India’s energy demand returned to an all-time high driven by the intense heat waves affecting the country at the beginning of the summer. The increase in the use of cooling systems has pushed electricity consumption to unprecedented levels.
Energy demand in India soars due to high temperatures
For two consecutive days, peak power demand reached 256 gigawatts (GW), surpassing the previous record of 252 GW recorded just one day earlier. This new peak also leaves behind the 250 GW peak reached in May 2024.
In addition, high temperatures, which in some regions have exceeded 45 °C, have significantly increased the use of air conditioning and other cooling equipment. This phenomenon makes summer, between April and June, the main driver of electricity consumption growth in the country.
Coal remains key to the electricity system
On the other hand, although solar capacity has grown steadily in recent years, its contribution is concentrated in daytime hours. During the afternoon and evening, the electricity system relies heavily on coal-fired generation. coal-fired generation..
The government has also ordered thermal power plants to operate at full capacity as of April to guarantee electricity supply during peak demand months. This measure seeks to avoid deficits at critical times of the day.
Pressure on the grid and increased use of fossil fuels
In this context, the increase in energy demand energy demand is also driving up coal consumption. It is estimated that power plants will increase their demand for this resource by more than 11 % during the April to June quarter.
In addition, although India has strengthened its power capacity in recent years, balancing the grid remains a challenge, especially at night times when solar generation decreases.
Projections: new highs in the summer
Forecasts suggest that peak power demand could reach 270 GW this summer. In prolonged heat scenarios, it could even exceed 283 GW, which would put even more strain on the electricity infrastructure infrastructure.
As a result, the Indian energy system faces a critical period in which it must balance consumption growth with resource availability and supply stability.
Source: Oil Price
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