(ET)
India’s power demand soared to a record high on May 8, around four months before consumption is usually the highest in a year. Hot weather, better access to electricity and smoother supply during the ongoing elections led to an increase in maximum demand to an estimated 178.25 GW, higher than 177.02 GW recorded on September 18 last year. But supply during the day was 177.7 GW, around 12% higher than that a year ago because of 40% higher supply from solar, wind and hydel projects, helping spot prices remain stable.
Data from the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) showed that the rise in demand was met by an average 55% rise each in solar and wind power generation at 140 million units a day and 228 million units a day respectively. Hydel power generation rose 30% to 465 million units a day. Hydel, solar and wind power generation touched a total of 831 million units, equivalent to 10 GW of power, and registered a near 40% growth.
