Intelligent Infrastructural Health Monitoring for Pumped-Storage Hydropower Projects using DFOS Technology
Dr. Ramji Singh, Member, Dam Safety Review Panel, Govt. of Gujarat; Technical Advisor & Senior Consultant-IIT Gandhinagar presents how Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) utilizing Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) and Distributed Strain Sensing (DSS) provides a high-resolution, real-time solution for structural health monitoring by enabling early detection of seepage, strain, and deformation across critical water infrastructure.
Abstract
Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) is emerging as a vital technology in India’s energy transition, particularly for managing the intermittency of renewable energy sources like wind and solar. PSH operates by transferring water between two reservoirs at different elevations pumping water to the upper reservoir during periods of low electricity demand and releasing it through turbines to generate electricity when demand is high.
India’s mountainous terrain and abundant water resources offer substantial potential for PSH development. States such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir are actively pursuing new installations to bolster grid stability and meet growing energy demands.
