GE Vernova Inc. has commissioned the first of four 250MW variable speed pumped storage units at the Tehri Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant in Uttarakhand, India. The project is part of the Tehri Hydropower Complex operated by THDC India Limited.
Once all four units are operational, the complex will reach a total capacity of 2.4GW, making it the largest hydropower facility in the country. The expanded reservoir is also expected to support the region with irrigation and drinking water during non-monsoon seasons.
“With this project, Tehri will become India’s first power plant to use variable speed pumped storage technology and the country’s most modern hydropower station. With fast transition between the turbine and pump operation, the four new units are expected to enable power control, leading to significantly improved grid flexibility. These are all crucial capabilities as more renewables are integrated into the country’s energy mix,” said Frederic Ribieras, CEO of GE Vernova’s hydropower business.
The variable speed technology enables the facility to quickly respond to load changes, helping stabilize the grid. Pumped storage systems function like large-scale batteries by pumping water to an upper reservoir when excess energy is available, then releasing it to generate electricity during peak demand. According to the International Hydropower Association, pumped storage accounts for about 94% of total global energy storage capacity.
GE Vernova is providing a complete “water to wire” solution for the Tehri project, including hydropower generation equipment, power electronics, and controls. The company is supplying four variable speed doubly fed induction motor-generators and pump turbines, integrated with converters and control systems.
The Tehri Hydropower Complex includes:
- 1 GW Tehri Hydropower Plant (commissioned in 2006)
- 400 MW Koteshwar Hydropower Plant (commissioned in 2012)
- 1 GW Tehri Pumped Storage Plant (currently under development)
