New Delhi: Ahead of the summer season, Minister of State (MoS) for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik has exuded confidence about the government’s preparedness for meeting the projected peak power demand of 277 GW in the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26. “There is adequate availability of power in the country. Present installed generation capacity of the country is 470 GW. Government of India has addressed the critical issue of power deficiency by adding 238 GW of generation capacity since April, 2014 transforming the country from power deficit to power sufficient… As per mid-term review of 20th Electric Power Survey, the All India Peak Demand of the country is expected to be 277 GW in 2025-26. The country is confident to meet this projected demand with optimal usage of existing and under construction capacities,” Naik informed Lower House of Parliament on Thursday.
Delineating the steps taken by the government to prepare for the upcoming peak in power demand when temperatures would rise across the country, Naik said that all GENCOs (power generating companies), including IPPs (Independent Power Producers) and Central generating stations, have been advised to generate and maintain full availability on daily basis, excluding the period of planned maintenance or forced outage. Hydro-based generation is being scheduled in a manner so as to conserve water for meeting demand during peak period.
“The planned maintenance of generating units is being minimised during period of high demand. New power generation capacity is being monitored closely for timely addition. Steady supply of coal to all the thermal power plants is being ensured to prevent fuel shortages. Directions under Section 11 of Electricity Act have been issued to imported coal based plants to operate and generate power to their full capacity,” the minister told Lok Sabha. Gas-based power plants of NTPC as well as other generators are being scheduled during high power demand period, he added. The peak power demand for FY2025-26 was earlier projected to be 270 GW. It has now been revised to 277 GW.
In November 2023, the Centre proposed setting up an additional 80,000 MW coal-based thermal capacity by 2031-32. Against this target, a total coal-based capacity of 9,350 MW has already been commissioned in 2023-24 and 2024-25 and currently, 29,900 MW of thermal capacity is under construction. In 2024-25, contracts for 22,640 MW thermal capacity have been awarded, of which, 5,600 MW thermal capacity is now under construction, the minister informed Lok Sabha.
