To meet escalating energy demands, the Union Ministry of Power has added 12.8 gigawatts (GW) of thermal power capacity in the first 100 days of the new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. This addition is part of a larger initiative aimed at fortifying India's power infrastructure, with another 28.4 GW of thermal capacity currently under construction.

During a press conference in New Delhi, Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary to the Union Ministry of Power, outlined the government’s efforts to boost energy production. “We have awarded contracts for 12,800 MW of new thermal power capacity, which will soon enter the construction phase, complementing the 28,400 MW already being built,” he said, underscoring the massive scale of the project.

This expansion of coal-based thermal power comes as India faces record-high power demand over the past three years. Thermal power remains crucial for providing base load power, which is essential for grid stability. Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, emphasised the need for this development. "As we incorporate more renewable energy, it’s vital to continue expanding thermal power to ensure grid stability and handle peak demands," Lal explained, noting the challenges of aligning renewable energy with current consumption levels.

Lal also announced the upcoming National Electricity Plan 2023-32, set to be unveiled in the next 15 days. The plan aims to prepare for a projected peak demand of 425 GW by 2030 and 458 GW by 2032. It includes significant expansion of the transmission network from 485,000 circuit kilometers (ckm) to 648,000 ckm by 2032, with transformer capacity expected to rise from 1,251 GVA to 2,342 GVA.

Additionally, the government has approved 50 GW of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) capacity as part of the broader plan to evacuate 280 GW of variable renewable energy by 2030. Out of this, 42 GW has been completed, 85 GW is under construction, and 75 GW is under bidding, Lal noted.

(ET)