The Central Water Commission (CWC) has cleared a proposal of the Odisha government for installation of the Upper Indravati Pump Storage Project in Kalahandi district under the Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC). The state government has sought to operate three such power storage projects: Upper Indravati PSP, the 500 MW Balimela PSP in Malkangiri district and the 300 MW Upper Kolab PSP in Koraput district.

Pump storage is a type of hydroelectric energy storage. It is a configuration of two water reservoirs at different elevations that can generate power as water moves down from one to the other (discharge), passing through a turbine. The system also requires power as it pumps water back into the upper reservoir (recharge).

The project acts similarly to a giant battery, because it can store power and then release it when needed, an official explained. OHPC chairman B P Sethi said the agency has been engaged in investigation, planning, coordination and erection of three large scale Pump Storage Project (PSP) in the state.

He said the 600 MW Upper Indravati Pump Storage Project achieved a major milestone by obtaining inter-state clearance from the CWC under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti last week. The proposal will now be submitted to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) seeking techno-economic clearance, after which a detailed project report (DPR) will be finalised.

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