Page 9 - Electricity Sector

Power consumption dips marginally by 2.3% to 119.07 bn units in Dec: Govt

The country's power consumption dipped 2.3 per cent to 119.07 Billion Units (BU) in December, marking its first monthly decline in eight months due to lower demand for heating equipment, especially in the north, on account of mild winter, according to government data. Earlier in April 2023, power consumption had dipped nearly 1.5 per cent to 130.08 BU compared to 132.02 BU in the year-ago period. In December 2022, power consumption stood at 121.91 BU, higher than 109.17 BU recorded in the same month a year ago, the data showed. The peak power demand met -- the highest supply in a day -- rose to 213.62 GW in December. The peak power supply stood at 205.10 GW in December 2022 and 189.24 GW in December 2021. Experts said that power consumption as well as demand remained lower due to mild winters in the first fortnight of December. However, consumption and demand rose after mercury dipped sharply in the second half of the month, especially in North India. The data showed that peak powe

Eight core industries growth up at 7.8% in November vs 5.7% year-ago

The output of eight key infrastructure sectors increased by 7.8 per cent in November 2023 against a 5.7 per cent expansion in the year-ago period, according to the official data released on Friday. All sectors except crude oil and cement recorded healthy production growth in the month under review. The core sector (coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity) growth in October was 12 per cent. Coal and refinery products output recorded double-digit growth. The output growth of eight sectors was 8.6 per cent in April-November 2023-24 against 8.1 per cent in the year-ago period.

Peak power demand likely to touch 350,670 MW mark by 2030-31: Centre

The peak electricity demand in India is expected to touch 3,50,670 MW mark by 2030-31, and the government is taking various measures to meet the increased demand, Union Minister R K Singh has said. The peak demand has gone up from 1,35,918 MW in 2013-14 to 2,43,271 MW in September 2023. This is a rise of almost 79 per cent and the demand has been met, the minister for power said on Thursday. A series of concerted measures have led to 70 per cent increase in generation capacity from 2,48,554 MW in March 2014 to 4 25,536 MW in October 2023, he said in Lok Sabha. "As per 20th Electric Power Survey (EPS) report published in November 2022, the peak electricity demand in the country in 2030-31 is expected to be 3,50,670 MW. We have taken steps to meet the increased demand for power in the country," Singh said. The minister said 27,180 MW of thermal capacity is under construction, 12,000 MW has been bid out and 19,000 MW is under clearances. The total anticipated thermal capacity additio

Peak power demand to touch 366 GW by 2032: Central Electricity Secretary

Peak power demand in India will increase to 366 GW by 2032 and 693 GW by 2047, a top official said. This assumes significance in view of rising electricity consumption in the country as peak power demand touched a record high of 243.27 GW in September 2023. At the virtual launch of the US-India Energy Storage Task Force, Rakesh Kumar, Secretary of Central Electricity Authority, said, "Considering the projected electricity demand and energy requirement in the country, which is expected to grow in terms of peak demand to 277 GW by 2027; to 366 GW by 2032 and 693 GW by 2047." "Our country has a vision to reduce carbon emission intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels. And net zero by 2070," Kumar, India Co-Chair of the US-India Energy Storage Task Force, said in a statement. The US-India Energy Storage Task Force was launched virtually at a conference in India to make strides in global transformation in this area. The public-private US-India Energy Storage Task Force (ESTF)

India's power consumption grows nearly 9% to 1,099 bn units in April-Nov

Power consumption has increased by nearly nine per cent to 1,099.90 billion units (BU) in the country during April-November this fiscal compared to the same period a year ago, showing a surge in economic activities. The power consumption in the country was 1,010.20 BU in April-November 2022-23, higher than 916.52 BU recorded in the same period of 2021-22. Power consumption in the entire fiscal 2022-23 was 1,504.26 BU, higher than 1,374.02 BU witnessed in 2021-22 financial year. Industry experts said that around nine per cent growth in power consumption in the first eight months of this fiscal year shows buoyancy in the economy. The power ministry had estimated the country's electricity demand to touch 229 GW during summer. The demand did not reach the projected level in April-July due to unseasonal rain. The peak demand, however, touched a new high of 224.1 GW in June before dropping to 209.03 GW in July. Peak demand touched 238.82 GW in August. In September this year, it was at a

India's core sector output grew by 12.1% in October on low base effect

The figures for September were revised upward to 9.2 per cent from 8.1 per cent earlier

Diwali 2023: Beauty product sales up 52%, phones top-selling electronic items

The beauty products category emerged as the top three favourite among the younger demographic with 47 per cent of sales coming from the 18 to 24 years age group

Uttar Pradesh govt to invest Rs 18K crore in coal-fired power plant

This comes amid the rep­orts that the Government of India is looking at facilitating easier funding for new coal-fired thermal power plants in the wake of a sharp jump in electricity demand

Power Grid Corp board okays Rs 367 cr investment in transmission projects

State-owned Power Grid Corp board on Wednesday approved a proposal to invest about Rs 367 crore in electricity transmission projects. Committee of Directors on Investment on Projects' of Powergrid in its meeting held on November 22, 2023, has accorded investment approval for two projects, a BSE filing showed. As per the filing, the first project which got the approval is an augmentation of transformation capacity by 1X1500 MVA (3rd), 765/400 KV ICT at Maheshwaram (PG) substation in Telangana at an estimated cost of Rs 142.69 crore. It is scheduled to be commissioned within 21 months from the date of intimation by CTUIL (Central Transmission Utility) letter on July 10, 2023 -- by April 9, 2025. The board also approved the transmission System for Evacuation of Power from the Potential RE Zone in the Khavda Area of Gujarat under phase IV (7GW)- Part E4 at an estimated cost of Rs 224.41 crore, scheduled to be commissioned within 24 months from the date of intimation by CTUIL letter on

India needs to add 80 GW coal power by 2030 to meet demand: Union minister

India needs to add thermal coal-based power generation capacity of 80 GW against the 27 GW currently under construction as the peak power demand in the country would spike to 335 GW by 2030 from 241 GW at present, Union Power Minister R K Singh said on Tuesday. Singh presided over a review meeting on thermal power capacity addition in the country where independent power producers and state-owned generators NTPC, SJVN, NHPC, DVC, THDCIL, and NLCIL participated virtually and in physical mode on Tuesday. Besides energy secretaries of 13 major states were also invited for deliberations. Addressing the review meeting, Singh said India's peak power demand would touch 335 GW in 2029-30 from the present level of 241 GW. Peak power demand had touched all-time high of 241 GW in September, reflecting rise in electricity consumption in the country with expansion of economic activities as well as per capita usage. The minister said India needs 80 GW of coal-based thermal power generation capac

Global Green Growth Institute, EESL to implement project in India

Global Green Growth Institute and Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) will collaborate to implement the Asia Low Carbon Buildings Transition (ALCBT) project in India. With the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) as the nodal ministry, the strategic initiative aims to combat the unprecedented surge in peak electricity demand in the country, primarily propelled by the escalating need for cooling solutions, according to a statement. Germany through its Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) is funding the project under the International Climate Initiative (IKI). EESL in collaboration with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), an international inter-governmental organisation, has announced the launch of the ALCBT project in the country. They will undertake a range of activities to address the pressing challenges associated with the surging demand for electricity in the building sector. One of the key components of the ALCBT project implementati

State govts falling back on thermal power as electricity demand surges

In 2014, it was coal supply. Between 2016-2018, it was Central schemes on rural and urban electrification and reforms for power distribution companies

SC sets up panel for appointment of members to Delhi power regulator DERC

The Supreme Court on Monday set up a three-member selection panel for short-listing and appointing two temporary members of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC). A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said the selection committee will comprise Justice Jayant Nath, former Delhi High Court judge and present pro tem DERC head, Justice Ramesh Ranganathan, the chairperson of APTEL (Appellate Tribunal for Electricity) and Justice Asha Menon, a former Delhi High Court judge. The bench said the selection panel shall recommend two names for each position with information regarding their ability, integrity and domain knowledge, preferably within one month. The names of short-listed candidates will be forwarded to the office of the lieutenant governor of Delhi and the chief minister for appointment, it added. The bench said the panel will be free to devise methods for selection of the members of the national capital's power regulatory

Power Mech Projects bags Rs 355 cr order from BHEL for trial operations

Power Mech Projects on Tuesday said it has bagged a Rs 355 crore order from state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). The scope of work includes erection, commissioning and trial operation including application of lining/insulation, Power Mech Projects said in a regulatory filing. It also includes handing over of boiler and its auxiliaries, power cycle piping, steam turbine generator of unit I and II at 2X660 MW NTPC, Talcher, Odisha, it said. Based in Hyderabad, Power Mech Projects is one among the leading infrastructure-construction companies with global presence.

Best of BS Opinion: Time to 'phase up' on oil production, BRI & more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Theft claim rejected as employee role suspected

According to the National Commission, the suspicious manner in which the heavy drums were stolen, without leaving any evidence, provided grounds for repudiating the claim

Power Ministry asks utilities to import 6% of their coal until March

In a letter dated Wednesday and seen by Reuters on Saturday, the ministry asked the companies to blend the imported coal with domestic coal to maintain stocks amid higher consumption

Israel electricity authority using funds from power plant sale to fund war

The electricity sector has been prepared for an emergency in recent years in accordance with government decisions dedicated to the issue as well as in accordance with the policy principles

Low electricity generation, higher demand led to power shortage: K'taka CM

Karnataka is facing a shortage of power as electricity generation has come down due to drought, while the demand has shot up, and the government is trying to address the situation by purchasing power from both inside and outside the state, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday. He said that an order has been issued asking those generating power in the state to supply it to the government. "Electricity generation has reduced, while the demand has increased. It is because of deficit rainfall and due increase in demand like it happens during summer. The consumption demand now is 15,000-16,000 MW, compared to 9,000 to 10,000 MW during the corresponding period last year, so this has led to some issue," Siddaramaiah said. Speaking to reporters here, he said he has called a meeting with energy department officials to discuss purchasing power from outside. "We have also issued an order recently that those generating power in the state should supply it to the government. We will purcha

Power consumption grows nearly 8% to 847 bn units in first half of FY24

India's electricity consumption grew nearly eight per cent to about 847 billion units (BU) in the first half of this fiscal year from April to September, showing uptick in economic activities in the country. According to the official data, electricity consumption rose to about 847 BU during April-September 2023 from 786 BU in the same period of the previous fiscal. The industry experts opined that the widespread unseasonal rain in April, May and June has affected the power consumption as it could have grown in double digits in the country. They stated that there was strong recovery of power demand as well as consumption in August onwards due to unusually high humidity level which increased the use of cooling appliances like fans, coolers and air conditioners. They also said power consumption grew in August and September, mainly due to humid weather conditions and also perked up industrial activities ahead of the festive season. The data also shows that peak power demand touched a