The Karnataka government is taking a significant step towards transition to green energy with its upcoming Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project (PSP) in Shivamogga district.
The project is being positioned as a step towards strengthening India’s renewable energy storage capabilities.
State Energy Minister K.J. George on Thursday described the project as 'critical for the green energy transition' and 'a practical solution to ensure clean power when people need it most.'
Need for power storage
Speaking about the challenge of storing renewable energy, officials from the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), which is implementing the project, said energy storage has become the missing link in the country’s renewable energy chain.
The renewable energy is generated and fed into the grid, but because of a lack of storage options, a large share of power capacity is lost. Hence, a senior KPCL planner said that the storage is no longer optional.
"We are producing enough renewable energy, but unless we can store and dispatch it efficiently, we will remain dependent on coal," he added.
As of now, Karnataka is among the leading states in renewable energy generation as it has over 16 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar and wind capacity, which is nearly three times higher than in 2016.
How will the Sharavathi project work?
Solar power generation is at its peak during the day, but consumption is at its peak during the evening. Hence, there is a need for storage.
The Sharavathi PSP will utilise surplus solar power generated during the day to pump water from a lower Sharavathi–Linganamakki reservoir system of the hydropower dam to an upper one. The stored water will then be released at night or during peak demand to generate electricity through turbines, ensuring a round-the-clock renewable supply.
The officials said that the project has been designed to minimise environmental impact by leveraging the existing reservoir system. Because of the repurposing of the existing infrastructure, it will require only limited structural changes, such as tunnels and underground facilities. According to the reports, only eight families will be affected by the project, and all will be fully rehabilitated.
The project is key to India's target of achieving 500 GW of renewable power generation capacity by 2030, a goal announced at the COP26 climate summit. As of June 2025, the non-fossil fuel capacity was at 235.7 GW, which accounts for 49 per cent of its total installed power generation capacity.