GE Vernova Inc. has announced that it has received a major order from Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) to supply equipment for a large pumped-storage hydropower project in India. The contract covers the delivery of nine 150 MW pumped-storage units for the Upper Sileru hydropower plant in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The project has a total planned capacity of 1.35 GW and is expected to be completed by 2030.
Once operational, the Upper Sileru plant will be among the largest pumped-storage hydropower facilities in India. It will have the ability to store and supply electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of around three million Indian households. This makes it a significant infrastructure project in the country’s renewable energy expansion plans.
The project is designed to support India’s ongoing energy transition by enabling large-scale energy storage that can balance the growing share of solar and wind power in the electricity grid. Pumped-storage systems work by storing energy when demand is low and releasing it when demand is high. The facility will help improve grid stability, manage peak electricity demand, and regulate frequency across the national grid.
Its fast switching capability between pumping and generating modes will make it an important tool for ensuring reliable power supply.MEIL described the project as a key milestone for India’s clean energy development and noted that its collaboration with GE Vernova will help deploy proven pumped-storage technology.
This, in turn, will support better integration of renewable energy sources while maintaining grid reliability at a large scale.GE Vernova’s role in the project includes full engineering and delivery responsibilities. This covers design, manufacturing, testing, supply, transportation, installation supervision, commissioning support, and control and governing systems.
The nine units being supplied are vertical Francis reversible turbines, designed for high efficiency, flexible operation, and long operational life spanning several decades. NThis is the second pumped-storage collaboration between GE Vernova and MEIL. The companies are also working together on the Kundah hydropower project in India, where GE Vernova is supplying four 125 MW fixed-speed pumped-storage units.
The Upper Sileru project will also make use of GE Vernova’s engineering and manufacturing capabilities within India. The company expects the project to contribute to local employment, skill development, and industrial growth during its execution phase. According to Frederic Ribieras, CEO of Hydro Power at GE Vernova, pumped-storage projects like Upper Sileru are essential for building a more sustainable and stable energy system.
He noted that such projects help integrate renewable energy at a large scale while ensuring long-term reliability and grid support.Pumped-storage hydropower is widely considered one of the most effective large-scale energy storage solutions. It functions like a natural battery, helping balance electricity supply and demand while supporting the integration of variable renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.
GE Vernova is a major global player in this segment, with around 30 per cent of the world’s installed pumped-storage capacity and a development pipeline exceeding 3 GW globally. In India, GE Vernova already has a strong industrial presence, with multiple technology and engineering centres, manufacturing facilities, and a workforce of over 10,000 employees, including more than 3,000 engineers and technologists.
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