Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (Tata Power-DDL), the power utility that supplies electricity to a populace of over 7 million in North Delhi, has estimated a peak electricity demand of about 2150 MW this summer season and made an arrangement of up to 2400 MW.
As per IMD’s summer forecast 2021 the regions along the Indo Gangetic Plains including Delhi are likely to experience maximum temperatures that will be above normal during May and June. The forecast says that the maximum temperatures can go up to 0.71 degree Celsius over the normal Long Period Average (LPA).
Tata Power-DDL is fully prepared to meet any increase in electricity demand by the essential service providers amidst the raging pandemic like Hospitals, Vaccination Centres, Quarantine Centres, Pharmacies, Labs, Water Treatment Plant, Street Lights etc. The company also believes that the work from home guidelines during the ongoing pandemic will further increase the domestic AC load leading to a spurt in demand.
Tata Power-DDL’s power arrangements during the summer-months include long-term agreements from power-plants like Maithon Power, NTPC Stations, and Delhi based gas fuelled generating stations. Additionally, the company will also be receiving around 20 MW from Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) ,180 MW from Sun Edison and around 50 MW from Wind Energy. The company had also exported power up to 200 MW to the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu during winter of 2020 under banking arrangements and the same power shall now be returned by these states to Tata Power-DDL in the summer months of 2021. Additionally Renewable, Non Solar, power has also been arranged from Himachal Pradesh. Any further requirements will be met through Power Exchange by the company.
Apart from these, Tata Power-DDL is also using advanced techniques and avenues like ‘Banking’, ‘Reserve Shutdown’, ‘Power Exchange’ and ensuring sufficient ‘Spinning Reserves’ towards effective power management. In case of any unforeseeable contingency, the company will buy short-term power from the exchange which is available at economical rates. Adding to these efforts are the advanced load-forecasting statistical and modelling techniques which are helping the company forecast the power demand.
Company’s Battery Energy Storage Systems at Rohini and Rani Bagh will also support in providing continuous and reliable power to key consumers during any exigency in the summer months. These battery energy storage systems get charged during the off peak hours and discharge the power during peak condition and enable electricity to be stored and then delivered within milliseconds, reducing instability of the electric grid and enabling additional energy to be captured and delivered on demand.
Use of Technology:
Tata Power-DDL is extensively using technology in ensuring reliable power supply, like advanced statistical forecasting models, combined with state-of-the-art weather forecasting solutions, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Domain expertise provided by Power System Operation Corporation Limited and India Meteorological Department (POSCO IMD) also helps.
Surplus Power:
Tata Power-DDL is also exploring banking of surplus power with other states, which does not need additional power during the winter months. This banked power will be made available to the company during the summer months of 2021
Load Forecasting:
Demand (load) Forecasting is critical for reliable power supply. It is done on various parameters like:
(i) Day-ahead in 96 time-slots, (ii) Intra-day basis and (iii) Medium-term (from a fortnight to one year).
Among other aspects, weather parameters like Temperature, Rainfall, Cloud Coverage, Wind Speed, Wind Direction and Humidity play an important role in accurate demand forecast. This accurate day ahead, intra-day and medium-term demand forecasting is vital for optimal and cost-effective planning in ensuring reliable power supply to consumers at an optimal cost.
“At Tata Power-DDL we are committed to provide 24×7 power supply to all our consumers. We are expecting the peak power demand to reach 2150 MW in our area this summer season due to the predicted heat wave and the ongoing pandemic situation. We all fully prepared to provide uninterrupted power supply to several critical and essential service providers to power the collective fight against Corona. To meet the spurt in demand and to ensure uninterrupted power supply, we done long-term tie-ups amounting to around 2100 MW and have made other arrangements of up to 300 MW including renewable power tie-ups, through power import banking/ bilateral imports with other states.” said Mr. Ganesh Srinivasan, CEO, Tata Power-DDL.
Tata Power-DDL has already strengthened its power network by conducting preventive and condition based maintenance of all critical electrical installations in the months of Jan. and Feb. 2021.
