)
The country is expected to experience an overall energy shortage of 6.7 per cent and a peak shortage of 2.3 per cent in 2013-14, though the southern region is likely to see much more. This is due to transmission constraints between the Northern-North Eastern-Eastern-Western (NEW) Grid and the Southern Regional (SR) Grid, which restricts flow of power to the south.
Gross energy generation in the country has been assessed as 975 billion units (BUs) from power plants in operation and those expected to be commissioned during the year. These estimates are from the Central Electricity Authority’s (CEA) annual Load Generation Balance Report (LGBR) for the year, issued last week.
During 2012-13, though the total ex-bus energy availability increased by 6.2 per cent over the previous year and the peak met increased by 6.1 per cent, shortage conditions prevailed both in terms of energy and peaking availability. The requirement grew 6.5 per cent against the projected 5.1 per cent and peak demand grew 4.2 per cent against the projected 7.7 per cent.
The CEA report said all regions except the eastern one would face an energy shortage. This would vary from 1.2 per cent in the western region to 19.1 per cent in the southern one. Peaking shortages in the northern, southern and north-eastern regions would be 1.3, 26.1 and 10 per cent, respectively.
However, due to inter-regional transmission constraints between the NEW Grid and SR Grid, the overall average anticipated peak shortage of the NEW+SR Grid works out to 6.2 per cent.
About 2,000 Mw capacity of independent power projects likely to be commissioned during the year is not yet linked with any entity.
CEA has done its assessment of the anticipated supply position after noting the availability from various stations in operation, fuel availability and anticipated water availability at hydro electric stations. A capacity addition of 18,432 Mw during 2013-14, comprising 15,234 Mw of thermal, 1,198 Mw of hydro and 2,000 Mw of nuclear power stations has been considered.
