The Maharashtra government has moved to significantly scale up its pumped storage hydropower capacity with a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the state’s Water Resources Department and NTPC Limited. The agreement, finalised in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, pertains to the Amba and Kumbhe pumped storage projects in Raigad district.
The revised pact will increase the combined installed capacity of the two projects from 1,800 megawatts (MW) to 2,600 MW, marking a substantial addition of 800 MW. The signing ceremony took place at Mantralaya and was attended by senior state officials and representatives from NTPC.
Capacity expansion driven by detailed surveys
According to officials, the decision to enhance capacity follows detailed technical and feasibility surveys conducted by NTPC. These assessments indicated that the projects could support higher generation capacity than originally planned. The Central Electricity Authority subsequently recommended revising the initial agreement to incorporate the expanded potential.
Under the updated plan, the Amba project’s capacity will increase from 800 MW to 1,500 MW, accounting for a 700 MW addition. The Kumbhe project will see a more modest rise from 1,000 MW to 1,100 MW, adding 100 MW. Together, the revised configuration brings the total capacity to 2,600 MW.
The MoU was formally signed by Additional Chief Secretary (Water Resources) Deepak Kapoor and NTPC’s Regional Executive Director for the Western Region, E. Satya Phani Kumar.
Part of broader hydropower push under PPP model
The expansion is part of the state’s broader strategy to develop pumped storage hydropower projects through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. The policy, issued on December 20, 2023, aims to tap Maharashtra’s hydropower potential while attracting private investment and accelerating infrastructure development.
With the latest agreement, the state has now signed 60 MoUs under this policy. Officials estimate that these projects together could generate a total capacity of 82,015 MW. The cumulative investment expected across these agreements stands at approximately Rs 4.28 lakh crore, with potential employment generation of around 1.31 lakh jobs.
Strategic importance of pumped storage projects
Pumped storage hydropower projects are increasingly seen as critical to balancing renewable energy supply, particularly as solar and wind power capacity expands. These systems store excess electricity by pumping water to higher elevations and release it to generate power during peak demand periods.
The Amba and Kumbhe projects are expected to play a key role in strengthening grid stability in the state while supporting its transition to a cleaner energy mix. Officials said the revised capacity would improve the projects’ economic viability and enhance their contribution to Maharashtra’s long-term energy security.
