Page 7 - Electricity Sector

How smart meters are powering change for companies, consumers in country

Devices help electricity firms in preventing leakages and improving revenue by providing real-time data

Bajaj Auto's affordable Chetak 2901 charges up electric scooter market

Bigger players have cornered an 80% share of this segment compared to them commanding only 50-60% a year back

Monthly natural gas trades shoot up 480% in May: Indian Gas Exchange

Higher demand from gas-based power plants amid hot weather fuelled the rise

Scorching heat fuels India's gas-fired power use to multi-year highs in May

More than 75 per cent of India's power generation was from coal in 2023, while gas-fired plants have accounted for only about 2 per cent in recent years, largely because of the high cost of gas

Rail coal freight volume rises 9.3% on summer demand pull: Govt data

All other commodities flat or lower as rail freight grows 3.9% in May

Delhi discoms relying on advanced tech transformers to ensure power supply

The power discoms operating in Delhi are relying on their advanced-technology transformers to ensure an uninterrupted supply of electricity, with the peak demand ranging around 8,000 MW amid a scorching heatwave in the city. The transformers used by the BSES are designed to operate at 40 degrees above the ambient (area) temperature, said a spokesperson of the company. "This basically means that the transformers can operate at up to 40 degrees more than the prevalent area temperature. For example, if the area temperature is 48 degrees Celsius, these can operate till 88 degrees Celsius without any external aid," he said. The BSES discoms (distribution companies) -- BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) -- supply electricity to most parts of the city except North Delhi. "Due to the modern design and technology, there is no need for any external aid like a fan to cool the transformer," the BSES spokesperson said. Transformers getting overheated and bu

Delhi fire dept got over 200 calls on May 29, highest so far this year

Fire-related calls surged to 180 on Wednesday recording a nearly three-fold rise over the single-day calls received by the Delhi Fire Service, with officials attributing the increase to heatwave conditions prevailing in the national capital. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received 220 calls, including 183 fire-related, on Wednesday, the highest so far this year, officials said. The remaining calls were related to bird and animal rescue. From January 1 to May 26, the department received 8,912 fire-related calls, according to the data shared by the DFS on Monday. "We received 183 calls fire-related 24 hours, ending midnight of May 29," DFS chief Atul Garg said. This was the highest single-day calls recorded so far this year. Usually, we receive almost 150 calls in the whole summer season -- 60 are fire-related and the remaining are related to animal rescue. But this time there is a three-fold rise," he said. With the temperature soaring in the city and hovering near the 50-degree Cel

India's peak power demand touches new record high of 246 Gigawatts

During the current year, May has witnessed several power demand records

Discoms ramp up power supply during elections, despite demand surge

States like Karnataka, Odisha and Haryana have kept their power tariffs unchanged, while Bihar has cut rates

Govt projects biggest power shortfall in 14 years, races to curb outages

The deficit also follows delays, a government source said, in the commissioning of 3.6 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired plants which had been targeted to be operational before March

Rising temperatures drive up electricity consumption in Rajasthan

The last fortnight recorded an increase of 300 lakh units in the electricity demand, which is continuously rising, sources in the energy department said

Kerala saved 200 MW power on May 3 due to self control: State govt

In the wake of the Kerala government coming out with certain proposals to control power consumption during peak hours, the southern state saved around 200 megawatts of electricity on May 3. The achievement was highlighted by state Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty who on Saturday said the power saving was thanks to the cooperation of the consumers, especially the big industries, in Kerala. "It is a big change. It happened thanks to the cooperation of the consumers," he said. The minister also said that the government was trying to ensure that restrictions proposed by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) do not affect the domestic power consumers. "Everyone has to cooperate and self-impose restrictions on their consumption. You (media) too should take it up as a campaign (to urge people to reduce power consumption). Otherwise, all of us will have to suffer," he told reporters. At the same time, he said there was no load shedding or power cuts. "If a transformer trips due t

Adani Electricity, Tata eye bigger pie in Mumbai power distribution

Battle for high-value customers heats up amid increased EV penetration

Tesla's shift on low-cost cars throws India investment plans into limbo

The world's top EV maker said it plans to raise production by 50% from 2023 to its current capacity of close to 3 mn vehicles before investing in new manufacturing lines

Jindal Stainless cuts 2.4 trn tonnes of CO2 emissions in last two fiscals

Jindal Stainless has reduced 2.4 lakh tonnes of carbon emissions between 2022-23 and 2023-24, according to a company statement on Wednesday. Jindal Stainless Ltd (JSL) is taking various measures to reduce the carbon component in its emissions to nil by 2050. The company plans to generate over 1.9 billion units of clean electricity per annum with a target to reduce over 13.52 lakh tonnes of carbon emissions annually by the targeted year. "In the last two fiscals (FY22 and FY23), the company has managed to successfully reduce 2.4 lakh tonnes of Co2 emissions) taking it a step closer towards carbon neutrality and responsible manufacturing," the statement said. The company said it has started using renewable energy sources for its operations. It has also started producing green hydrogen to be used in steel-making processes. Besides, JSL has undertaken digitalisation and technology upgradation for energy efficiency and using EVs at its facilities in Odisha and Haryana. "These initiati

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

Lenders to invite bids for Hiranmaye Energy in the next few weeks

BHEL had petitioned to halt the insolvency process of the project, citing its pending dues emerging from an arbitral award

Delhi electricity demand to cross 8GW this summer, discoms brace up

Both TPDDL and BSES stated they are fully geared to provide uninterrupted power supply

Govt pulls all stops to ensure smooth power supply this summer: R K Singh

The government has asked all power plants to operate at full capacity as it pulls all the stops to meet peak electricity demand in the searing summer season, Power Minister R K Singh said on Thursday. With the meteorological department forecasting a harsh and long summer, the government has asked all plants that are shut for maintenance or other reasons, to quickly start operating and harness surplus power available at generating stations dedicated to specific users. The government is also ensuring that thermal power plants - the backbone of India's electricity supply - have enough coal stocks to last through June and has asked all units to offer their uncontracted or surplus power in power exchanges. In an interview with PTI, Singh exuded confidence of meeting peak summer demand without any disruption. He said, "We are mobilising our entire capacity whether it is thermal, hydro, renewable or gas-based. So I think we will meet the demand." The Ministry of Power has projected a pea

This smallcap heavy electrical equipment stock has zoomed 113% in 5 months

GE Power India in an exchange filing on Thursday said it bagged contracts worth Rs 775 crore from Jaiprakash Power Ventures.