Northern, southern regions slated to face peak power deficit in FY19

The country’s northern and southern regions are slated to face peak power shortages during this financial year despite the position of overall surplus in power availability.

The Load Generation Balance Report (LGBR) for 2018-19 collated by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) forecasts a peak power deficit of 1.2 per cent for the northern hemisphere and still higher shortage of 4.5 per cent for the southern province. Overall, the country will have energy availability at 4.6 per cent in excess of the projected requirement. Peak power supply is also tipped to be in a surplus of 2.5 per cent.

Projections on power demand and supply have been done by CEA after factoring in power abundance from various stations in operations including renewable energy sources, availability of fuel and anticipated water availability at hydropower stations. FY19 is set to witness 9626.15 Mw capacity addition in power envisaged to be made up 8216.15 Mw of thermal power, 910 Mw in hydro and 500 Mw of nuclear power.

The gross energy generation in the country has been assessed as 1,265 billion units (BU) from the conventional power plants in operation and those expected to be commissioned during the year in consultation with generating companies/SEBs (State Electricity Boards) and taking into consideration the proposed maintenance schedule of the units during the year.

The net energy availability and demand include anticipated injection from renewable energy sources, surplus power from Captive Power Producers (CPP) and tied up capacity from the Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

The anticipated availability of 1,398.7 BU of energy during the year 2018-19 is based on the generation programme of 1,265 BU in respect of conventional generation sources. The generation programme from fossil fuel-based generating sources has been arrived at after ensuring full utilisation of the energy that is likely to be available from nuclear and renewable energy sources.

The contribution from coal and lignite-based generating stations to the generation programme is 1,044.29 BU. However, in case, the power demand in the country rises beyond anticipated level or if the contribution from renewable energy sources is less than projected, then coal and lignite-based generating stations can contribute additional energy of the order of 300 BUs during the year, provided adequate fuel is available, the report stated.