India’s Power Demand Reaches New Heights amid Heatwave
As India grapples with an ongoing heatwave, the nation’s power demand has surged to unprecedented levels, reaching 250 gigawatts (GW) on Thursday, May 30th. This marks the second consecutive day of record-breaking electricity consumption. The relentless heatwave has heightened the need for cooling appliances, leading to an increase in demand.
This latest surge in power demand has surpassed the previous high of 246 GW set on Wednesday and the 243 GW recorded in September 2023. The northern region of India experienced an all-time peak demand of 86.7 GW, while the western region reached a record of 74.8 GW. Thermal power plants played a vital role in meeting this extraordinary demand, achieving a generation peak of 176 GW, particularly during non-solar hours.
The government has taken strategic measures to address the escalating demand, including maximizing generation from imported coal-based plants and gas-based plants. This surge in power consumption underscores the growing industrial and residential consumption, as well as the impact of weather-related loads.
Delhi, the national capital, witnessed its second-highest maximum temperature of the season on Thursday, reaching 45.6 degrees Celsius (114 degrees Fahrenheit). A day earlier, the city recorded a 79-year high of 46.8 degrees Celsius. Mungeshpur, a location in Delhi, recorded an alarming 52.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to investigate potential errors in the weather station’s sensors and data.
To ensure a reliable power supply amidst the surging demand, the government has mandated imported coal-based plants to operate at full capacity until September 2024. Additionally, the mandate to blend 6% imported coal in domestic coal-based plants has been extended till June. The national capital witnessed its peak demand ever on Wednesday, reaching 8,302 MW. This unprecedented demand is expected to continue, with projections of a peak demand of up to 260 GW during the ongoing summer season.
As the heatwave persists into June, the government has taken proactive steps to ramp up capacity addition of thermal power plants and ensure that all gas-based power plants are operating at full capacity. The IMD has also issued warnings of a hotter and more humid June, potentially leading to even higher power demand. The ongoing heatwave highlights the challenges posed by climate change and the need for proactive measures to ensure a stable and reliable power supply.
