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NEW DELHI: In response to an expected increase in electricity demand due to a prolonged heat wave, the government has issued a directive to all gas-based power generating stations (GBSs) to commence operations from May 1 to June 30, 2024. This move comes as the country braces for a significant rise in power consumption during the hot summer months.
Despite a considerable portion of the GBSs being currently unutilized due to commercial considerations, the ministry of power has forecasted a peak power demand of 260 GW for the summer of 2024, surpassing the previous record of 243 GW in September last year.To manage this anticipated demand, the government has enacted several strategic measures.
In an order dated Friday, the government for the first time invoked an emergency clause mandating companies to operate underutilised gas-based power plants by importing the fuel.
A pivotal part of these measures includes the activation of GBSs under the authority of Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003. This section allows the government to mandate the operation of power stations in extraordinary circumstances. The same approach has been applied previously to imported coal-based power plants, aiming to optimize power availability.
According to the power ministry, GRID-INDIA will provide advance notice to GBSs regarding the specific days when gas-based power will be needed. Stations with Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) must initially offer their generated power to PPA holders. Any surplus power that is not utilized by PPA holders will then be made available in the power market. Similarly, GBSs without PPAs are required to offer their power directly to the market.
Further bolstering these efforts, a high-level committee led by the Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority has been established to oversee the implementation of this directive. Additional strategies to accommodate the power surge include shifting planned maintenance of power plants to the monsoon season, accelerating new capacity additions, and reducing partial outages of thermal power plants.
This directive aligns with recent government actions, such as the extension of operations for imported coal-based plants and the first-ever invocation of an emergency clause that mandates the operation of underutilized gas-based power plants by importing the necessary fuel. This clause was part of a broader effort to handle an 8% increase in electricity consumption noted in the last financial year, highlighting the country’s rapid economic growth and its impact on power demand.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also forecasted above-normal maximum temperatures across most parts of India for the summer of 2024, further underscoring the critical need for these preemptive measures.
(With inputs from agencies)
Despite a considerable portion of the GBSs being currently unutilized due to commercial considerations, the ministry of power has forecasted a peak power demand of 260 GW for the summer of 2024, surpassing the previous record of 243 GW in September last year.To manage this anticipated demand, the government has enacted several strategic measures.
In an order dated Friday, the government for the first time invoked an emergency clause mandating companies to operate underutilised gas-based power plants by importing the fuel.
A pivotal part of these measures includes the activation of GBSs under the authority of Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003. This section allows the government to mandate the operation of power stations in extraordinary circumstances. The same approach has been applied previously to imported coal-based power plants, aiming to optimize power availability.
According to the power ministry, GRID-INDIA will provide advance notice to GBSs regarding the specific days when gas-based power will be needed. Stations with Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) must initially offer their generated power to PPA holders. Any surplus power that is not utilized by PPA holders will then be made available in the power market. Similarly, GBSs without PPAs are required to offer their power directly to the market.
Further bolstering these efforts, a high-level committee led by the Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority has been established to oversee the implementation of this directive. Additional strategies to accommodate the power surge include shifting planned maintenance of power plants to the monsoon season, accelerating new capacity additions, and reducing partial outages of thermal power plants.
This directive aligns with recent government actions, such as the extension of operations for imported coal-based plants and the first-ever invocation of an emergency clause that mandates the operation of underutilized gas-based power plants by importing the necessary fuel. This clause was part of a broader effort to handle an 8% increase in electricity consumption noted in the last financial year, highlighting the country’s rapid economic growth and its impact on power demand.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also forecasted above-normal maximum temperatures across most parts of India for the summer of 2024, further underscoring the critical need for these preemptive measures.
(With inputs from agencies)
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