking deeper gaps in clinical training, institutional capacity and affordability.

Pilgrimage or pollution? The waste crisis of Indian faith

By Raj Kumar Sinha* In today's times, there are certain issues that are constantly talked about and discussed, yet no visible impact seems to be made. Beyond water, soil, and pollution, one crisis that continues to be overlooked is waste. Like other life-threatening problems, waste too is gradually moving toward burying and obliterating us. After the Kanwar Yatra in Haridwar, approximately 8,000 tonnes of waste were left behind on the riverbanks, including bottles filled with urine.

Can cow dung become a source of income? Durga Maida shows the path to self‑reliance

By Vikas Meshram* In the Sailana block of Ratlam district lies the small village of Govardhanpura. This is where Durga Maida lives with her husband and four daughters. Their livelihood depended on just one bigha of land—far too little to feed a family of six. Growing enough grain for the year was impossible, and even meeting daily expenses was a constant struggle. Alongside farming, Durga kept livestock and took up wage labour whenever she could. Hard work was never lacking, but income always was. Month after month, the accounts failed to balance, forcing her to borrow. Looking back, Durga says those days felt heavy and hopeless; farming offered no promise, and there was no sign of change. Her story mirrored the reality of almost every small farmer in the area.

Counterview

Search This Blog