KSEB and Tata Team Up for Mega 1,000 MW Pumped Storage Project

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is stepping up internal power generation with its proposed Kakkayam Pumped Storage Project. KSEB recently signed a pact with Bengaluru’s Tata Consulting Engineers to draft the feasibility study and Detailed Project Report (DPR).

The project is designed to recycle water from the Kakkayam and Kuttiady dams. By utilizing cheap daytime solar power (costing roughly ₹3 per unit) to pump water back to an upper reservoir, the system acts as a massive green battery. This stored water will then generate an estimated 800 MW to 1,000 MW of electricity during peak hours. The initiative is expected to drastically cut down KSEB's reliance on external peak-hour power purchases, which currently run as high as ₹8 per unit, while greatly improving grid reliability.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.