by NR Indran / INT

Alstom, in consortium with Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), has been awarded a contract worth over INR 1843 by  Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) to install a 1000 MW variable speed pumped storage hydro power plant on the river Bhagirathi in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It will be India’s first pumped storage power plant to use variable speed technology. Alstom’s share of the contract is worth around INR 1164 crore.

Alstom will supply four 250 MW variable speed turbine & generator units and other equipment including main inlet valves and control and protection systems. On completion, the plant’s electricity output will provide much-needed power to the country’s northern grid.

Pumped storage is the most efficient and flexible form of storing electricity on a large scale, enabling utilities to respond quickly to demand and replacing the fossil fuels traditionally used during peak demand periods with renewable, CO2 free energy. Variable speed pump turbines, which offer even greater efficiency, represent the latest innovation in pumped storage technology.

“The Tehri pump storage plant project is Alstom’s first contract with THDC and illustrates their confidence in Alstom’s technology and project expertise. With this project, Alstom is proud to support the government’s ‘Power for All’ initiative and reinforce the nation’s energy security,” says Francois Carpentier, Managing Director & Vice Chairman, Alstom Projects India Ltd.

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