Backed by RE, Ministry Confident of Meeting Peak Demand by 2026-27

The Standing Committee on Energy recently presented its 4th report in the Parliament, one key area of focus was peak power demand and the demand met

The Standing Committee on Energy working under the Ministry of Power had recently presented its fourth report in the Parliament addressing all the financial layouts made by the government in the country’s power sector, all the schemes that have been implemented – their progress, the issues in the sector, and demands for grants for the financial year 2020-21. In this article, we take a look at the committee’s report on the state of the peak power demand and power met at present and in 5 years.

The report submitted in the parliament showed that for the financial year 2019-20 (until December 2019), the power demand not being met was 1271 MW or roughly 0.7 percent of the peak power demand of the country which stood at 183804 MW according to data provided the Ministry of Power.

As seen from the table above, since 2014-15 the drop in demand not being met has steadily dropped from 4.7 percent to 0.7 percent for the current fiscal year, despite the peak power demand rapidly increasing from 141,160 MW to 182,553 MW. One of the key reasons for which is the expansion in the renewable energy sector which has grown to 84,399.90 MW as on October 31, 2020.

The ministry revealed that for the current fiscal (Until December 2019), the power supply position in the country was:

In regard to anticipated demand and supply of power position five years from now, the Ministry stated that Planning of generation capacity addition is carried out keeping in view no demand and supply gap. Central Electricity Authority (CEA) conducts a periodic Electric Power Survey (EPS) of the country to assess the state-wise/UT-wise/region-wise and all India electricity demand on a medium-term and long-term basis. So far 19 (nineteen) EPS has been conducted and the report of 19th EPS was published in January 2017. The 19th EPS report covers electricity demand projection for the year 2016-17 to 2026-27 as well as perspective electricity demand projection for the year 2031-32 and 2036-37 for each state/UTs.

The anticipated peak demand and the electrical energy requirement during 2021-22 and 2026-27 as per 19th EPS are:

When the Committee desired to know as to how this demand will be met, the Ministry in their reply submitted: “As per the National Electricity Plan for Generation, all India power generation installed capacity by the end of 2021-22 is estimated to be 4,79,419 MW which includes 2,17,1302 MW Coal, 25,735 MW Gas, 51,301 MW Hydro, 10,080 MW Nuclear and 1,75,000 MW Renewable energy Sources. Further, all India power generation installed capacity by the end of 2026-27 is estimated to be 6,19,066 MW which includes 2,38,150 MW Coal, 25,735 MW Gas, 63,301 MW Hydro, 16,880 MW Nuclear and 2,75000 MW Renewable Energy (RE) sources. With this installed capacity, it is envisaged that electricity demand is likely to be fully met on All India basis.”

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