Page 14 - Power Sector

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

CCEA approves Rs 5,607 cr investments by Coal India in two power projects

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday approved equity investments of Rs 5,607 crore by state-owned South Eastern Coalfields and Mahanadi Coalfields to set up two thermal power projects with total generation capacities of 2,260 MW. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, an official statement said. According to the statement, South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) will set up a 660 MW thermal power plant through a joint venture of SECL and MPPGCL. Similarly, Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) will set up a 2x800 MW thermal power plant through Mahanadi Basin Power Ltd (MBPL - a subsidiary of MCL). There will be an equity capital of Rs 823 crore (plus or minus 20 per cent) by SECL with an estimated project capex of Rs 5,600 crore (accuracy of plus or minus 20 per cent) for the proposed 660 MW supercritical thermal power plant through JV of SECL and MPPGCL at Amarkantak Thermal

Rs 16.93 trn investment in power, RE since 2014, Rs 17.05 trn in pipeline

A whopping investment of Rs 17.05 lakh crore is in the pipeline in power and renewable energy sector, which has attracted around 16.93 lakh crore of investment since 2014, Union minister R K Singh said on Monday. As much as 80 GW of thermal power generation capacity is under construction which we will have by 2030, Singh told reporters, adding that about 99 GW of renewable energy is under construction, at present. Briefing reporters on new rules called Electricity (Amendment) Rules 2024, Singh said that as much as Rs 16.93 lakh crore has been invested in power and renewable energy sectors so far. The Rs 16.93 lakh crore investment includes Rs 11.2 lakh crore in sectors like generation, distribution and transmission while Rs 5.73 lakh crore in the renewable energy sector, the minister explained. He further stated that an investment of Rs 17.05 lakh crore is in the pipeline in the power and renewable energy sectors. The minister said that Rs 7.4 lakh crore would be invested in the

BHEL to set up 2,400 MW thermal power plant at Odisha's Jharsuguda

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) will set up a greenfield thermal power plant of 2,400 MW capacity in Odisha's Jharsuguda district, an official statement said on Saturday. NLC India Limited, a Navaratna company under the Ministry of Coal, has awarded the EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) contract to BHEL to set the 2,400 MW capacity (3x800 MW-stage I) after inviting competitive tenders, it said. The contract scope to BHEL includes engineering, manufacturing, supply, erection and commissioning of equipment such as boilers, turbines and generators for the plant, the statement said. For the thermal project, coal linkage is available from Talabira II and III mines of NLCIL. The water required for the project will be sourced from Hirakud reservoir, it said. The first unit of the project is scheduled for commissioning in the financial year 2028-29.

Jindal Power proposes to top Adani's bid for coal-power plant: Report

The tussle for the 1,980-megawatt plant in central India, ensnared in insolvency proceedings, comes after the power minister called last November for more private investment

Delhi's coldest morning this winter pushes power demand to all-time high

With Delhi reeling under intense cold, the peak power demand of the city surged to an all-time high of 5,701 MW on Friday morning. According to the State Load Dispatch Centre's real-time data, the peak power demand of Delhi at 10.49 AM on Friday was 5,701 MW. The power discoms have estimated the winter peak power demand to reach up to 5,760 MW this year. The previous highest peak winter demand was 5,611 MW on Wednesday morning. The national capital on Friday recorded its lowest temperature this winter with the minimum dipping to 3.9 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season's average, the weather department said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said it is the lowest minimum temperature in the last five years. Since January 1, Delhi's peak power demand has risen by over 11 per cent, discom officials said. A BSES spokesperson said that company's discoms -- BRPL and BYPL -- successfully met the peak power demand of 2,484 MW and 1,185 MW respectively. Up to 60 per ce

Power sector financer REC likely to lead National Rooftop Solar scheme

Sources said REC will be made the nodal agency for the scheme to spread its reach across the country and plug the inefficiencies

Energy conundrum: Govt to double coal production despite climate goals

Later, the power minister Raj Kumar Singh set out plans on Dec. 22 to add 88 gigawatts of thermal power plants by 2032. The vast majority of which will burn coal

Power equipment sector's order book charged up on transmission projects

Between April to December 2023, close to 35 projects worth Rs 60,000 crore were offered under tariff-based competitive bidding

TN global investors meet: Tata Power to invest Rs 70K cr in green units

Set to be firm's highest investment in any state

Extreme cold weather leaves thousands without power in Nordic countries

Extremely cold temperatures compounded by gale-force winds and snow wreaked havoc across the Nordic region Thursday, leaving thousands without power while others braved the cold for hours stuck in their cars along clogged highways. Heavy rains in Germany, France and the Netherlands again caused floods in regions that have seen persistent flooding in the last two weeks. One death was reported in France. The deep freeze disrupted transportation throughout the Nordic region amid reports of traffic chaos following closures of sections of highways and major roads. Problems with rail service have also been reported. Electricity was cut to some 4,000 homes in Arctic Sweden where temperatures plummeted to minus 38 degrees Celsius (minus 36.4 degrees Fahrenheit), according to Swedish public radio. In the southern part of the country, motorists were stuck in their cars or evacuated to a nearby sporting complex where they spent the night. In neighbouring Denmark, police urged motorists to avo

CCI clears Punjab State Power Corp's purchase of GVK Power project

The Competition Commission of India on Tuesday cleared Punjab State Power Corporation's proposed acquisition of GVK Power (Goindwal Sahib) Ltd. GVK Power (Goindwal Sahib) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GVK Energy Ltd, which in turn is the subsidiary of GVK Power and Infrastructure Ltd. The combination involves the acquisition of 100 per cent stakeholding of GVK Power (Goindwal Sahib) Ltd by Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL). "CCI approves the proposed acquisition of 100 per cent shareholding of GVK Power (Goindwal Sahib) Limited by Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd," the fair trade regulator said in a post on X. In July last year, PSPCL had filed a bid to take over the 540 MW Goindwal thermal power plant in Tarn Taran after corporate insolvency proceedings were initiated against its owner GVK Power. Deals beyond a certain threshold require approval from the regulator, which keeps a tab on unfair business practices as well as promotes fair competition in the marketplace.

SJVN gets govt approval to form JVs for 8778 MW hydro, renewable projects

State-owned power producer SJVN Ltd on Monday said it has received the finance ministry's permission to form four joint venture firms for the development of hydro and renewable projects with a total capacity of 8,778 MW in India and Nepal. SJVN will be the leading partner in three joint venture companies, whereas SJVN's wholly-owned subsidiary SJVN Green Energy Ltd (SGEL) will be the leading partner in the fourth JV, a company statement said. According to the statement, the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), Ministry of Finance, Government of India has agreed to the proposal of SJVN and Ministry of Power to form four joint venture (JV) companies for the development of Hydro and Renewable Projects in India and Nepal. SJVN will form a JV with Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd to develop 5,000 MW Renewable Energy Projects. Another JV will be formed between SJVN, Government of Arunachal Pradesh and Navyuga Engineering Company Ltd. The JV will ..

Met winter's record peak power demand of 1,631 MW: Tata Power-DDL

Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited on Monday successfully met this winter season's record peak power demand of 1,631 MW without any network constraint and power outage, the company said in a statement. The company is expecting the peak demand to breach 1,800 MW this season and has made long-term power tie-ups to meet the requirement, it added. "Our power-supply arrangements during the winter months include long-term agreements with power plants like Maithon Power, Jhajjhar Power, SJVNL, THDC, NTPC stations, Delhi-based gas-fuelled generating stations and other solar and wind tie-ups made by Tata Power-DDL," it said. In 2022-23, the winter peak demand stood at 1,750 MW, while in 2021-22 and 2020-21, it was at 1,620 MW and 1,572 MW respectively. Tata Power-DDL is adequately prepared for the winter season and has been working towards strengthening its power network and conducting preventive maintenance and condition-based maintenance of all critical electrical installations, the ..

Reliance Power to sell 1,200 MW Kalai II hydropower project to THDC India

Reliance Power has inked an agreement to sell its 1,200 MW Kalai II hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh for Rs 128.39 crore to THDC India. The purpose of entering into the agreement was to monetise the hydroelectric power project, Reliance Power said in a regulatory filing on Sunday. According to the filing, the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Kalai Power Private Ltd (a subsidiary of the company), and THDC India Ltd (THDC) have inked an agreement in this regard on December 30, 2023. Under the pact, there will transfer of the development rights and associated physical assets, studies, clearances, designs and intellectual properties of the proposed 1,200 MW Kalai-II hydroelectric project located at the Lohit river basin of Arunachal Pradesh to THDC for an aggregate consideration of Rs 128.39 crore, subject to certain indemnities, representations and covenants, it stated.

RBI flags concentration risk among govt-NBFCs, all tied to power sector

The interconnectedness between NBFCs and banks in India has seen a rise due to NBFC's increased borrowings from banks, according to the report

Inox Wind, JSW Energy: Power stks soar over 100% in 2 months; time to sell?

Chart suggests that shares related to green and renewable energy may display mixed trend in early 2024, given the sharp rally seen in the last two months.

Managing portfolio: Stay with winners or make bets laggards in 2024

The start of a new year is also a good time to make bets on stocks that have been laggards and could potentially see a turnaround in their fortunes next year

Coal-based power generation rises 8.38% to 779.1 billion units in Apr-Nov

The domestic coal-based power generation increased 8.38 per cent to 779.1 Billion Units (BU) in April-November FY24 , an official statement said on Saturday. In the year-ago period, the domestic coal-based power generation stood at 718.83 BU. India's power generation increased 7.71 per cent in the period under review, the coal ministry said in a statement. The overall coal-based power generation witnessed a year-on-year increase of 11.19 per cent during the period on account of unprecedented rise in temperature, delayed monsoon in the northern region of the country coupled with the resumption of full commercial activities post-Covid. Coal import for blending decreased substantially by 44.28 per cent to 15.16 million tonne (MT) up to November in the current fiscal from 27.21 MT in the year-ago period, despite the escalating power demand. "This shows the nation's commitment to self-reliance in coal production and minimising overall coal imports," the ministry said. The government i

Union Minister RK Singh targets 43% reduction of emissions by 2030

While highlighting the crucial discussions held during the recently concluded COP28, Singh underscored that per capita emissions in India are among the lowest globally