Australian consulting firm Entura has been appointed to develop the detailed project report for a proposed 1500MW pumped storage project in Odisha, India.
The project is being led by ReNew, one of the world’s largest utility-scale renewable energy companies, with a total portfolio of 17.4GW. It is among the largest pumped storage projects currently planned in the Indo-Pacific region and is expected to play a key role in India’s renewable energy transition.
Entura will carry out a comprehensive feasibility assessment, including topographical surveys, geological mapping, hydrological analysis, engineering design, materials sourcing, and risk mitigation. The findings will help ReNew decide whether to move forward with the project and seek regulatory approvals.
“This is an exciting and significant opportunity for us,” said Dr Amanda Ashworth, Managing Director of Entura. “We have been building our team in India and our networks with Indian developers, asset owners, utilities and governments since 2006, so we are delighted to be able to strengthen our involvement in India’s energy transition by supporting this important energy storage project.”
Entura is the consulting arm of Hydro Tasmania and brings over 100 years of hydropower experience. It is currently involved in pumped storage projects across Australia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, including the 250MW Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project in Queensland and Hydro Tasmania’s 750MW Lake Cethana proposal.
“Entura was an early mover in pumped hydro screening in Australia, and continues to be a leader in the sector,” said Ashworth. “Our experience in Australia became a springboard for our Indian specialists to adapt our screening methodology to the Indian context.”
Entura’s India Director, Rajeev Raina, said their site screening approach helps identify the most viable locations while minimising environmental impact.
“Screening for potential pumped hydro sites is a complex process and has rarely been applied at scale in India. However, in a recent engagement, Entura identified 68 sites with potential for combined energy storage capacity of approximately 730 GWh across three Indian states. At one of the sites Entura identified, a proposed 2,000 MW pumped hydro storage system is now working through the early stages of development,” he said.
India has set a target of developing an additional 35GW of pumped storage capacity by 2032. Current operational capacity stands at around 5GW, or just 2.6% of the estimated potential of 181GW.
“Entura is eager to contribute our deep hydropower asset-owner experience, significant specialist skills and recent experience in pumped hydro to support India’s pathway to a more sustainable energy future,” Ashworth said.
“Despite our very different scale, India and Australia have many of the same challenges in accelerating and firming variable renewable energy, and we have much to learn from and offer each other in our common purpose of the global clean energy transition,” she added.
Entura’s India office, established in 2006, employs 25 consultants and engineers working on renewable energy projects across the Indo-Pacific region. The firm also supports training and knowledge-sharing initiatives through its clean energy and water institute, including programs with India’s Central Water Commission and regional development initiatives backed by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“We believe that further cooperation and partnership between India and Australia will benefit both countries in our clean energy transformations, and we view the India-Australia Renewable Energy Partnership as a positive signal for ongoing mutual collaboration between the two nations on the challenges of the renewable energy transition and pursuit of net zero,” said Ashworth.
