India’s peak power demand touches highest-ever at 246 GW

New Delhi: India’s peak power demand touched its highest-ever on May 29 at 246.06 GW as mercury soared to 52 degree Celsius in Delhi and remained high in other places as well. The peak power demand recorded on May 29 has surpassed the highest peak power demand of 243.27 GW recorded in 2023. According to official data, the peak power demand was recorded at 02:56 pm, while the evening peak was recorded at 10.56 pm of 234.35 GW.

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However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the prevailing heatwave condition is expected to reduce in the coming days. “Prevailing heatwave conditions over Northwest and Central India are likely to reduce gradually from Thursday (May 30),” the IMD said in a statement.

Power Ministry projected peak power demand of 235 GW during May

Earlier this month, the power ministry projected a peak power demand of 235 GW during daytime and 225 GW during evening hours for May and 240 GW during daytime and 235 GW during evening hours for June 2024. In the last Summer season, India had registered an all-time high peak power demand of 243.27 GW in September 2023. The record is likely to be broken this as Mercury continues to soar. The Ministry of Power has projected that the peak power demand is likely to hit 260 GW during this summer.

The official data shows that peak power demand was 224.18 GW in April, when Summer season began in India. During May, peak supply hit 233 GW on May 6 and 233.80 GW on May 21.

In March, the IMD projected that India is likely to experience a warmer summer and more heatwave days this year, with El Nino conditions predicted to continue at least until May. From March to May, the number of heatwave days is likely to be above normal over most parts, except northeast India, the western Himalayan region, the southwest peninsula and the west coast, it stated.

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