Construction Of World’s Largest Integrated RE Storage Project Started In AP

Construction of the world’s largest and first of its kind renewable energy storage project began at Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh on May 17. With a pumped storage capacity of 10,800MWh per day, the 5230 MW renewable energy generation project is coming up at an investment of $3 billion by Hyderabad based developer Greenko Group by 2023.

Offering the first concrete on the pompous occasion, state chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said, “What Andhra Pradesh is showcasing (with the project) will be a triggering point for the entire country to follow in the days to come. The usage of fuel of fossil fuel would take a back seat and renewable energy front seat,”.

The project is slated to help avoid 15 million tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to emissions from 3 million cars. The renewable energy storage capacity of 10,800 MWh will be able to integrate up to 6GW of wind and solar capacities. Needless to say, the project will have the capacity to integrate another 2,500MW of solar and wind generation capacities in addition to the total 3550MW of wind and solar capacities planned currently.

Published on May 17, a report has quoted Mahesh Kolli, founder & joint managing director, Greenko Group, as sharing the details of the investment, “While $1 billion investment is meant for the storage capacity, the remaining $2 billion is meant for setting up 3000MW of solar power generation, 550 MW of wind energy generation and 1680 MW of hydel power generation capacity.”

Elaborating further on the broad strategy, Kolli said the project will play a key role in helping India achieve energy security and enabling global energy transition. It will not just cater to industry, where it has signed contracts with Arcelor Mittal for supply to its Gujarat facility, but also distant states like Bihar, Rajasthan and West Bengal (Damodar Valley Corporation). The storage project will also be used to produce green hydrogen.

Greenko is majority owned by two of the largest global sovereign wealth funds — Government Investment Corporation (GIC) of Singapore and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) of UAE along with Orix Corporation of Japan.