Jaipur: The state govt is moving ahead with a 900 MW pumped storage power project in Tonk district to store surplus renewable energy and meet peak-hour electricity demand as the state’s solar and wind power capacity expands.The proposed Rampura project will have a storage capacity of 5,400 MWh, enabling it to supply 900 MW of electricity for six hours at full capacity. It is the state’s second pumped storage project and aims to strengthen infrastructure for balancing fluctuations in renewable power generation.The facility will comprise three reversible pump-turbine units of 300 MW each. During periods of surplus electricity, power will be used to pump water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir. When demand peaks, the stored water will be released to generate electricity before flowing back into the lower reservoir for reuse.According to the project appraisal report, the reservoirs, underground powerhouse and water conductor system will be located within Bisalpur Conservation Reserve, making statutory clearances a key requirement for development.The state plans to select a developer through competitive bidding under a build-own-operate-transfer model. The agreement will run for 40 years from the scheduled commencement of power supply. The selected developer will be responsible for construction, operation and maintenance, along with land-related costs and applicable statutory approvals as specified in the project documents.The project will also require dedicated transmission infrastructure. The proposed 400 kV Phagi grid substation is around 90 km from the site.Pumped storage projects help integrate renewable energy into the grid by storing electricity when generation exceeds demand and releasing it when consumption rises, reducing the mismatch between intermittent solar and wind generation and peak-hour requirements.The pre-bid meeting is scheduled for Oct 27, while bids must be submitted by Nov 30. Technical bids will open on Dec 1.
