The Kadamparai Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, is facing critical operational decline. Commissioned in 1987 by TNPGCL, the 400 MW facility is currently operating at only 25% capacity (one of four units functional) due to aging infrastructure, having exceeded its 25-year design life.
Operational Mechanism and Significance
- Technology: Employs reversible two-way turbines capable of operating in both generator and motor (pump) modes.
- “Water Battery” Function:
- Generation Mode: Releases water from the Kadamparai Dam (upper) to the Lower Aliyar Dam (lower) to meet peak electricity demand.
- Pumping Mode: Uses surplus grid power (solar/wind) to pump water back to the upper reservoir during off-peak hours, storing energy for future use.
- Grid Utility: Essential for load management, frequency regulation, and preventing renewable energy curtailment.
- Operational Status: Three units are non-functional due to mechanical faults and a scarcity of spare parts for the legacy machinery.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Global Dominance: Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) accounts for over 90% of global large-scale energy storage capacity.
- Black Start Capability: PSH plants can restart the power grid independently after a total blackout without external power.
- Technical Specs: Kadamparai has a storage capacity of 1,080 mcft, with Lower Aliyar holding 937 mcft. One unit produces 100 MW per hour using 4 mcft of water.
- Efficiency: Modern PSH plants typically achieve a round-trip efficiency of 75–80%.