Gujarat Sees Surge in Electricity Demand, Requests Additional 5,000 Megawatts from Central Government

Gandhinagar, October 20 (Daily Kiran) : Gujarat recorded its highest electricity demand ever on October 16, reaching 29,822 megawatts. This figure marks a significant 36.6% increase from the 21,822 megawatts recorded in October of the previous year. In response, the state government has requested an increase in coal supply, expansion of battery storage, and additional power allocation from the central government.

On the same day, daily electricity consumption in the state surged to 574 million units, up from 457 million units last October, reflecting a nearly 27% rise. During a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, officials presented data indicating a 12% increase in electricity demand during September and October compared to previous years, translating to an additional 4,000 megawatts.

The meeting reviewed immediate actions needed to ensure uninterrupted power supply for farmers, industries, and residential consumers. Discussions also focused on long-term strategies to meet Gujarat’s energy needs. Key attendees included Energy Minister Rishikesh Patel, State Energy Minister Kaushik Vekaria, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das, and senior officials from the energy sector.

Government officials attributed the demand spike to a prolonged high temperature following a weak monsoon and the effects of El Niño, leading to increased electricity consumption for cooling. The agricultural sector also saw a rise in demand as electricity is being supplied for the irrigation of standing crops, pushing the agricultural load to peak levels of 12,000 megawatts.

Increased industrial activity ahead of the Diwali festival has further contributed to the rising demand. The presentation highlighted that reduced rainfall in Gujarat and neighboring states has led to decreased hydroelectric production, while lower wind speeds have negatively impacted wind energy generation.

Solar energy production drops to zero after sunset, placing additional pressure on the electricity grid during peak evening hours from 5 PM to 11 PM. To maintain supply during these times, the state government relies on coal and gas-based power plants.

The meeting also noted that the State Load Dispatch Center and electricity distribution companies are working around the clock to maintain grid frequency and balance. To bolster coal availability, the state government has engaged in high-level discussions in Delhi to secure coal supply for the Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited (GSECL). The central coal ministry has assured Gujarat of 10 to 11 railway rakes of coal daily until November, with this supply expected to increase to 13 to 14 rakes thereafter.

Efforts are underway to enhance the efficiency of coal usage at state power plants. Gujarat has secured 329 megawatts of electricity from NTPC’s Farakka plant for November and 551 megawatts from Assam’s share of central power generation for the long term. Additionally, the state has extended its existing agreements for 716 megawatts of electricity from NTPC’s Barh-I and Dadri-I thermal power stations until March 2028. Gujarat has also requested an extra 500 megawatts from the central government’s unallocated power pool.

Furthermore, the government is expanding battery energy storage capacity to store solar energy generated during the day for use during peak evening hours. Currently, a 192-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) is operational, with contracts in place for additional projects totaling 2,742 megawatts and 5,517 megawatt-hours of storage capacity.

Gujarat produces approximately 12,000 megawatts of solar energy during the day, and the state plans to maximize its usage, including scheduling agricultural electricity consumption during daylight hours. The Gujarat Energy Development Corporation Limited is expected to issue tenders for 4,000 megawatts under the “Shakti” scheme, with supply anticipated to commence by 2030-31.

Additionally, a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited for a 4,200-megawatt nuclear power project, with the first unit expected to be operational by 2032.