Geosynthetic lining strengthens Greenko's Pinnapuram Pumped Storage project

Greenko Pinnapuram Integrated Renewable Energy Project in Andhra Pradesh integrates solar, wind, and hydro storage on a large scale. Despite the site's difficult geology, a cutting-edge geosynthetic lining system guarantees long-term, safe, and effective operation.

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The Greenko Pinnapuram Integrated Renewable Energy Project (IREP), situated in Andhra Pradesh, India, is one of the country's flagship initiatives to promote the transition to clean energy. Developed by Greenko Group, the project integrates 1.2 GW of pumped hydro storage with 1 GW of solar and 600 MW of wind capacity, making it a pioneering example of large-scale renewable energy and storage integration in India.

A key feature of the project is its use of pumped hydro storage, which involves cycling water between two reservoirs, each situated at a different elevation. This process enables the storage of excess renewable energy generated during periods of low demand and its release during peak demand, thereby stabilising the power grid and maximising the use of intermittent solar and wind resources.

The construction of these reservoirs presented significant engineering challenges due to the site's complex geology, including fractured and jointed bedrock with active faults. Ensuring the long-term impermeability and structural integrity of the reservoirs was critical to the project's success. Traditional lining methods were deemed insufficient due to the geological risks, prompting the adoption of a sophisticated, multi-layer geosynthetic liner protection system.

This case study examines the geological and geotechnical context of the Pinnapuram site, the specific problems posed by in-situ faults and joints, the design and implementation of the advanced lining system, and the lessons learned from the project's execution.

Geological and geotechnical characteristics of the project site