Delhi has witnessed a surge in its power demand, hitting a record high of 5,029 megawatts (MW) on Tuesday.
According to the State Load Dispatch Center’s data, this peak demand for the summer season reflects the growing energy requirements as the city grapples with increasing temperatures. Delhi’s energy consumption is expected to climb even further, with forecasts predicting peak demand could touch 9,000 MW by late June or early July, coinciding with the peak of the summer season. This forecast aligns with predictions of above-normal temperatures and persistent heatwaves that are expected to persist across the city in the coming months. On Monday, Delhi recorded its first heatwave of the season, with temperatures soaring to 40.2 degrees Celsius, a sign of the extreme conditions that the city is likely to face in the weeks ahead. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that heatwave conditions will persist in the capital until April 9, after which temperatures are expected to dip slightly. However, even with the forecasted drop in temperatures, Delhi’s power demand is likely to remain high for the foreseeable future due to the high energy needs of air conditioning systems, industrial demands, and residential consumption.
Energy utility Tata Power Delhi Distribution (Tata Power-DDL) reported a successful response to the demand surge, meeting the summer peak demand of 1,585 MW on Tuesday, the highest recorded for the season. The company attributed its ability to manage the peak demand to its robust power arrangements, which include long-term power purchase agreements and strategic deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at key locations like Rohini. These efforts ensure that the city’s power supply remains reliable, even as temperatures soar. Officials from Tata Power-DDL also highlighted that the utility’s network had been designed with the future in mind, with continuous optimisations being made to meet the expected peak demand of 2,562 MW by summer 2025. To ensure grid reliability, the company has secured power supply agreements capable of delivering up to 2,850 MW, thereby helping the capital cope with its escalating energy requirements. Last summer, the peak demand in the areas served by Tata Power-DDL reached 2,481 MW, and this year’s target is notably higher, reflecting the increased energy consumption in the region.
In response to this increasing demand, Tata Power-DDL has also been working on modernising and upgrading its network. Typically, such maintenance activities take place between October and March, but due to restrictions imposed by the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in late 2024, the company extended its scheduled maintenance to March 2025. These upgrades are expected to further support the reliability of the grid as Delhi faces its busiest summer yet. Nationally, the power sector has experienced similar trends. On March 11, the country’s peak power demand reached a new high of 235 gigawatts (GW), surpassing the previous record of 222 GW in March 2024. While the increase in demand has posed challenges for power producers, the government has undertaken measures to ensure a stable power supply. These include activating coal-based power plants, facilitating the sale of surplus power on exchanges, and ensuring that gas-based plants are fully operational. In addition, there has been a focus on improving the availability of generating units to meet the anticipated peak demand across the country.
As power demand continues to rise, the Ministry of Power has projected a 7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in India’s electricity demand, with the country’s peak power demand expected to surpass 270 GW in 2025. This ongoing trend underlines the need for continued investment in power infrastructure to support the growing energy needs of urban centres like Delhi. While Delhi’s power supply has so far been resilient, there are concerns about the long-term sustainability of this demand, especially as the city’s population continues to grow and its energy requirements expand. The rising demand also underscores the urgency of investing in more eco-friendly, sustainable energy solutions, including solar, wind, and other renewable sources, which can help reduce reliance on conventional fossil fuels. The increased adoption of electric vehicles, coupled with expanding energy storage systems, is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the city’s energy landscape in the years to come.
In this context, the city’s power companies and the government are focusing on initiatives that align with the global push towards achieving zero net carbon emissions. Energy efficiency measures, renewable energy adoption, and smart grid technologies are some of the ways that Delhi can address the challenges of growing power demand while minimising its environmental footprint. However, the strain on Delhi’s power grid highlights the broader issues faced by many Indian cities, which are seeing rising energy consumption due to both population growth and increasing industrialisation. A sustained focus on ensuring that energy infrastructure is prepared for these challenges will be crucial in avoiding power shortages and keeping pace with the city’s rapid development.
As Delhi enters the peak summer months, authorities and energy companies will continue to monitor power demand closely, making adjustments as needed to ensure that the capital can withstand the challenges of rising temperatures while maintaining a reliable and efficient power supply.
Delhi Power Demand Hits 5,029 MW in Early Summer
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