Pumped storage is a reliable and established energy storage technology that is essential for ensuring grid stability. It offers a range of benefits, including the capacity to store large amounts of energy for extended periods and serve as a backup during power outages. Some pumped storage systems can achieve impressive energy conversion rates of up to 80 percent. India has considerable pumped storage potential, with approximately 103 GW identified by the Central Electricity Authority. As of March 2023, eight pumped storage projects with a total capacity of 4,745.6 MW have been
installed in the country. However, none of these projects are located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, which has ambitious solar targets to achieve.

To address this, our analysis has identified 33 potential pumped storage sites in Uttar Pradesh, with a combined energy storage potential lying between 186.96 GWh to 200.42 GWh. Our survey considers two topologies. The first involves linking existing reservoirs via penstocks and adding powerhouses to transform them into pumped storage facilities. The second involves identifying suitable locations for a second reservoir to be built alongside an existing lake or reservoir. Under the first topology, the energy storage potential ranges between 96.45 GWh to 109.91 GWh, while the second topology offers 90.51 GWh. Each site identified in the analysis has an energy storage potential ranging from 0.05 to 33.37 GWh. To put this in perspective, the Optimal Generation Mix Report estimates that India will require 336.4 GWh of energy storage capacity by 2029-30, with 128.15 GWh coming from pumped storage and the remainder from battery energy storage systems.