India’s almost a fourth of its total thermal, nuclear, and hydropower installed capacity is shut down at a time when India’s electricity demand is seen rising at the fastest pace in decades.
Low Fuel Generation
According to the Central Electricity Authority’s operation performance monitoring report, around 72,074.14 megawatts (MW) comprising thermal, nuclear, and hydropower were shut down as of April 20.
These figures account for almost 25% of the total monitored capacity of 289,581.24 MW.
CEA’s monitored capacity considers thermal, hydro, and nuclear power units, excluding 110 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy.
By the start of April, the total capacity that was shut down reached 66,534.31 MW.
Also, the lack of fuel has tripped more units.
Why Would This Happen?
The Director-General of the Independent Power Producers Association of India (IPPAI), Harry Dhaul said “Mainly the shutdowns are due to coal shortage at power units. There is not enough coal supply from Coal India and there is a shortage of transport infrastructure. The other bigger issue is that some of the discoms are delaying payment, which means generators are unable to buy enough coal to run their plants,” in an interview.
Only 9,744.85 MW are shut down for planned maintenance out of the total 72,074.14 MW units that were not operational as of April 20.
According to the CEA, a capacity of 38,826.20 MW is under ‘forced’ shutdown.
At the same time, another 23,503.09 MW is shut down due to other reasons.
Here mentioned power plants shut down for annual maintenance is planned in advance considering the demand cycle in view.
While ‘Forced’ shutdown refers to those power plants undertaken due to unforeseen reasons relating to lack of fuel, the reluctance of state utilities to buy expensive power, technical glitches, or damages in plant equipment.
Low Coal Supply Affecting Power Generation
With low coal supply, Indian power generating units have been hit hard.
Although, the industrial demand has been high and rising temperature has escalated household demand.
For instance, as many as 86 of 150 power plants running on domestic coal had critically low coal levels as on April 20.
In two days alone five more units slipped below critical levels between April 18 and April 20 making the situation more severe.
The main reason behind this is a low supply of coal from Coal India Ltd along with lack of rakes for transport.
Apart from these, another 11 imported coal-based power plants had critical levels of coal.
On April 12, the Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy RK Singh discussed that a capacity of 7,980 MW of ICB plants was not operational leading to more demand for domestic coal and thereby increasing pressure on the logistics for the domestic coal supply In a meeting with imported coal-based (ICB) power units.
Further, they have asked imported coal-based plants to get operations on time.
Also recommended that power generation companies must try to import coal for blending up to 10 percent, in order to reduce the burden on the domestic coal supply.