Electricity In India

Power consumption dips to 123.4 bn units in Nov as cooling demand falls

Power consumption in the country fell marginally by 0.31 per cent to 123.4 billion units (BU) in November from 123.79 BU a year ago, due to frugal use of cooling appliances. According to the government data, power consumption had declined by 5.8 per cent year-on-year in October this year to 131.07 BU. Power consumption had risen to 145.66 BU in September from 140.61 BU in the same month a year ago. Experts said October also saw unseasonal rains in various parts of the country which reduced the need of cooling appliance and with onset of winter in November, the usage reduced to almost nil. They also stated that though the winter season has begun, the need for using heating appliances like geysers and blowers was not felt by many people during November. However, the peak power demand met or the highest supply during November rose to 215.54 GW from 207.44 GW recorded in November 2024. The peak power demand had touched an all-time high of about 250 GW in May 2024. The previous all-t

Power market coupling faces delay, unlikely before December 2027: Report

A J M Financial report says regulatory and procedural hurdles could delay India's proposed power market coupling until late 2027, affecting IEX's market share projections

Pumped hydro capacity to cross 10 GW yearly from FY29, says CEA chief

CEA chairperson Ghanshayam Prasad said India will add 2.8 GW pumped hydro annually till 2027 and over 10 GW a year from 2028-29 to reach 57 GW capacity by 2032

India's power output hits fastest growth in 5 months on industrial boost

The sustained growth in renewable energy capacity has aided in lowering India's dependence on coal for power generation this year

India's power consumption rises 4.4% to 150.47 bn units in August

Power consumption in the country grew 4.4 per cent year-on-year to 150.47 billion units (BU) in August. Power consumption was recorded at 144.11 BU in August 2024, according to official data. Experts said continuous rainfall in most parts of the country affected power consumption and demand in August. The highest supply in a day (peak power demand met) in August rose to 229.71 GW last month, from about 216.47 GW in August 2024. Peak power demand had touched an all-time high of about 250 GW in May 2024. The previous all-time high peak power demand of 243.27 GW was recorded in September 2023. According to government estimates, peak power demand was expected to touch 277 GW in the summer of 2025. However, this summer (April onwards), the record peak power demand was 242.77 GW in June. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), India received 743.1 mm of rainfall between June 1 and August 31, about 6 per cent above the long-period average of 700.7 mm. June rainfall w

Sunsure Energy, NVVN sign 500 MWh BESS pact for power supply to UPPCL

Sunsure Energy on Thursday said it has inked a pact with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam for 500 MWh peak power supply from battery energy storage system to Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation. Sunsure Energy, renewable energy solutions provider for businesses and utilities transitioning to green power, is proud to announce the signing of a Battery Energy Discharge Purchase Agreement (BEDPA) with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVN), a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Ltd, securing a capacity of 125MW/500MWh, a company statement said. Backed by a 15-year agreement, Sunsure will supply power to NVVN with Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) being the end procurer. Under the agreement, Sunsure will set up a standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) under the buildownoperate model at Garautha substation (400/220 kV) in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. The project marks Sunsure's first long-term power supply agreement through BESS. Through the agreement, Sunsure will deliver 4 hours of on-deman

Spain's blackout shows why India needs to prioritise power grid stability

For a build-out without blackouts, regulators and the government will also need to work on better data, a more robust grid, and better-run companies

Country saw blackouts under Congress, now exporting electricity: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said there were blackouts when the Congress was in power before 2014 but India's power production has doubled in the last decade and it is exporting electricity. Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of a 800-MW ultra critical modern thermal power unit at the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant here, the prime minister said Haryana is seeing double speed of the BJP's double-engine government. The thermal power unit, spread across 233 acres and worth around Rs 8,470 crore, is expected to become operational by March 2029. It will significantly boost Haryana's energy self-sufficiency and provide uninterrupted power supply across the state. Taking forward the vision of 'Gobardhan' (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan), Modi also laid the foundation stone of a compressed biogas plant in Mukarabpur here. The plant, slated for completion by 2027, will have an annual production capacity of 2,600 metric tonnes and will

Nepal earns Rs 815 cr from electricity export to India in 5 months of FY25

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has exported electricity worth Nepalese rupees 13 billion (INR 8.15 billion approximately) during the first five months of the current fiscal year. According to NEA officials, about 1.76 billion units of electricity worth Nepalese Rs 13.04 billion have been exported to India from mid-July to mid-December of the current fiscal year 2024-25. Nepal has been exporting surplus electricity to India during the rainy season for the last few years, NEA spokesperson Chandan Ghosh said. The average rate of electricity exported to India in the five months is Nepalese Rs 7.39 (INR 4.63 approximately) per unit. The authority is selling the surplus electricity at competitive rates in the day-ahead and real-time markets of the Indian Energy Exchange and to the states of Haryana and Bihar as per the bilateral medium-term power sales agreement. As a result, the authority has earned INR 8.15 billion by selling electricity during the review period as the trading

October retail inflation hits 14-month high at 6.21%, food prices soar 11%

India's industrial output rose 3.1% year-on-year in September, driven by a rebound in manufacturing activity

Adani Power emerges top bidder for stressed KSK Mahanadi proj at Rs 27K-cr

KSK Mahanadi is currently undergoing insolvency proceedings at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Coal India, NTPC, Vedanta, JSW Energy were among the other bidders

'Zero electricity bill, surplus power': PM Modi's goals for Viksit Bharat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal for Viksit Bharat 2047 includes slashing electricity bills to zero by facilitating the adoption of rooftop solar panels in every household

Gas-based plants directed to run from May 1 to Jun 30 as power demand rises

The government has directed all gas-based power generating stations to operationalise their plants from May 1 to June 30 in view of rise in electricity demand due to a likely prolonged heat wave this summer. A significant portion of Gas-Based Generating Stations (GBSs) is currently unutilized, primarily due to commercial considerations. The ministry has projected 260 GW peak power demand this summer (April to June 2024). Peak power demand had touched an all-time high of 243 GW in September last year. The decision to operationalise GBSs is part of a series of measures taken by the Centre to ensure that electricity demand in the summer is met. According to a power ministry statement, the order shall remain valid for generation and supply of electricity from May 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024. "To ensure maximum power generation from Gas-Based Generating Stations, the government has issued directions to all Gas-Based Generating Stations under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003, under

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 to start commercial ops of 2nd unit of North Karanpura power project

NTPC on Monday said it will start commercial operations of second unit of its North Karanpura Super Thermal Power Project on March 20. NTPC's North Karanpura Super Thermal Power (STPP) project is a coal-based power plant located in the Chatra district of Jharkhand. "Unit 2 (660 MW) of North Karanpura Super Thermal Power Project (3x660 MW) is declared on commercial operation with effect from 00:00 hours of 20.03.2024," NTPC said in an exchange filing. With this, standalone and group commercial capacity of NTPC will become 59,298 MW and 75,418 MW, respectively. NTPC, under the Ministry of Power, is India's largest power generation company.

Power consumption rises over 8% to 127.79 billion units in February

India's power consumption grew over 8 per cent to 127.79 Billion Units (BU) in February as compared to the year-ago period, according to government data. In February 2023, power consumption stood at 118.29 BU, higher than 108.03 BU recorded in the same month a year ago, the data showed. There were 29 days in February as 2024 is a leap year. Thus the growth rate of power consumption in February is slightly higher. The peak power demand met -- the highest supply in a day -- rose to 222 GW in February 2024. The peak power supply stood at 209.76 GW in February 2023 and 193.58 GW in February 2022. Experts said power consumption as well as demand improved in February as mercury remained low during the month, especially in north India. The prolonged cold wave resulted in increased use of heating equipment like heaters, blowers, and geysers leading to rise in power demand as well as consumption. The power ministry had estimated the country's electricity demand to touch 229 GW during summ

PM Modi announces PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, to invest over 75000 cr

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: PM Modi announces scheme to provide free 300 units of electricity every month by investing 75000 crore on this project

Tata cuts EV prices by up to Rs 1.2 L to pass on battery price reduction

Indian automaker Tata Motors' electric vehicle (EV) unit on Tuesday said it reduced prices of its cars by up to 1,20,000 rupees ($1,445.54) to pass on battery price reduction benefits to its customers

EV leasing firm Alt Mobility raises $6 million to scale up operations

Electric vehicle leasing and lifecycle management platform Alt Mobility on Thursday said it has raised USD 6 million (nearly Rs 50 crore) in a funding round co-led by Shell Ventures, Eurazeo, EV2 Ventures and Twynam. UC Inclusive, Piper Serica, Pitchright and LetsVenture also participated in the round, which is a mix of equity and venture debt, the company said in a statement. The capital will be used for hiring engineering team to scale its Electric Vehicle (EV) asset management platform FleetOS, it added. It will also be used for setting up new verticals for fleets including drive-to-own model, parametric insurance, fleet depots and battery refurbishment unit, the company said. Besides, Alt Mobility said it plans to expand its presence in over 20 cities aiming to achieve an (Assets Under Management) AUM of USD 100mn in the next two years.

Govt plans 24x7 electricity supply across the country by March 2025

This will be part of BJP's 'continuous reforms' if voted back to power