A grid-connectivity milestone for a planned 1,200 MW pumped-storage project
Adani Hydro Energy Nine Limited has reportedly secured 720 MW of grid connectivity for the proposed 1,200 MW Moti Hojai Pumped Storage Project (PSP) in Assam, with connectivity sought from October 2029, according to a report published on 29 August 2026.
The development represents a grid-connectivity milestone rather than a commissioning announcement. The 1,200 MW figure refers to the planned capacity of the Moti Hojai pumped-storage project, while the reported 720 MW relates specifically to the connectivity capacity. The two figures should therefore not be treated as interchangeable.
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) lists Moti Hojai as a 1,200 MW pumped-storage project in Assam. The CEA’s pumped-storage development reports identify the project as part of India’s growing pipeline of hydro pumped-storage projects.
Adani is developing pumped-storage capacity in Assam
The Moti Hojai project is part of Adani Green Energy’s wider pumped-storage development plans in Assam.
In November 2025, Adani announced that Adani Green Energy intended to invest approximately ₹15,000 crore to establish two pumped-storage projects in Assam with a combined capacity of 2,700 MW. The company also stated that it had received a Letter of Award for 500 MW of energy-storage capacity to be supplied from these pumped-storage projects.
The company said the projects are intended to support energy storage, grid stability, peak-demand management and renewable-energy integration in Assam.
Why grid connectivity matters for pumped storage
Grid connectivity is an important development milestone for a pumped-storage project because the facility operates in both pumping and generation modes.
During pumping, electricity is drawn from the grid to move water to an elevated reservoir. During generation, the stored water is released through reversible hydroelectric machinery to generate electricity and supply power to the grid.
This means the transmission interface must accommodate both electricity consumption during pumping and electricity injection during generation. Transmission planning therefore needs to progress alongside the development of the storage facility.
The CEA’s pumped-storage planning framework includes transmission-system considerations as part of the development of large PSP projects.
What the October 2029 connectivity date means
The reported October 2029 connectivity start should not be interpreted as the commercial-operation date of the Moti Hojai project.
Grid connectivity and project commissioning are separate milestones. Connectivity establishes the planned interface between the project and the transmission network, while commercial operation requires completion of project development, statutory approvals, civil works, electro-mechanical installation, transmission infrastructure, testing and other commissioning activities.
Therefore, the reported 2029 connectivity horizon should be treated as a network-development milestone, rather than as confirmation of when the 1,200 MW project will begin commercial operations.
Moti Hojai and India’s long-duration storage expansion
Pumped storage is becoming an important component of India’s energy-storage strategy because it can provide large-scale and long-duration energy shifting.
The technology stores electricity by pumping water to an upper reservoir and later releases that water through turbines to generate electricity when required. This allows electricity to be shifted from periods of lower demand or surplus generation to periods when additional power is needed.
“The CEA maintains a dedicated pumped-storage development programme as India expands its long-duration storage pipeline. Its latest publicly listed Status of Pumped Storage Development in India report was published in July 2026.”
Moti Hojai is therefore part of a broader national push to develop pumped-storage capacity alongside battery energy-storage systems and other flexibility resources.
What to watch next
The next important milestones for Moti Hojai will include progress on project development, statutory and environmental approvals, transmission-system development, financing arrangements and construction activities.
The 720 MW reported connectivity capacity should also continue to be tracked separately from the project’s 1,200 MW planned capacity. Any future announcement regarding additional connectivity, construction commencement, financial closure or commissioning should be treated as a separate project milestone.
For Assam, the project’s progress will also indicate how large-scale pumped storage is being integrated with the state’s developing renewable-energy and transmission infrastructure.
Sources
1. Central Electricity Authority — Official
The CEA’s latest publicly listed Status of Pumped Storage Development in India report provides the official status of pumped-storage projects across India. The CEA’s HPPI page shows the July 2026 PSP status report as the latest listed report.
CEA — Hydro Planning & Investigation Reports
2. Adani Group — Official
Adani announced on 14 November 2025 that Adani Green Energy intended to invest approximately ₹15,000 crore in two pumped-storage projects in Assam with a combined capacity of 2,700 MW and had received an LoA for 500 MW of energy-storage capacity.
Adani — Transformative Energy Projects in Assam
3. Elekore, 29 Aug 2026
Reports CTUIL connectivity approval for 720 MW linked to Adani Hydro Energy Nine’s Moti Hojai PSP and a connectivity start sought from October 2029.
https://www.elekore.com/news
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