IMD predicts scorching summer; here are steps taken by government to meet rise in electricity demand

As the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a scorching summer this year, the government is taking all necessary steps to meet the electricity demand.

In a meeting held on Tuesday, Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh, emphasised the need for zero load shedding in the next three months.

Steps taken by government to meet summer electricity demand

• Planned maintenance of power plants has been shifted to the monsoon season
• Surplus power to be offered for sale on energy exchanges
• Capacity additions in coal, nuclear, hydro, sold, and wind to be sped up
• Uniform technical minimum loading of 55% of unit capacity mandated for all coal-based power generators
• Operationalisation of gas-based capacity to be reviewed

The IMD has projected higher-than-normal temperatures during the summer season across the country. "Above normal heatwave days are likely to occur over most parts of the south peninsula, central India, east India, and plains of northwest India," the department said in its seasonal update.

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Regions like Gujarat, Rajasthan, central Maharashtra and north Karnataka are forecasted to experience the worst impact of heatwaves.

Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and north Chhattisgarh will also experience elevated temperatures. This development would result in higher electricity demand than in previous years, the government said.

In 2023-24, the peak energy demand grew by 12.7% to 2,43,271 megawatt (MW) in 2023-24 from 2,15,888 MW in 2022-23.

"The peak demand met grew by 13.9% from 2,10,725 MW in 2022-23 to 2,39,931 MW in 2023-24," the Ministry of Power said in a release.

Compared to 2022-23, the energy requirement rose by 7.5% in 2023-24, and the energy availability grew by 7.8%.