India May Need Additional Coal Power By 2035: CEA Chairman, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) chairman, Ghanshyam Prasad, stated India may need to add 105-150 gigawatts (GW) of coal-based power capacity by 2035.
• This is significantly more than the currently planned 97 GW, necessitated by rising electricity demand and the need for a stable power supply.
• The increased coal capacity is crucial to address the intermittency of renewable energy sources and limited energy storage.
• Electricity demand has surged, running 45-50 GW higher than last year, exacerbated by deficient monsoon rainfall and lower hydropower generation.
• Coal-based power generation increased by nearly 10% between April and August compared to the previous year, while hydropower fell by over 11%.

Detailed Insights:

• The Central Electricity Authority (CEA)'s projection signals a reassessment of India's energy strategy, emphasizing the need for adequate baseload capacity.
• The surge in electricity demand has put pressure on coal-based plants, leading to a 66% decline in fuel stocks by September this year, compared to 23% last year.
• This situation highlights challenges in maintaining power plant operations and scheduled maintenance due to continuous high demand.
• The emphasis on additional coal capacity marks a shift from the 2018 National Electricity Plan, which suggested no new coal capacity beyond already planned projects.
• Despite the focus on coal, India plans to continue adding around 50 GW of renewable energy capacity annually, alongside contributions from nuclear power and pumped-hydro storage.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Baseload Capacity: The minimum amount of power that must be available to the grid at all times, typically provided by stable sources like coal or nuclear.
• Intermittency of Renewable Energy: The variability and unpredictability of power generation from sources like solar and wind, which depend on weather conditions.
• National Electricity Plan: A comprehensive document prepared by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) outlining the country's electricity demand and supply projections, and generation capacity requirements.