Power deficit declines to 0.1% in October from 2% in April: RK Singh

New Delhi: Power deficit or gap between electricity required and supplied has fallen from two percent in April this year to 0.1 percent, Singh informed the parliament on Thursday. "The gap between energy requirement and energy supplied has been reduced from two per cent to 0.1 percent between the month of April and October," Power Minister R K Singh stated in a written reply to Lok Sabha. The data showed that the deficit was 2,752 million units (units) in April which came down to 124 MU in October.

The power deficit was 609 MU (0.4 percent) in May, 796 MU (0.6 percent) in June, 434 MU (0.3 percent) in July, 465 MU (0.4 percent) in August and 312 MU (0.2 percent) in September.

56% plants are having coal stock of less than 8 days: Singh

The minister also informed the Parliament that as on March 31, the coal stock position was 25.6 MT. It increased to 26.1 MT on September 30. Further, it increased to 30.9 MT on November 30.

The minister also informed that as on November 30, 75 plants (56 percent) out of 180 plants are having coal stock of less than eight days as per their consumption pattern.

"The gap between energy requirement and energy supplied has been reduced from two per cent to 0.1 percent between April and October, primarily on account of various steps taken by the government," Singh said.

The projected new coal capacity addition requirement during the period 2022-32 is 35,014 MW

"According to the draft National Electricity Plan published in 2022 by CEA, the projected new coal capacity addition requirement during the period 2022-32 is 35,014 MW, which includes under-construction coal-based capacity totaling to 25,580 MW," Singh said.

The 20th Electric Power Survey (EPS) report, published in November 2022, covers electricity demand projection for the year 2021-22 to 2031-32 as well as prospective electricity demand projection for the year 2036-37 and 2041-42 for the country.

"The CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) from 2021-22 to 2026-27 for electrical energy requirement is 6.67 percent and for peak electricity demand is 6.42 percent," Singh said.

Coal production likely to reduce from 72.3% to 58.9%

According to the draft National Electricity Plan 2022, the share of coal-based production in the total generation is likely to reduce to 58.9 percent during 2026-27 from 72.3 percent during 2021-22.

The energy requirement is estimated to increase to 19,07,835 MU in 2026-27 from 13,81,646 MU in 2021-22. Similarly, the peak electricity demand will increase to 2,77,201 MW in 2026-27 from 2,03,115 MW in 2021-22 in the country.

Power transmission network for evacuation of RE power will come up before projects: RK Singh

76,130 MW of renewable energy capacity is under installation: Singh

The government has set its nationally determined contribution target to achieve about 50 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.

Singh also said that against a peak demand of 215 GW, a capacity of 408.7 GW has already been installed. He further added that 25,580 MW of thermal power capacity and 76,130 MW of renewable energy capacity is also under installation. The whole country has been connected by one integrated grid which can transfer 112 GW power from one corner of the country to another.

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