Bengaluru Firm Proposes 300 MW Pumped Storage Project in Kalaburagi

Bengaluru-based Cerulean Energy Solutions Pvt Limited has proposed Karnataka's fourth pumped storage project in Sankanoor village, located in the Chittapur taluk of Kalaburagi district. The private company recently received the terms of reference from the Forest Department for the 300 MW renewable energy project, which will require the acquisition of 747 acres of land, including 65 acres of forest land.

The proposed off-stream project involves constructing an upper and a lower reservoir in the area. To operate the system, the project plans a one-time lifting of 0.243 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water from the Bhima River, which flows about 12 kilometres away from the site.

According to project documents, the company has assured that the project will have minimal impact on social and environmental aspects because the water will be recirculated between the two reservoirs. Renewable energy will be utilised to pump the water from the lower reservoir back to the upper reservoir, and any evaporation losses will be periodically recouped from the Bhima River.

Cerulean Energy Solutions stated that the cycle efficiency of the project is expected to be around 80 per cent. A 220 KV double circuit transmission line will be connected to the KPTCL Shahabad substation to evacuate the stored power and supply electricity during the pumping mode, with final connectivity details to be decided in the coming days.

While governments at the Centre and state levels are pushing for pumped storage projects to bolster renewable energy assets, such projects have attracted resistance from conservationists when proposed in ecologically sensitive areas. Other proposed projects in the Sharavathi Valley Lion Tailed Macaque Sanctuary and the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary are currently facing opposition.

Sangeetha Kattimani, an economist based in Kalaburagi, noted that while the wildlife in Chittapur is not well documented, the government must ensure that the ecology is protected and a mitigation plan is in place. She also urged the government to avoid acquiring arable lands to protect local livelihoods and to ensure that farmers who lose their land are adequately compensated.