Page 3 - Power Ministry

Sweltering heat directs attention at 'disappearing' spring in country

Sweltering heatwave in north India that have caused scores of deaths, floods and landslides in the northeast that have affected lakhs of people, a spring season that suggests it could soon "disappear" from the calendar extreme weather events in the first five months of 2024 have got everyone questioning: where is all this headed? Despite having made predictions to this effect, climate scientists acknowledge that the temperatures this summer, including the outlier 52.9 degrees Celsius in Delhi, are "alarming, though not surprising". "This could be the worst summer in the last 120 years, at least for north India. Never have temperatures gone so high more than 45-47 degrees Celsius for such a vast region, which is also densely populated. This is a record in itself," Vimal Mishra, Vikram Sarabhai Chair Professor, Civil Engineering and Earth Sciences, IIT Gandhinagar, told PTI. The temperatures, "similar to those in Africa's Sahara desert," are "far beyond expectations" by at least ..

Peak power demand hits season's new high of nearly 240 GW on Friday

India's peak power demand hit the season's new high of 239.96 GW on Friday, due to soaring mercury levels in various parts of the country, which compelled excessive use of cooling appliances like air conditioners and coolers. As per power ministry data, the peak power demand met or the highest supply in the day, was recorded at 239.96 GW on Friday, which is the maximum so far in the summer season this year. On Thursday, it was 236.59 GW, while on Wednesday, the peak power demand was at 235.06 GW, as per power ministry data. The all-time high peak power demand of 243.27 GW was recorded in September 2023. The record is expected to be broken during this summer season. Earlier this month, the power ministry projected a peak power demand of 235 GW during daytime and 225 GW during evening hours for May and 240 GW during daytime and 235 GW during evening hours for June 2024. Industry experts are of the view that power demand is already around 240 GW level in May, which was projected for

Peak power demand hits season's high of 235 GW on Wednesday amid heat wave

India's peak power demand hit the season's high of 235.06 GW on Wednesday mainly due to excessive use of cooling appliances like air conditioners and coolers amid severe heat waves in most parts of the country. According to the power ministry data, the peak power demand met or the highest supply in the day is recorded at 235.06 GW on Wednesday, which is the maximum so far in the summer season this year. The all-time high peak power demand of 243.27 GW was recorded in September 2023. The record is expected to be broken during this summer season. Earlier this month, the power ministry projected a peak power demand of 235 GW during daytime and 225 GW during evening hours for May and 240 GW during daytime and 235 GW during evening hours for June 2024. Besides the power ministry has also projected that peak power demand can hit the 260GW mark during this summer season. The data shows peak power demand was 224.18GW in April 2024, when the country witnessed the onset of the summer season

Govt asks imported coal-based plants to run full capacity till October 15

The Ministry of Power has asked all thermal plants using imported coal to operate at full capacity for another three and a half months till October 15 to avoid electricity shortage amid rising demand in the country. The ministry has projected peak power demand of 260 GW during the summer season (April to June) in view of longer heat wave duration. Peak power demand had touched all-time higher of 243 GW in September 2023. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted above-normal maximum temperatures in most parts of the country during summer this year. A power ministry notice to 15 imported coal-based thermal power projects on April 12 stated, "It has now been decided to extend the time period for Section 11 directive to generating companies having imported coal-based plants, up to October 15, 2024." In October 2023, the ministry extended the deadline for these imported coal-based plants to operate at full capacity from November 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. In February 2023

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

PowerMin reviews electricity supply situation as summer comes knocking

Thermal stations to defer maintenance, gas-based units might be asked to run mandatorily

Statsguru: Discoms show progress in some parameters, but challenges remain

Despite rising electricity demand in the last five years, increases in the emissions from the power sector have slowed down

Grid connected solar inverter new addition to standards and labeling scheme

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has added a grid-connected solar inverter to the Standards and Labeling Program, which will help consumers get better-quality products for use as part of solar rooftop systems, a statement said on Friday. The BEE under the Ministry of Power, has come out with one more Standards and Labeling Program, which aims to help consumers make informed choices considering the cost-effectiveness and energy performance of various energy-consuming appliances, thus enabling them to save energy, reduce electricity consumption and also contribute to a greener planet, a power ministry statement said. The program will help consumers in getting better-quality inverters which can be used as part of the solar rooftop system. Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh said, "The S&L Programs of BEE have resulted in reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 60 million tonnes per annum." "The other advantage is that we save money, given the quantum ..

Power sector to attract Rs 17 trn in next 5-7 years: Union minister Singh

Domestic power industry is expected to attract investments of 17 lakh crore over the next 5-7 years, Union Minister R K Singh said on Thursday. The sector has seen investments of Rs 20 lakh crore in the last nine years, the Minister for Power, New and Renewable Energy was quoted as saying in a release by the power ministry. "During my tenure, we spent about Rs 2 lakh crores in constructing about 3,000 new substations, upgrading about 4,000 substations, adding 8.5 lakh circuit kilometres of HT (high transmission) and LT lines and 7.5 lakh transformers," Singh said while addressing an event here. On capacity addition, he said the country added 190 GW of power generation capacity, increasing it to around 436 GW during the said period. India added 200,000 circuit kilometres to transmission lines and the transmission system is the largest integrated transmission system in the world. It can transfer 116 GW of power from one corner of the country to another. "We are going to come up with

Continue importing 6% of coal needs till June, govt tells gencos

Logistical challenges, higher power demand nudge govt to extend import mandate

Peak power demand estimated to rise 7% to 260 GW this summer: Report

Peak power demand in the country is estimated to rise by seven per cent year-on-year to 260 GW this summer, according to a senior official. The peak power demand during the summer of 2023 touched 243 GW against a projection of 229 GW. "We expect the peak power demand this year (in summers) at 260GW," Central Electricity Authority Chairperson Ghanshyam Prasad told reporters on the sidelines of the Fourth Edition of Lineman Diwas in the capital. The power ministry had estimated the country's electricity demand to touch 229 GW during summers in 2023, but it did not reach the projected level in April-July due to unseasonal rainfall. Peak supply, 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 2023, while it was 243.27 GW in September, 222.16 GW in October, 204.77 GW in November, 213.79 GW in December 2023, and 222.73 GW in January 2024. Power consumption was affected in March, April, May and June last year

BEE helps to reduce energy use by 3.5%, reduce carbon emissions: RK Singh

The programmes and initiatives of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency have helped the country to cut 3.5 per cent of energy consumption annually and reduce yearly carbon emissions by 306 million tonnes (MT), Union Minister RK Singh said on Friday. The minister made the remarks at the 22nd Foundation Day of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statement issued by the Power Ministry said. "BEE helped India to reduce its energy consumption by around 3.5 per cent, and to reduce its carbon emissions by 306 million tonnes per annum," the Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy said. Some of the BEE's programmes and initiatives are Buildings Energy Efficiency, Star Label for consumer goods, and Energy Efficiency in Small & Medium Industry etc. These initiatives aim to improve energy efficiency and reduce higher consumption of power. "Road transport accounts for 12 per cent of country-related carbon dioxide emissions and constitutes 92 per cent of all transport-related energy ...

India sees higher peak in electricity demand as power consumption surges

Government officials now expect electricity demand to surge to a high of 384 gigawatts in the 12 months through March 2032, a 5 per cent increase on an estimate issued in May,

Govt finalises funding mechanism for battery energy storage system project

Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh has finalised the mechanism for deployment of funds for various projects to develop battery energy storage systems in the country. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) will ensure round-the-clock supply of renewable energy. The minister chaired a meeting on February 22 to finalise the structure for operationalising the scheme of viability gap funding for development of BESS with the capacity of 4,000 megawatthours (MWh), an official statement said on Sunday. Officials from the power ministry and those from Central Electricity Authority, Solar Energy Corporation of India, Grid India, and NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd. (NVVN) were present in the meeting. Addressing the officials, Singh said that the government will encourage setting up of BESS capacity through a viability gap funding scheme to meet the fast-growing needs of power demand as well as energy transition. The minister said when we have extra solar energy during the

Govt tweaks rules for speedy electricity connection, rooftop installation

Now getting new electricity connections will be as fast as three days in metropolitan areas, seven days in municipal areas and 15 days in rural areas, according to the latest amendments in the existing norms. The government has approved amendments to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, the power ministry said in a statement on Friday. The amendments also simplified the process of rooftop solar installations and empower consumers living in multistoried flats to chose connection type and ensure separate billing for common areas and back-up generators in residential societies, thus enhancing transparency, the ministry said. The revised rule provides for checking meters installed by distribution companies in case of consumer complaints to verify electricity consumption. According to the statement, the time period for obtaining a new electricity connection under the rules has been reduced from seven days to three days in metropolitan areas, from fifteen days to seven days

Govt to increase coal-fired capacity in 2024 by 14 GW: Power Ministry

The south Asian nation failed to achieve a target to add 175 GW of renewable power capacity by 2022. The planned coal-fired capacity increase in 2024 will exceed its 2023 renewables increase of 13 GW

Power consumption grows nearly 8% to 1,221.15 bn units in Apr-Dec

Power consumption in the country witnessed an on-year rise of nearly 8 per cent to 1,221.15 billion units (BU) during the April-December period of this fiscal, indicating a surge in economic activities. Power consumption in the country stood at 1,132.11 BU in April-December 2022-23. Industry experts said that around eight per cent growth in power consumption in the first nine months of this fiscal year shows a surge in economic activities. Power consumption in the entire fiscal 2022-23 was 1,504.26 BU, higher than the 1,374.02 BU witnessed in the 2021-22 financial year. The power ministry had estimated the country's electricity demand to touch 229 GW during summer in 2023. 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 2023. Peak demand touched 238.82 GW in August. In September this fiscal year, it was at a record high of 243.27 GW. The peak dem

Peak power demand in India may cross 400 Gw by 2030, says R K Singh

Peak power demand in India is likely to cross 400 GW by 2030 and more generation capacity is being set up to meet the rising demand, Union Power Minister R K Singh has said. Electricity is the most important infrastructure which is a sine qua non for development, the minister said at a summit here on Thursday. One major distinguishing feature between a developing and a developed country is that in a developed country, there is no load shedding, the minister was quoted as saying in a release by the Power Ministry. "No country can develop if it does not have sufficient power. The power shortage in India has come down from around 4.5 per cent in 2014 to less than 1 per cent today. We have ensured universal electricity access, connecting 29 million homes in 19 months, which the International Energy Agency called the largest and fastest expansion of energy access in the history of the power sector, he added. Speaking about the rising power demand, the minister informed that in 2014, th

PowerMin issues electricity rules, eases open access and transmission

The rules now allows consumers which have specified energy load and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) to establish, operate and maintain their dedicated transmission lines themselves without licence

REC to raise about Rs 3,500 crore via yen-denominated green bonds

State-owned REC Ltd on Friday announced it will raise 61.1 billion yens (about Rs 3,500 crore) through issuance of green bonds. The bonds will issued as part of REC's USD 10-billion global medium-term note programme, the company said in a regulatory filing. Giving the break-up of each note, the company said a five-year bond worth 31 billion yens will have a coupon rate of 1.67 per cent, a 27.4-billion yen paper with maturity in 5.25 years will have a coupon rate of 1.79 per cent, and another 2.7-billion yen bond having maturity period of 10 years will carry a coupon rate of 2.20 per cent. These bonds will be listed on Global Securities Market of India International Exchange (India INX) and NSE IFSC, the company said. REC said the net proceeds from these notes will be used to finance green projects in accordance with the REC's Green Finance Framework and the external commercial borrowing guidelines and directions of the Reserve Bank of lndia (RBI). REC, under the Ministry of Power,