Peak power demand to grow by 15GW/year for next 6 years: Government Official

India’s power demand is set to grow at an accelerated rate of 15 GW per annum over the next 6 years, up from 11 GW per annum in the past decade, according to Additional Secretary Power Mr. Srikant Nagulapalli. Speaking at an Industry Conclave organized by IEEMA, he projected that by 2030, an additional 85 GW will be added during solar hours, with over 90 GW added to peak demand during non-solar hours. This significant increase will require substantial expansion of coal, solar, wind, storage, and transmission capacities, with approximately 40 GW expected from long-duration storage batteries by 2030.

He emphasized the Ministry of Power’s target of 500 GW from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, with over 200 GW already achieved and an additional 300 GW to come, primarily from solar and wind. The plan prioritizes renewable energy zones in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat. It includes offshore wind farms near Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. The government is also focusing on green hydrogen capacity, especially in coastal areas, and preparing for increased demand from electric vehicles and data centres. India’s single grid can transfer 170 GW of power across the country to support this growth, even to remote regions. Additionally, the government is promoting 40 GW of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and 19 GW of pumped hydro storage projects (PSPs) within the next 6 years, with policy frameworks in place to expand these capacities.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.