Peak electricity demand hit the 211 gigawatt mark in January, near an all-time high last summer as heavy industry boomed again after the pandemic and the population faced stuffy conditions saw the 122-year-old heat record broken.
Temperatures have been 11°C above normal in some areas over the past week and caused the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to advise farmers to check wheat and other crops for signs 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 will meet 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, the electricity minister of Rajasthan, where electricity supplies have been distributed to households and farmers, said: “The way the temperature rises – which is quite unusual in February – the situation is getting worse. become a matter of concern to us. “Electricity demand could increase by 20% to 30% compared to last summer. There is no choice but to cut off the power supply.”
Among the hottest provinces, Rajasthan is a solar power hub, but it can be difficult to secure an adequate supply of electricity during the summer months if there is a delay in receiving coal from mines in other regions. other area.
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, general director of meteorology at IMD, the current high temperatures are not necessarily a sign of extreme weather in March to May. He said: “It is natural to be excited if you have temperatures like this in February.
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.
