Andhra Pradesh energy dept to build 33 GW hydro storage power plants

The Andhra Pradesh energy department will set up pumped hydro storage power projects (PSP), having a total capacity of 33.24 GW, across 1.45 lakh acre in Kurnool, Kadapa and Anantapur districts. Srikant Nagulapalli, Energy secretary, believes that these pumped hydro storage power will develop the power supply position in the state. Srikant told the media that it would allow the consumers to receive quality power. It will also assist in promoting industrialisation. Andhra Pradesh has also launched a go electric campaign to support electric vehicles in the state. The non-conventional energy development corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) has already installed 109 charging stations. It will install another 400 chargers across the state and along the national highways at every 25-km distance. Additionally, he said that the state introduced the idea of cost-effective power. By saving Rs 2,342 crore in 2019-20 and 2020-21, it has become a role model for the other states. The Ministry of Power has also acknowledged the AP power utilities for their sustained efforts to obtain savings and lessen the burden on the discoms. The power utilities completed the agriculture feeder upgradation works with Rs 1,700 crore to provide free power during the daytime to over 18 lakh agriculture pump sets. Srikant said that the power utilities have taken up special steps to reduce obstructions in power supply and render quality power to consumers. As a result, the interruptions dropped to 1.77 lakh in 2020-21 from three lakh in 2019-20. Likewise, the average service cost dipped to Rs 7.18 per unit in 2020-21 compared to Rs 7.23 in 2019-20. In October 2020, the Andhra Pradesh government declared its proposal to install seven PSPs, worth approximately 6,300 MW, to support new renewable energy power projects in the state. The PSP mode is likely to balance changes in total input power from the existing renewable energy projects depending on wind and solar power stations. PSP projects will serve as large-scale energy storage stations. At the time, Managing Director of New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation (NREDC), S Ramana Reddy, told the media that PSP stations would be developing at Karrivalasa (Vizianagaram), Somasila (Nellore), Gandikota (Kadapa), Owk (Kurnool), Chitravati (Ananthapuram), Kurukutti and Yerravaram (Visakhapatnam). Image Source Also read: ReNew to acquire 99 MW L&T hydropower plant worth Rs 985 cr Also read: India urges US investors to invest in country’s energy sector