Torrent Power clears 3,000-MW Karjat pumped storage project in Maharashtra

Torrent Power has cleared a 3,000-MW pumped storage project located in Karjat, Maharashtra.

The project is situated in the Karjat district of Maharashtra. As a pumped storage facility, it will function by pumping water to an upper reservoir during periods of low demand and releasing it to generate electricity during peak times.

The move aligns with broader efforts to enhance grid stability and integrate renewable sources into the power system.

Regulatory Path and Site Details

Torrent Power navigated a clearance process spanning approximately 18 months, engaging statutory bodies including the Expert Appraisal Committee and the Forest Advisory Committee. The project carries an operational life of up to 80 years, a longevity that distinguishes pumped storage from many other grid assets. The facility requires 233 hectares of forest land, a footprint that is 52 times lower than that of conventional hydropower projects of comparable capacity. The project location sits 16 km from the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Environmental Impact and Mitigation

• Compensatory afforestation land: 253 hectares
• Trees to be planted on project site: 60,000
• Trees to be planted on compensatory land: 30,000
• Existing trees on compensatory land: 70,000
• CO2 offset time for felled trees: 10 days of operation
• Project status: Received Environmental Clearance, Forest Clearance, and Forest Diversion Order

Torrent Power has secured the Environmental Clearance, Forest Clearance, and Forest Diversion Order, completing the regulatory requirements for site preparation. The developer will plant 60,000 trees directly on the project site and an additional 30,000 trees on 253 hectares of designated compensatory land. This compensatory area currently supports 70,000 existing trees, providing a baseline for the ecological management of the diverted forest resources.

The carbon dioxide offset for the trees removed during construction is equivalent to just 10 days of the facility’s operation.

Energy Output and Emission Reductions

The Karjat facility is projected to supply 6,570 million units of electricity annually, serving an estimated 5.5 million homes. By displacing thermal generation, the plant will reduce annual coal consumption by 4.33 million tonnes. This shift prevents 5.85 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year, amounting to 468 million tonnes of avoided emissions over the project’s 80-year operational life.

Annual reductions include 36,800 tonnes of sulfur dioxide, 10,600 tonnes of nitrogen oxides, and 1,200 tonnes of particulate matter. The plant also prevents the release of 0.66 tonnes of mercury per year.

The project saves 19.7 billion litres of cooling water annually, a critical consideration in water-stressed regions. It also eliminates the production of 1.64 million tonnes of fly ash and reduces the need for open-cast mining by 40 hectares per year.

Metric	Annual Value
Electricity Supply	6,570 million units
Homes Served	5.5 million
Coal Reduction	4.33 million tonnes
CO2 Emissions Prevented	5.85 million tonnes
SO2 Reduction	36,800 tonnes
NOx Reduction	10,600 tonnes
Particulate Matter Reduction	1,200 tonnes
Mercury Reduction	0.66 tonnes
Cooling Water Saved	19.7 billion litres
Fly Ash Reduction	1.64 million tonnes
Open-Cast Mining Reduction	40 hectares

Construction Footprint and Water Management

Torrent Power states the project will store water that would otherwise flow downstream towards the sea, operating in a manner complementary to the river system. The company asserts that the carbon benefits of the facility outweigh the emissions associated with trees felled for construction, noting that the latter are offset in about 10 days of operation.

What to watch

Torrent Power has confirmed that every element of the scheme is situated beyond the sanctuary boundaries and its designated eco-sensitive area. The firm further highlighted that no construction activities are planned in the vicinity of the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga temple. The company’s analysis indicates that across the facility’s operational lifespan, the advantages amount to roughly 3,000 times the associated losses.