Page 2 - India Power Production

India's power generation capacity rose to 4.46 GW in last decade: Govt

India's total installed power generation capacity has grown around 80 per cent over the last 10 years to 4,46,190 MW (4.46 GW) in June 2024, Parliament was informed on Monday. The installed capacity, which was 2,48,554 MW in March 2014, reached 4,46,190 MW in June, the Union Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik said. In a reply to the Rajya Sabha, he said the installed capacity of coal-based power has increased from 1,39,663 MW in March 2014 to 2,10,969 MW in June 2024. While the installed capacity of renewable sector has increased from 75,519 MW in March 2014 to 1,95,013 MW in June 2024, the minister added. The Government of India proposes to set up an additional minimum 80 GW coal-based capacity by 2031-32, Naik said. He further said 1,95,181 circuit kilometer (ckm) of transmission lines, 7,30,794 MVA of transformation capacity and 82,790 MW of inter-regional capacity have been added, connecting the whole country into one grid running on one frequency with the capability of

Pvt sector owns over 52% of installed power generation capacity of 446GW

Private sector owns over 52 per cent of the total installed power generation capacity of 446GW in the country, playing an important role in the sector, Parliament was informed on Thursday. In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik said, "Private sector is playing an important role in India's power generation. Generation is a de-licensed activity as per the Electricity Act, 2003 and 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the power sector in India is permitted for generation from all sources (except atomic energy)." As on June 30, 2024, total installed capacity in the country is 4,46,190 MW and out of which the contribution of the private sector is approximately 2,34,065 MW i.e. 52.5 per cent, he informed the House. Also, he stated that most of the renewable energy projects in the country are being set up by private sector developers selected through a transparent bidding process. In another reply to the House, the minister said that with the

Govt directs utilities to procure $33 bn equipment for coal power boost

The unprecedented move by the government will help add 31 gigawatts (GW) in the next 5-6 years

India's power demand surge may require national electricity plan revision

India faces unprecedented surge in power demand with its peak expected to reach 260 GW by September or October this year

India set to register biggest jump in coal-fired power in a decade

The world's most populous nation expects to add 15.4 gigawatts in the year through March 2025, the most in nine years

No monthly minimum charges for domestic power consumers: Haryana CM Saini

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday said the monthly minimum charges for domestic power consumers have been abolished and electricity bill will now be based on the number of units consumed. An official statement quoting the chief minister said from now on, people of the state will receive bills based solely on the number of units of electricity consumed. "From now on, residents of the state will receive bills based solely on the number of units of electricity consumed, providing much-needed relief to electricity consumers," the statement said. Saini was addressing an event in Ambala, while launching the additional subsidy scheme in Haryana under the "Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana". Under the scheme, Saini said a subsidy of Rs 60,000 will be provided by the central government, for setting up a rooftop solar plant for poor families having an annual income of less than Rs 1,80,000. Additionally, a subsidy of Rs 50,000 will be provided by the state governm

Scorching heat fuels India's gas-fired power use to multi-year highs in May

More than 75 per cent of India's power generation was from coal in 2023, while gas-fired plants have accounted for only about 2 per cent in recent years, largely because of the high cost of gas

India's power usage rises 15% to 156.31 bn units in May due to extreme heat

India's power consumption rose nearly 15 per cent to 156.31 billion units (BU) in May as compared to the year-ago period, mainly due to scorching heat in the country which forced excessive use of cooling appliances like air conditioners and desert coolers. In May 2023, the power consumption stood at 136.50 BU, government data showed. The highest supply in a day (peak power demand met) also rose to an all- time high of 250.07 GW in May 2024 against 221.42 GW in the year-ago month. The previous all-time high peak power demand of 243.27 GW was recorded in September 2023. Last month, the power ministry had projected a peak power demand of 235 GW during daytime and 225 GW during evening hours for May and 240 GW during daytime and 235 GW during evening hours for June 2024. The ministry also estimated that peak power demand may hit 260 GW during this summer. Experts said the increase in power consumption as well as growth in demand was mainly due to high mercury levels in May which for

Power demand hits record 250 Gw, coal, gas driving bulk of supply

The northern region also achieved a record demand met, reaching an all-time high of 86.7 GW, while the western region also touched its maximum demand met of 74.8 GW

Statsguru: Rising summer temperatures push power demand in India

Increased use of cooling equipment during heatwaves is said to be a key reason, although only around a quarter of households own air conditioners or air coolers in India

Delhi power demand all-time high at 8,000 Mw amid intense summer heat

Delhi's peak power demand reached an all-time high of 7,717 MW on Tuesday afternoon amid intense summer heat, Discom officials said. According to the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC), Delhi, real-time data, the peak demand of the city broke all previous records. It reached 7,717 MW at 3.33 pm, they said. Delhi's previous all-time high peak power demand was recorded at 7,695 MW on June 29, 2022, officials said. The national capital is reeling under intense heat with a steady temperature rise. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heat wave conditions in many parts of Delhi and severe heatwave conditions in some areas. It has also issued a red alert for the next four days. According to the seven-day forecast, the maximum temperature will be in the range of 44 to 47 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature on Tuesday settled at 30.7 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal, according to the IMD. The maximum temperature of the day is expected to be around 45 deg

'Measures in place': Govt gears up to meet peak power demand in May, June

The government has taken adequate measures to meet the estimated 235 GW peak power demand in May and 240 GW in June, according to an official statement. "With various measures, we have been able to successfully meet the peak evening power demand of 224 GW during April 2024," the Ministry of Power on Friday. The power demand is projected to peak at 235 GW during the day-time and 225 GW during evening hours for May and 240 GW during day-time and 235 GW during evening hours for June 2024, it said in the statement. The power ministry has estimated around 260 GW of peak demand during this summer season. Elaborating on the measures, the ministry said section 11 directions have been issued to gas-based power plants besides coal-based units to make full capacity available for electricity generation. The optimisation of hydropower generation has made available an additional 4 GW for meeting the demand during May and June. Further, the shifting of planned maintenance and minimisation of pa

Govt projects biggest power shortfall in 14 years, races to curb outages

The deficit also follows delays, a government source said, in the commissioning of 3.6 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired plants which had been targeted to be operational before March

No relief to Kerala; SC refers plea on borrowing to Constitution bench

Supreme court referred the plea filed by the State against the Centre over interference with the State's power to borrow and regulate its own finance to a Constitution bench

India's power consumption subdued at 1.4% to 129.89 bn units in March

India's power consumption growth remained subdued at 1.4 per cent to 129.89 billion units (BU) in March as compared to the year-ago period mainly due to pleasant weather, according to government data. In March 2023, power consumption stood at 128.12 BU, lower than 128.47 BU recorded in the same month a year earlier, the data showed. The highest supply in a day (peak power demand) rose to 221.70 GW in March 2024 as opposed to 208.92 GW in March 2023 and 199.43 GW in March 2022. Experts said power consumption as well as demand growth remained subdued in March as the weather remained pleasant across the country and people did not feel the need for heating or cooling appliances, especially in north India. The power ministry has estimated around 260 GW of peak demand during summer. The experts said power demand as well as consumption will see robust growth April onwards with the onset of summer. The power ministry had estimated the country's electricity demand to touch 229 GW during s

SSEL aims to make new plant operational in Jul-Sep qtr, says CMD Reddy

Transformers maker Shirdi Sai Electricals Ltd (SSEL) looks to start operations at its new Rs 300 crore unit in Andhra Pradesh by the September quarter, its CMD N Viseswar Reddy said. SSEL is setting up a facility to manufacture conductors in the YSR District of Andhra Pradesh at an investment cost of Rs 300 crore, Reddy told PTI. The plant having an annual capacity of 300 tonnes is being set up over 8 acres, he said, adding that the plan is to make the plant operational by the July-September period of 2024-25. Conductors are a key element of a transmission line project. The plant is being set up in two phases. The trial production will begin by the end of this month, while the peak capacity of phase 1 (200 tonnes) will be achieved in the first quarter of the next fiscal year. Reddy further said SSEL is also into transmission EPC projects and around 50 per cent of the conductors' production will be consumed by the company's transmission business. The remaining will be sold in the

NTPC crosses 400 bn units power generation mark in FY24, eyes green energy

State-owned NTPC on Thursday said its electricity generation has crossed 400 billion units (BU) this fiscal year. In FY23, the company had generated 399.3 BU, a company statement said. According to the statement, till March 13 of FY24, NTPC coal stations recorded a plant loading factor (PLF or capacity utilisation) of 77.06 per cent. During the fiscal year, the company recorded the highest ever single-day generation of 1,428 MU (million units) on September 1, 2023. NTPC has an installed capacity of 75.4 GW, while 18 GW capacity including 5 GW renewables is under construction. The company is committed to achieving 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032. NTPC has also ventured into various new business areas including e-mobility, waste-to-energy, green hydrogen solutions and participated in the bidding for power distribution of Union Territories. It is India's largest integrated power utility, contributing 1/4th of the power requirement of the country.

India's coal output reaches 881 MT in Apr-Feb, likely to hit target

India produced 880.72 million tonne (MT) of coal in April-February this fiscal and is now just 119.28 MT away from its 1 billion tonne coal production target for FY24. In 2022-23, India's total coal output was 893 million tonnes (MT). For the ongoing 2023-24 fiscal, the government has a target to produce 1 billion tonne (BT) of coal. The cumulative coal production in April-February 2024 grew over 12 per cent to 880.72 MT (provisional) compared to 785.39 MT during the same period of FY23, the Ministry of Coal said in a statement on Tuesday. The country's coal produced rose 12 per cent to 96.60 million tonne (MT) in February against 86.38 MT a year ago. In February, the production of state-owned giant Coal India Ltd (CIL) rose 8 per cent to 74.76 MT (provisional) from 68.78 MT in February 2023, the ministry said. The cumulative coal dispatch up to February 2024 increased over 11 per cent to 882.44 MT compared to 794.41 MT in the year-ago period. The coal dispatch grew 13.63 per cen

Govt extends mandate for power producers to import 6% of coal needs

Coal accounts for about 75% of India's power generation, with coal-fired plants accounting for more than three quarters of India's use of the polluting fuel

Govt amends rules to mandate gencos to give surplus power to exchanges

The government on Friday said that the rules related to surplus power and late payment surcharge have been amended to ensure adequate supply of electricity to consumers and meet the growing demand. The Government of India has amended the Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge and Related Matters) Rules of 2022 which will enhance the reliability of power supply for all consumers, a power ministry statement said. Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy R K Singh said that a key amendment which has been made is related to surplus power which is within the declared generation capacity but not requisitioned by distribution companies. The minister said that some power generators were not offering this surplus power in the market, thus resulting in unused power capacity at the national level. To address this issue and optimize the use of available power, power generators that do not offer their surplus power will now not be eligible to claim capacity or fixed charges ...