India witnessed its peak power demand soar to an unprecedented 235 gigawatts (GW) in April, reflecting the highest level of this year.
This surge in demand is attributed to the soaring temperatures, which were reported as the highest in over a century for eastern and northeastern regions, and the second-highest for southern India since 1901, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). India’s power generation for April experienced a notable increase, rising by 9.69% year-on-year to 153.77 billion units (BU). However, this figure fell short of the Central Electricity Authority’s (CEA) target of 161.71 BU. A significant factor in this shortfall was the inability to meet the targeted thermal capacity addition of 800 megawatts (MW). Thermal power generation demonstrated robust growth, climbing by 10.87% year-on-year to 123.50 billion units. This growth was pivotal in meeting the peak demand, which surged to 235 GW on a single day, the highest recorded thus far in 2024. Thermal power continues to be the cornerstone of India’s energy matrix, contributing approximately 80% of the total generation. Renewable energy sources also showed a positive trajectory.
Renewable power generation increased by 8.93% to 17.99 billion units, while nuclear power output surged by 21.09% year-on-year to 4.21 billion units. These gains are indicative of India’s ongoing efforts to diversify its energy portfolio and enhance the contribution of cleaner energy sources. Conversely, hydropower generation from large hydro projects continued to decline, generating only 7.99 billion units in April, marking a 7.71% decrease from the previous year. This drop is primarily due to insufficient rainfall and decreased reservoir levels, which have hampered hydroelectric output.
Power consumption also saw a significant rise, standing at 144.25 billion units for April, which is a 10.49% increase from 130.55 billion units in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. This uptick in consumption underscores the escalating energy demands driven by extreme weather conditions and economic activities. The IMD has forecasted persistent heatwave conditions over the plains of Northwest India, and states such as Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are expected to experience severe heatwaves over the next five days. This continuing heatwave is likely to further elevate power demand, with the CEA projecting peak demand to potentially reach a record 260 GW within the year.
Despite these pressures, power prices on exchanges have remained stable compared to last year, suggesting a relatively balanced supply-demand equation in the marketplace. In the national capital, Delhi, peak power demand hit an all-time high of 8,000 MW, underscoring the increasing energy requirements in metropolitan areas. India’s energy landscape is clearly on a dynamic trajectory, driven by climatic extremes and robust economic activities. As the nation grapples with these challenges, the emphasis on enhancing thermal power capacity and expanding renewable energy sources will be crucial to meeting its soaring energy demands.