Electricity Sector

India's power grid handled record demand this summer, but rising heat, renewable growth and industrial expansion are testing whether its infrastructure can keep pace

India's power consumption witnessed a 4.04 per cent growth to 153.99 billion units (BU) in April compared to the year-ago period as unseasonal rains subdued power demand, especially in the first half of the month, according to official data. The country's total power consumption was 148.01 BU in April 2025. However, due to the rise in mercury level, which caused heat wave conditions, the power demand rose in the latter part of the month, and the peak power demand jumped to a record high of 256.11 GW last month from 235.32 GW in April 2025. The peak power demand had touched an all-time high of about 250 GW in May 2024. According to the power ministry, peak power demand may hit 270 GW in the summer of 2026. Last summer, the peak power demand was 242.77 GW, recorded in June 2025, but stayed below the government's estimate of 277 GW. Experts said that power demand and consumption will further increase from May onwards, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has projected a hars

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday said that nearly one-third of the record peak demand of over 256 GW earlier this month was met through renewable energy like solar, wind and hydro. The peak power demand touched a record high of 256.11 GW on Saturday, April 25, 2026, according to Power Ministry data. Speaking at the Resilient Futures Summit organised by Economist Enterprise, Joshi, the new and renewable energy minister, said that one-third of the peak power generation on 25th April was successfully met through renewable energy. That itself showcases that India is capable of generating and India is capable of handling peak power demand through renewable energy, he pointed out. The minister highlighted that India is investing in grid modernisation, digitisation, and also using AI and digital twins. "I think in the coming days...the generation capacity will also increase," he said. The minister also said that the government is making efforts to translate installed capacity

The country's peak power demand soared to 255.85 GW on Monday, reaching the record level for the second time within three days, driven by intense heatwave conditions that pushed usage of cooling appliances like air-conditioners and desert coolers. The surge in power demand, amid severe heatwave conditions across the north, central and western India, resulted in a significant rise in energy consumption, as users relied on air-conditioners and cooling devices to beat the heat. According to the power ministry data, peak power demand was recorded at 255.85 GW (nearly 256GW) on Monday, which was a tad below the highest-ever peak demand recorded at 256.11 GW on Saturday. Peak power demand started surging in the second half of this month and touched 252.07 GW on April 24. The power ministry on Tuesday said, "India has successfully met its all-time highest peak electricity demand of 256.1 GW on 25th April 2026 at 15:38 hrs without any shortage, while simultaneously maintaining electricity

Fresh data from the Grid Controller of India shows that electricity demand met by the grid touched a peak of 256.11 GW at 3:38 pm on Saturday, 25 April, up from 252.11 GW recorded on Friday, 24 April

India's peak power demand hit an all-time high of 256.11 GW on Saturday due to an intensifying heat wave, which increased the use of cooling devices such as air conditioners and desert coolers, according to the latest power ministry data. The peak power demand on Saturday eclipsed the previous record of 252.07 GW, hit just a day earlier on Friday, April 24, at 1548 hrs. According to the power ministry data, peak power demand set a new high of 256.11 GW at 1538 hrs on Saturday, and it was fully met. Experts stated that peak power demand is inching towards the power ministry's estimate of 270 GW for this summer season, as mercury levels have begun to rise. Temperatures in several regions have been significantly above normal - by 5 degrees Celsius or more - indicating a developing heat stress scenario across parts of the country, according to the India Meteorological Department. On Saturday, Delhi recorded its highest maximum temperature of the year so far at 42.8 degrees Celsius, ..

The load on the national grid would get less spiky if the entire nation doesn't simultaneously ramp up electric stoves, EV chargers, and high-intensity cooling in factories and data centres

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Integrated power firm Tata Power on Wednesday said the company has resumed operations at Mundra Plant with an installed capacity of 4,150 MW, after a gap of almost nine months. The company had suspended operations at all units of Mundra plant on July 2, 2025 and has been suffering losses due to temporary closure of the plant. "With reference to the temporary suspension of company operations of its units located at Mundra, we hereby inform you that the company has resumed its operations at Mundra Plant with an installed capacity of 4,150 MW," it said in a regulatory filing. Last month, Tata Power informed bourses that its arm Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd (CGPL), which operates Mundra plant, has signed supplementary power purchase agreements (PPA) with GUVNL (Gujarat). According to the regulatory filing, the company had to ink PPAs with Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana. The company has been incurring losses due to closure of units at Tata Mundra plant, which is run by its ar

A tenfold increase in the share of renewables in the total energy supply is needed