Government Ensures Adequate Summer Power Supply with Strategic and Renewable Energy Measures

To address the anticipated surge in electricity demand during April, May, and June 2024, the Government of India has implemented several measures as part of its advance planning. These initiatives are designed to ensure that both day and night power demands are adequately met.

Key measures include Section 11 directives for imported-coal-based power plants to operate at full capacity and shifting the planned maintenance of power plants to the monsoon season. The government is also working to minimize partial and forced outages of thermal generating units and reviving thermal plants that have been under long outage. Generation companies have been advised to maintain their plants in optimal condition to ensure full capacity availability. Additionally, hydro power generation has been optimized, and generating stations have been directed to offer surplus power for sale in the Energy Exchange.

These efforts enabled the country to meet the peak evening power demand of 224 GW in April 2024. To further prepare for May and June, when power demand is projected to peak at 235 GW during the day and 225 GW in the evening for May, and 240 GW during the day and 235 GW in the evening for June, the government has taken additional steps.

Section 11 directives have been extended to gas-based power plants, providing an additional 6 GW for May and June, supplementing the existing 10 GW. Optimization of hydro power generation has added another 4 GW, while shifting maintenance and reducing outages of thermal power plants have contributed an extra 5 GW. Wind power generation is also expected to increase by 4 GW to 5 GW during these months.

With these measures and the anticipated above-normal monsoon, the government expects to adequately meet the power demand during both day and night in May and June 2024.