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Gujarat has initiated battery storage systems at five locations in the state, with a total capacity of 870 MW, to maintain the stability of the renewable power grid, officials said on Saturday. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are essential for storing electricity generated from solar and other renewable sources. They help manage additional load and maintain grid stability. "Gujarat has initiated battery storage systems at five locations with a total capacity of 870 MW," an official release stated. The state has also registered 13 projects across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Banaskantha, Patan and Kutch districts to set up additional battery storage systems, it said. Modhera in Gujarat, India's first solar village, has launched the country's first BESS integrated with a solar power plant, it said. "Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state has continued to advance in this direction and has strengthened its position among the leading states driving battery .
Coal India arm South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) on Monday said coal supply to the power sector jumped 8.2 per cent to 12.49 million tonnes (MT) during April. Coal despatch by SECL stood at 11.54 MT in April last year. The increase underscores SECL's sustained emphasis on prioritising coal supply to the power sector, aligning with directives from the coal ministry. This growth reflects the miniratna company's ongoing efforts to bolster fuel availability amid rising power demand, ensuring steady operations for thermal plants. SECL, a leading coal producer with major operations in the Korba coalfields of Chhattisgarh and across parts of Central India, has been ramping up production and logistics to meet national energy needs. According to the company's CMD Harish Duhan, SECL remains committed to sustaining this momentum and ensuring reliable coal availability to meet the country's power demand. The company said that SECL has made a strong start to 2026-?27, with coal production a
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