India’s electricity supply improved significantly in the cooler pre-monsoon months of April this year, largely attributed to the lower temperatures and return of some gas-fired generator. According to India’s National Load Despatch Centre, total electricity supplied in April was almost 131 billion kWh, making it the fourth-highest monthly recorded amount.
Compared to the same period last year, the total was down by 2.3 billion kWh. That was due to the lower temperatures, causing a decrease in peak electrical consumption in places like New Delhi. But with extra generation from solar farms and coal-fired generators, the full extent of the decreased output from hydroelectric and gas-fired units was offset to some extent.
The overall decrease in electricity usage and increased solar and coal-powered generation provided significant relief to the transmission system. The frequency of the system falling below the acceptable threshold of 49.9 Hertz decreased from 32% in April last year to 11% this April.
Gas-fired generators saw an increase in output of more than 0.5 billion kWh, due to the lower rates for imported liquified natural gas. However, this was partially offset by a peak demand increase of 4.2%, likely a reflection of a growing number of appliances being connected to the system.
As for coal security, stocks held at power plants were equivalent to 12.8 days of consumption, up from just 8 where they stood at the end of last year’s April. This was actively pushed for by the government’s production of 35 million tonnes (10%) of coal, although this was more modest when considering the dispatches to power producers via the railroads item (only 5% increase).
All of this, in combination with the cooler temperatures, proved to be effective in preventing further blackouts in India and ensuring the reliability of the network for the foreseeable future.
