High temperatures across parts of India have pushed electricity demand to near record levels in recent weeks, stoking fears of another summer of power supply squeeze.
Peak electricity demand hit 211 gigawatts in January, nearing an all-time high last summer as heavy industry boomed again following pandemic restrictions and residents faced The sweltering conditions caused the 122-year heat record to be broken.
Temperatures have been up to 11 degrees Celsius above normal in some areas over the past week and prompted the Indian Meteorological Department to recommend that farmers check wheat and other crops for signs of heat stress.
Hotter weather that started unusually early – and forecasts that power consumption will increase as irrigation pumps and air conditioners kick in – are raising concerns that the nation’s energy grid is in trouble. There will be new tensions, after two consecutive years of hiatus.
Power plants using imported coal have been asked to operate at full capacity for three months during the summer to avoid power outages and reduce pressure on domestic coal supply. According to the Department of Electricity, electricity demand could reach a new high of 229 gigawatts in April.
Bhanwar Singh Bhati, electricity minister in Rajasthan, where electricity supplies have been allocated to households and farmers, said: “The way the temperature rises – quite unusual in February – the situation is getting worse. become a matter of concern for us.” “Electricity demand is likely to increase by 20% to 30% compared to last summer. There is no choice but to cut off the power supply.”
Rajasthan is a solar hub, but it can be difficult to secure an adequate supply of electricity during the summer months if there are delays in receiving coal from mines in other areas.
Coal accounts for more than 70% of electricity production in India and reserves at power plants are currently far below the 45 million tonnes target the government has demanded to be reached by the end of March.
According to Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director-general of meteorology at India’s Meteorological Department, it is certain that today’s high temperatures are not necessarily a sign of extreme weather in March to May. “It is natural that you feel excited if the temperature is like this in February,” he said.
Pratap Keshari Deb, energy minister for Odisha, one of the nation’s top fuel producers, said India’s ability to meet summer energy needs will also be largely determined by efforts force to ensure enough coal is mined and transported.
If coal supplies are guaranteed, “everything will fall into place,” he said.
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