India’s renewable energy ambitions just got a major boost. ANDRITZ has been selected to supply core electromechanical equipment for the Saidongar-1 Karjat Pumped Storage Plant—a landmark 3,000 MW facility in Maharashtra that will become India’s largest pumped storage hydro project upon completion.
Announced on April 21, 2026, this contract isn’t just about turbines and generators. It’s about enabling grid stability, accelerating decarbonization, and building the infrastructure backbone for India’s clean energy future.
🎯 The Project: Saidongar-1 Karjat at a Glance
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Maharashtra, India |
| Capacity | 3,000 MW (India’s largest pumped storage plant) |
| Annual Generation | 6,241 GWh |
| CO₂ Reduction | ~4.55 million tonnes/year (≈1 million cars off the road) |
| Client | Torrent Energy Storage Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (Torrent Power subsidiary) |
| ANDRITZ Scope | 10 reversible pump turbines, motor-generators, electromechanical systems |
This isn’t just another hydropower project. It’s a strategic grid asset designed to balance India’s rapidly growing solar and wind capacity—storing excess renewable energy when generation is high, and releasing it when demand peaks.
🔧 ANDRITZ’s Scope: Full Lifecycle Delivery
ANDRITZ will deliver end-to-end engineering and execution for the plant’s core rotating equipment:
✅ Design & Engineering – Customized reversible pump-turbines optimized for India’s grid dynamics
✅ Manufacturing – Leveraging ANDRITZ’s state-of-the-art facilities in India, supported by global expertise
✅ Installation & Commissioning – Turnkey execution to ensure seamless integration and rapid operational readiness
✅ Testing & Validation – Rigorous performance verification to guarantee reliability at scale
The order value sits in the low three-digit million euro range and will be recorded in ANDRITZ’s Q1 2026 order intake—underscoring the strategic significance of this partnership.
🌐 Why Pumped Storage Matters for India’s Energy Transition
| Challenge | How Pumped Storage Helps |
|---|---|
| Intermittent renewables | Stores surplus solar/wind energy for dispatch when needed |
| Grid stability | Provides fast-response frequency regulation and black-start capability |
| Peak demand management | Releases stored energy during high-load periods, reducing fossil backup reliance |
| Energy security | Diversifies supply mix and reduces import dependence |
| Climate commitments | Enables deeper renewable penetration while meeting net-zero targets |
With India targeting 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, flexible, large-scale storage isn’t optional—it’s essential. Saidongar-1 Karjat represents a critical piece of that puzzle.
💬 Leadership Perspective
“The Saidongar-1 Karjat pumped storage project marks a significant step in Torrent Power’s commitment to driving India’s clean energy transition. As the country’s largest pumped storage plant, it will be key to enabling round-the-clock renewable power. With ANDRITZ as our technology partner, we are confident in delivering a world-class facility that supports India’s energy security and sustainability goals.”
— Torrent Energy Storage Solutions
“Projects like Saidongar-1 Karjat demonstrate how proven hydropower technology, combined with modern engineering and local execution, can accelerate the global energy transition. We’re proud to support India’s ambitions with reliable, efficient, and scalable solutions.”
— ANDRITZ Leadership
🇮🇳 Local Execution, Global Standards
A standout feature of this project: ANDRITZ will execute manufacturing and assembly using its advanced Indian facilities, supported by the company’s global engineering network.
This “glocal” approach delivers: ✨ Reduced logistics complexity and carbon footprint
✨ Faster delivery timelines through localized production
✨ Skills development and job creation in India’s industrial sector
✨ Technology transfer and long-term service capability building
For India’s growing renewable ecosystem, that means world-class infrastructure—delivered with local agility.
🔮 The Bigger Picture: Storage as the Enabler of Renewables
As solar and wind become the cheapest sources of new electricity globally, the bottleneck is shifting from generation to integration. Pumped storage hydro remains the most mature, scalable, and cost-effective solution for long-duration energy storage—and projects like Saidongar-1 Karjat prove its continued relevance.
For policymakers, investors, and developers, the lesson is clear: 🔹 Storage must be planned alongside generation, not as an afterthought
🔹 Partnerships with experienced technology providers de-risk complex infrastructure delivery
🔹 Local manufacturing + global expertise accelerates deployment while building domestic capacity
