Power minister estimates 1.1% energy surplus in FY17

Of the 1,178 BUs, 999 BUs will be generated through thermal, 134 BUs from hydro, 40 BUs from nuclear and 5 BUs from Bhutan Import

The power ministry has finalised a generation target of 1,178 billion units (BU) for 2016-17, against 1,137.5 BU in 2015-16.

The ministry has also projected energy surplus of 1.1 per cent and peak surplus of 3.1 per cent during FY17, compared with energy shortage of 2.1 per cent and peak shortage of 2.6 per cent last year.

Of the current year’s target, 999 BU was estimated to be generated through thermal power, 134 BU from hydro, 40 BU from nuclear and 5 BU imported from Bhutan.

The power ministry has firmed up these estimates based on month-wise anticipated energy requirement and availability as well as peak demand, especially in the wake of increase in generation thanks to capacity addition, coal supply and transmission network.

The ministry had estimated a generating capacity addition of 16,654.5 Mw in 2016-17 compared to 17,346 Mw a year ago.

This year, 13,440.5 Mw was expected to be generated through thermal, 1,714 Mw hydro, and 1,500 Mw through nuclear power.

In its load generation balance report, the power ministry said the surplus energy was anticipated to be of 3.3 per cent in the Southern Region (SR) and 6.9 per cent in the Western Region. Other three regions would face energy shortage varying from 1.8 per cent in the northern region, 10.3 per cent in the eastern region and 8.3 per cent in the Northeast.

Western, eastern and southern regions were expected to have peak surpluses in the range of 10.3 per cent, 4.9 per cent and 11.5 per cent, respectively. On the other hand, the northern region would have peaking shortages of 1.6 per cent and 3.8 per cent in the Northeast.

Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Mizoram, Tripura, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Sikkim would have both peaking and energy surplus on an annual basis. Tamil Nadu has surplus in terms of energy whereas Rajasthan, Manipur, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Arunachal Pradesh would be in a comfortable position in terms of peak power on annual basis.

During the year 2015-16, though the total ex-bus energy availability increased by 5.8% over the previous year and the peak met increased by 5.2%. The energy requirement registered a growth of 4.3% during the year against projected growth of 8.7% and peak demand registered a growth of 3.5% against projected growth of 5.9%.

Power Ministry's projections come close on the heels of Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal's recent statement that power demand is usually correlated to the economy. During 2012 and 2014, power demand grew by 5%. In years 2014 to 2016, it grew by 7%. ''So, we are on a growth trajectory, the economy is growing, power demand is growing. And this is on the back of huge thrust to energy efficiency,'' he noted.