| Pumped storage Wises Dam, a lined rockfill dam, raises Wises
pit to form the upper storage. A concrete-lined pressure tunnel connects this upper reservoir to the underground generation powerhouse. A concrete- lined tailrace tunnel in turn connects the powerhouse to the lower reservoir. A shaft from the surface connects the underground infrastructure to a surface switchyard, which connects to the 275 kV transmission network.
Construction began in 2021 and completion is expected later this year.
A project close to home – at Lake Cethana, Tasmania Entura has also been instrumental to the development
of Hydro Tasmania’s own proposal for a 750MW pumped storage project at Lake Cethana in Tasmania that could provide up to 20 hours of storage capacity. This included developing a pumped hydro screening process and a pumped hydro atlas to identify high- potential sites. A number of sites in Tasmania were evaluated, with 14 shortlisted for pre-feasibility studies and three projects then selected for detailed feasibility studies. Finally, using a risk-based multi-criteria assessment the preferred project was selected at Lake Cethana. It is planned to use the existing Lake Cethana (created by a 110m-high concrete-faced rockfill dam) and construct a new off-river upper storage (a membrane- lined reservoir with 12Mm3
active storage) with
530m head. The proposed project includes a surface approach channel leading to an upper intake structure, a vertical shaft and high-pressure tunnel leading to an underground power station containing four reversible pump turbine units, and a low-pressure tunnel to a lower intake structure on the shore of Lake Cethana. Two campaigns of geological investigations have since occurred on the Cethana pumped storage project, and the reference design and documentation are nearing completion. Work is now underway to progress this project to a final investment decision.
Entura’s pumped storage hydro screening identifies high-potential
states of India. The project is one of the biggest of its kind currently proposed in the Indo-Pacific region. Developing the detailed project report involves a wide range of crucial investigations into the project’s technical and economic feasibility, including the topographical surveys, surface and subsurface geological mapping and investigations, assessment of construction materials, hydrological assessment, engineering optimisation, and risk mitigation. The report will enable the developer to make informed decisions about the future of the proposed project, which may lead to submission to authorities for approval. The proposed project is a closed-loop pumped
hydro energy storage, which would be constructed in a mining area with good geological conditions and access to construction materials, a local labour force, and high rainfall to replenish any evaporation losses. According to the Government of India, only about 5GW of pumped storage hydro has been developed so far out of an estimated capacity of around 181GW nationwide. The few pumped storage developments currently operating in India are old, so the resurgence of pumped storage hydro is a new concept for many developers – including for our client. This brings
sites across India Our Australian pumped storage hydro screening experience provided a springboard to adapt our screening methodology for India. Screening for potential sites is a complex process and has rarely been applied at scale in India. However, in a recent engagement, Entura identified 68 high-potential sites across three Indian states. At one of these sites, a proposed 2000MW pumped storage project is now working through the early stages of development. Through our screening process, we can identify the most promising locations for pumped storage hydropower development and optimise site selection. This approach can help minimise the environmental impact of pumped storage projects while maximising their potential for energy storage and balancing the power grid.
Tackling a major new development in Odisha, India
Entura has now been appointed by ReNew to prepare the detailed project report for a 1,500 MW pumped storage hydro project in Odisha, one of the eastern
www.waterpowermagazine.com | July 2025 | 15 Above: Lake Cethana, Tasmania
Below: Investigations underway in 2024 at the site of the proposed Cethana project
Below: Proposed 750MW pumped storage project at Lake Cethana, Tasmania
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61
