How India is powering up for a 270-GW summer

TO BEAT THE HEAT

- GARIMA SADHWANI

THE YEAR 2024 was the hottest on record, with global average temperatures 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. As India braces for another heatwave, the power sector is preparing to meet record-high electricity demand. Last year, the country handled an unprecedented peak demand of over 250 gigawatts (GW)—far exceeding expectations. This year, the peak power demand is projected to hit 270 GW, according to Central Electricity Authority (CEA) chairperson Ghanshyam Prasad told FE.

While India's power demand has been growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6%, it is now expected to accelerate to 7% annually, reaching 446 GW by 2030, driven by rising economic activity and the emergence of new industries.

In response to queries from FE, the CEA's office stated that the ongoing power projects are being actively monitored to ensure timely capacity additions. "A robust national grid has been established to facilitate the transfer of power from power-surplus regions to power-deficit regions. The inter-regional transmission capacity has increased from 75,050 MW in 2016-17 to 1,18,740 MW as of December 2024. The capacity of the national grid is being continuously expanded in line with electricity generation and demand growth," an official said.