India aims to develop 100 GW of pumped hydro storage by 2036 as part of its push towards a renewable-dominated energy system, according to a government roadmap unveiled at a recent power policy shivir.
The Ministry of Power’s two-day Chintan Shivir, held on 22–23 January 2026 in Parwanoo, brought senior officials, regulators, industry executives and academics together to set policy priorities for India’s electricity transition and to map out large-scale investment in long-duration storage.
According to the Central Electricity Authority report released at the meeting, India aims to develop 100 GW of pumped hydro storage (PHS) by 2035–36 as a backbone for a renewable-dominated system. The roadmap frames PHS as a durable, low-carbon and largely domestically supplyable solution capable of providing large-scale energy shifting, frequency support and black-start services as variable renewable generation grows. The CEA projects national storage needs rising from about 62 GW by 2029–30 to 161 GW by 2034–35, with further escalation to several hundred gigawatts later in the 2040s as solar and wind penetration deepens. The report assesses existing projects, state-level potential and a phased rollout that prioritises off-river closed-loop schemes to limit environmental and rehabilitation impacts and to shorten project gestation.
The authority estimates total PHS potential at roughly 266.85 GW, of which about 209 GW derives from off-river closed-loop sites. As of 31 December 2025, operating pumped storage stood at about 7.18 GW, with roughly 11.62 GW under construction and a further tranche, more than 9.5 GW, having received CEA concurrence but not yet progressed to construction. Projects in survey, investigation or DPR preparation account for an additional roughly 74.9 GW of identified capacity. Under the plan, India would need an average annual addition of about 9 GW of pumped storage to meet the 100 GW objective; the CEA places the indicative capital requirement for that build-out at about ₹5.8 lakh crore, estimating a per‑megawatt cost in the region of ₹6 crore. The authority notes that closed-loop off-stream projects can have shorter lead times, around four years, potentially enabling faster commissioning in the latter half of the decade.
The Shivir’s agenda extended beyond storage. Ministers and officials discussed the Draft Electricity Amendment Bill, 2026 and the Draft Electricity Policy 2026, which set ambitious usage and emissions intensity milestones, including per capita consumption targets and a 45% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030, within a long‑range trajectory to net zero. Participants also debated measures to accelerate nuclear capacity, optimise transmission and distributed resources, and to embed storage, both grid-scale and behind-the-meter, into planning and markets.
A central focus was repair and reform of distribution utilities. Presentations at the event examined operational, financial and regulatory steps to restore DISCOM viability: rationalising cross-subsidies, enhancing industrial competitiveness, streamlining tariff processes and reducing avoidable disputes over connectivity and change‑in‑law claims. Officials emphasised standardisation, digitisation and clearer procedures as tools to cut litigation, lower costs and improve the investment climate for both public and private players.
The Chintan Shivir also published the 14th Integrated Rating and Ranking of Power Distribution Utilities, which evaluated 65 DISCOMs. Thirty-one utilities secured A+ or A grades; Torrent Power Ahmedabad and Torrent Power Surat led the overall rankings for FY2024–25, while among state-owned entities Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited recorded the top performance. The ratings are being positioned as a lever for incentivising timely reform and operational improvements.
Industry and policy players at the meeting were urged to co‑ordinate closely across central and state governments, regulators and utilities to deliver the storage pipeline and distribution reforms on schedule. Achieving the scale of pumped storage envisaged will require sustained capital mobilisation, faster permitting and construction cycles for off‑stream projects, and regulatory frameworks that align revenue models with long‑duration storage services. For industrial decarbonisation stakeholders, the CEA’s roadmap signals both large investment opportunities in long‑duration flexibility and the need for integrated planning across generation, transmission, storage and demand‑side actors to secure a resilient, low‑carbon grid.
- https://solarquarter.com/2026/01/24/power-ministrys-chintan-shivir-2026-concludes-outlines-roadmap-to-100-gw-hydro-pumped-storage-by-2035-36-and-strengthens-discom-reforms/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/business/2026/01/23/target-of-100-gw-hydro-pump-storage-needs-rs-5.8-lakh-cr-investment-cea-report.html – The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has projected that achieving a 100 GW hydro pumped storage capacity by 2035–36 will require an investment of approximately ₹5.8 lakh crore. To meet this target, an annual addition of 9 GW of hydro pumped storage projects is necessary, with each megawatt costing around ₹6 crore. As of December 31, 2025, ten pumped storage projects with a combined capacity of 7,175.6 MW are operational in India. The CEA’s report, titled ‘Roadmap to 100 GW of Hydro Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) by 2025–36’, anticipates that the installed capacity will reach 87 GW by 2033–34, eventually surpassing 100 GW by 2035–36. These projections are based on the current scenario, but with increasing potential, especially under off-stream closed-loop PSPs with a gestation period of around four years, commissioning may be accelerated in later years.
- https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/power/india-to-hit-100-gw-pumped-storage-hydropower-by-2035-36-cea/articleshow/127277367.cms?from=mdr – The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has released a roadmap outlining India’s plan to achieve 100 GW of pumped storage hydroelectricity by 2035–36. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to meet the country’s rising energy storage needs, driven by an increase in non-fossil fuel capacity to 500 GW by 2030 and 701 GW by 2035. The CEA’s report projects that India’s energy storage requirement will be 62 GW by 2029–30 and 161 GW by 2034–35, making the 100 GW pumped storage target imperative. The report assesses the current development status, identifies state-wise potential, and proposes a phased capacity addition plan, suggesting measures such as promoting off-stream closed-loop projects to support grid resilience and the country’s clean energy transition.
- https://money.rediff.com/news/market/100-gw-hydro-pump-storage-target-needs-5-8-lakh-cr/40698520260123 – The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has projected that achieving a 100 GW hydro pumped storage capacity by 2035–36 will require an investment of approximately ₹5.8 lakh crore. To meet this target, an annual addition of 9 GW of hydro pumped storage projects is necessary, with each megawatt costing around ₹6 crore. As of December 31, 2025, ten pumped storage projects with a combined capacity of 7,175.6 MW are operational in India. The CEA’s report, titled ‘Roadmap to 100 GW of Hydro Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) by 2025–36’, anticipates that the installed capacity will reach 87 GW by 2033–34, eventually surpassing 100 GW by 2035–36. These projections are based on the current scenario, but with increasing potential, especially under off-stream closed-loop PSPs with a gestation period of around four years, commissioning may be accelerated in later years.
- https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/india-plans-100-gw-pumped-hydro-energy-storage-by-2035-36-power-ministry-13788834.html – India plans to develop 100 gigawatts (GW) of pumped hydro storage capacity by 2035–36 as part of a broader push to build long-duration energy storage to support a renewable-heavy power grid, according to a roadmap released by the Ministry of Power on January 23. The roadmap, prepared by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) of the Union government, estimates India’s total pumped storage potential at 266.85 GW, of which around 209 GW comes from off-river, closed-loop projects that do not depend on river flows and have lower environmental and rehabilitation impacts. As of now, India has 7.18 GW of pumped storage capacity in operation, while 11.62 GW is under construction and over 9.5 GW has received CEA concurrence but is yet to be taken up for construction, the report said. Projects at various stages of survey, investigation and DPR preparation account for another 74.9 GW of potential capacity. Storage demand is projected to rise sharply after 2030, with the CEA’s report projecting that India’s total energy storage requirement will rise to 161 GW by 2034–35, increasing sharply to 476 GW by 2046–47 as renewable penetration deepens and peak demand grows. Long-duration storage — typically six hours or more — will become increasingly critical beyond 2030, when variable renewable energy such as solar and wind forms a much larger share of the generation mix. Pumped hydro storage, the report notes, offers large-scale, long-life storage along with grid services such as frequency regulation, spinning reserve and black-start capability.
- https://www.ndtvprofit.com/business/india-to-reach-100-gw-of-pumped-storage-hydro-power-projects-by-2036-cea-10865053 – India’s energy storage requirement is pegged at 62 GW by 2029–30 and 161 GW by 2034–35, which makes the country’s goal to have 100 GW of pumped storage hydroelectricity by 2035–36 imperative, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) said. Union Power Minister Manohar Lal released the CEA report titled ‘Roadmap to 100 GW of Hydro Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) by 2035–36’, at a two-day Chintan Shivir, which concluded on Friday, a power ministry statement said. The minister called for close coordination between the Centre, states, and industries and time-bound implementation of various reforms to make India a global leader in the power sector. The Shivir was organised to deliberate and collectively chart the future course of India’s power sector. Officials from the power ministry, CEA, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), CPSEs, state governments, State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) and industry leaders participated in the event.
- https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/business/2026/01/23/india-to-reach-100-gw-of-pumped-storage-hydro-power-projects-by-2035%E2%80%9336-cea.html – India’s energy storage requirement is pegged at 62 GW by 2029–30 and 161 GW by 2034–35, which makes the country’s goal to have 100 GW of pumped storage hydroelectricity by 2035–36 imperative, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) said. Union Power Minister Manohar Lal released the CEA report titled ‘Roadmap to 100 GW of Hydro Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) by 2035–36’, at a two-day Chintan Shivir, which concluded on Friday, a power ministry statement said. The minister called for close coordination between the Centre, states, and industries and time-bound implementation of various reforms to make India a global leader in the power sector. The Shivir was organised to deliberate and collectively chart the future course of India’s power sector. Officials from the power ministry, CEA, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), CPSEs, state governments, State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) and industry leaders participated in the event.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article reports on the Ministry of Power’s Chintan Shivir held on 22–23 January 2026, detailing the roadmap for 100 GW of hydro pumped storage by 2035–36 and reforms for distribution utilities. Similar reports from reputable sources like The Week and NDTV Profit were published on 23 January 2026, indicating the content is fresh. ([theweek.in](https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/business/2026/01/23/india-to-reach-100-gw-of-pumped-storage-hydro-power-projects-by-2035%E2%80%9336-cea.html?utm_source=openai)) However, the article’s URL suggests it was published on 24 January 2026, which may indicate a slight delay in reporting. The content appears original, with no evidence of recycling from low-quality sites or clickbait networks.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Union Power Minister Manohar Lal and references to the CEA report titled ‘Roadmap to 100 GW of Hydro Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) by 2035–36’. These quotes are consistent with those found in other reputable sources published around the same time, such as The Week and NDTV Profit. ([theweek.in](https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/business/2026/01/23/india-to-reach-100-gw-of-pumped-storage-hydro-power-projects-by-2035%E2%80%9336-cea.html?utm_source=openai)) However, the exact wording of the quotes varies slightly between sources, which may indicate paraphrasing or slight discrepancies. No online matches were found for some of the specific phrases used, suggesting that the quotes cannot be independently verified.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article originates from SolarQuarter, a niche publication focusing on the solar energy sector. While it may be reputable within its niche, its reach and influence are limited compared to major news organisations. The article references a press release from the Ministry of Power, which typically warrants a high freshness score. However, the reliance on a single source for the majority of the content raises concerns about source independence.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims made in the article align with industry trends and are supported by other reputable sources. The roadmap for 100 GW of hydro pumped storage by 2035–36 is consistent with reports from The Week and NDTV Profit. ([theweek.in](https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/business/2026/01/23/india-to-reach-100-gw-of-pumped-storage-hydro-power-projects-by-2035%E2%80%9336-cea.html?utm_source=openai)) The article provides specific figures and details, such as the estimated capital requirement of ₹5.8 lakh crore and the per-megawatt cost of ₹6 crore, which are plausible and consistent with industry standards. However, the lack of independent verification for some claims, such as the exact figures and quotes, raises concerns about the overall reliability of the information.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents information that aligns with industry trends and is supported by other reputable sources. However, it relies heavily on a press release from the Ministry of Power, raising concerns about source independence and the potential for bias. The lack of independent verification for some claims, such as specific figures and quotes, further diminishes the overall reliability of the information. Given these concerns, the content cannot be fully verified, and publishing it may expose the publisher to risk.
