Govt defers power plant maintenance amid gas shortage, Pg21

Key Highlights:

• India has deferred maintenance shutdowns of 10 GW of coal-based power plants for three months due to gas supply issues caused by the West Asia conflict.
• Approximately 8 GW of gas-based power generation is affected by higher fuel costs due to the conflict.
• Originally, 15 GW of coal-based capacity was scheduled for maintenance, but only 5 GW will proceed as planned.
• The government aims to add 22 GW of power generation capacity in the next three months, including thermal, solar, wind, and hydro sources.

Detailed Insights:

• The postponement of maintenance shutdowns aims to ensure a steady power supply amidst constraints on gas-based power generation.
• Gas-based power is critical for balancing the grid during peak evening hours when solar energy production decreases.
• The government intends to compensate for reduced gas-based generation by utilizing alternative sources like coal-based power.
• The planned capacity addition of 22 GW includes a mix of renewable and non-renewable sources to diversify the energy supply.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Thermal Power: Electricity generated by heat, often from burning fossil fuels like coal.
• Gas-based Power Generation: Electricity produced using natural gas as the primary fuel source.
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS): A system that stores electrical energy in batteries for later use.