Maharashtra’s Big Leap in Renewable Energy – CM Devendra Fadnavis

First Pumped-Storage Power Project via Cooperative Sector; ₹1008 Crore Investment, 240 MW Power Generation

Mumbai : Maharashtra has made remarkable strides in the energy sector over the past two to three years, and the importance of renewable energy sources is only set to grow in the future. In this context, pumped-storage hydroelectric projects offer a valuable contribution to the state’s green energy ambitions. For the first time, such a project is being implemented through the cooperative sector, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced today.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Water Resources Department and the Tatyasaheb Kore Warana Cooperative Navshakti Nirman Sanstha Ltd. for a pumped-storage hydro project at the Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai. Present at the occasion were Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, MLA Vinay Kore, Principal Secretary to the CM Ashwini Bhide, Additional Chief Secretary of the Water Resources Department Deepak Kapoor, CM’s Principal Secretary Dr. Shrikar Pardeshi, and Warana representative N.H. Patil, among others.

This marks the 16th MoU by the state government in the pumped-storage segment, attracting an investment of ₹1008 crore and targeting a power generation capacity of 240 megawatts (MW).

CM Fadnavis stated that with increasing electricity demands in the coming years, pumped-storage systems will be essential as they allow energy to be stored and used when required. Recognizing this utility, the state government has already signed MoUs for a total of 65,000 MW and plans to scale this up to 1,00,000 MW. Additionally, to support future energy demands, the government is planning to invest ₹1 lakh crore in transmission infrastructure by 2035 to develop energy corridors.

Fadnavis emphasized that the Western Ghats provide an excellent opportunity for pumped-storage projects. He expressed confidence in the Warana Group, which has a strong legacy in the cooperative sector, to contribute significantly to the project’s timely and efficient completion.

MLA Vinay Kore added that the state’s 2023 renewable energy policy is visionary and aligned with long-term sustainability. The Warana Group is committed to actively participating in this environmentally friendly hydroelectric project and will prioritize its speedy implementation.

Key Features of the Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Project

• The MoU was signed between the Water Resources Department and Tatyasaheb Kore Warana Cooperative Navshakti Nirman Sanstha Ltd.
• As per the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model policy issued on December 20, 2023, this is the first pumped-storage project under the cooperative sector.
• The Tilari Pumped-Storage Project will generate 240 MW of electricity, with an investment of ₹1008 crore, and will create employment for 300 people.
• The Upper Dam will be Kodali Dam (Tal. Chandgad, Dist. Kolhapur) and the Lower Dam will be located at Mouje Kendre (Tal. Dodamarg, Dist. Sindhudurg).

Policy Highlights:

• For the use of reservoirs, the annual lease rent will be ₹1.33 lakh per MW, along with applicable industrial water charges and land lease fees at prevailing rates.
• So far, 15 other agencies have signed MoUs, aiming for a combined power generation of 62,125 MW through 45 projects.
• This is expected to attract a total investment of ₹3.41 lakh crore and create employment for 96,190 people.

For all these pumped-storage schemes:

• One-time water requirement for initial reservoir filling is estimated at 14.62 TMC across all projects.
• Annual replenishment water requirement is estimated at 2.00 TMC.
• The initial industrial water charge for first-time filling is estimated at ₹579.69 crore, with an annual replenishment cost of ₹80.52 crore, which will generate significant government revenue.

This initiative signifies Maharashtra’s major push toward a sustainable, self-reliant energy future, with pumped-storage projects playing a pivotal role.