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India plans to develop 100 gigawatts (GW) of pumped hydro storage capacity by 2035-36 to support a renewable-heavy power grid, according to a roadmap from the Ministry of Power. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimates India's pumped storage potential at 266.85 GW, with 209 GW from off-river projects.

Currently, India operates 7.18 GW of pumped storage, with 11.62 GW under construction and over 9.5 GW approved but not yet built. The CEA projects total energy storage needs will rise to 161 GW by 2034-35 and 476 GW by 2046-47.

The roadmap emphasizes the importance of pumped hydro storage for managing peak demand and ensuring grid stability as India's renewable capacity grows. It identifies over 120 potential pumped storage sites, with significant investments expected in public-private partnerships. An estimated ₹5.8 lakh crore will be required for the 100 GW target, necessitating the addition of 9 GW annually at an average cost of ₹6 crore per megawatt.