RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company and Water and Power Consultancy Services Limited (WAPCOS) on Tuesday signed a contract for preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) of hydro-electric projects at five places in the state.

Amitabh Tripathi, Senior Executive Director, WAPCOS and H N Kosaria, Chief Engineer, CSPGCL signed the agreement at Sewa Bhawan, Daganiya, the Power Company headquarters, here.

The CSPGCL had identified five places where it plans to set up a 7700 MW hydro power plant, an official communication said.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who chaired the cabinet had recently approved the Chhattisgarh State Hydroelectric Project (Pump Storage Based) Establishment Policy 2022.

Chhattisgarh State Power Company Chairman Ankit Anand said the technology would prove to be better considering the energy requirement in the future. There is a lot of potential in Chhattisgarh in the field of green energy. WAPCOS will report on its possibilities.

CSPGCL Managing Director NK Bijoura said that five places in the state have been identified for pumped storage hydropower projects. They are Hasdeo Bango Korba and Sikaser reservoir Gariyaband to have 1200 MW each, 1400 MW in Dangri and 2100 MW in Rauni of Jashpur and 1800 MW power generation at Kotpally in Balrampur.

He said the technique is that water storage tanks are made at higher and lower places. Using the gravitational potential energy (kinetic force), the water being released at the bottom spins a turbine, which generates electricity.

In older hydroelectric power plants, water was discharged into the river, but in newer technology, water is stored after falling through turbines, and during the day, the water is pumped back into the upper storage with cheap electricity from solar energy. Thus, the same water can be used multiple times to generate electricity.