Power generation in India registers double-digit growth in July

On the back of improved Plant Load Factor (PLF) and efficiency in operations, electricity generation in India achieved double-digit growth of 12.49 percent to 74,104 million units (MUs) in July, compared to 4.09 percent (65,874 MUs) in the year-ago period. As per the Central Electricity Authority’s (CEA) report the cumulative electricity generation in the country during April-July was 291,139 MUs with a growth rate of 9.29 percent, against 5.28 percent during the same period last year.

Coal-based plants have achieved an impressive growth rate of 10.68 percent over same period last year. Cumulative generation of coal-based plants during April-July recorded 9.49 percent growth over the same period last year. Nearly 23 coal-based power plants with generation capacity of 26,805 Mw recorded more than 90 percent plant load factor. The PLF of Simhadri plant with capacity 1500 Mw was the highest at 104.05. This increase in electricity generation from the coal-based plants is on the back of 100 percent availability of coal for the month. During July, 31.5 million tonnes of coal was used for power generation.

Nuclear power generation attained a growth rate of 62.70 percent, against 16.10 percent during the corresponding month last year on the back of improved availability of nuclear fuel and commissioning of the new unit at Kaiga. Electricity generation in actual terms from nuclear plants was 22.33 percent in July. Cumulative electricity generation from nuclear plants during April-July continued to attain high growth rate of over 50 percent. Growth rate in power generation from nuclear plants during April-July was 53.27 percent, compared to 22.87 percent during the same period last year.

Cumulative generation from hydro power plants during the period too showed double-digit growth at 19.60 percent, compared to 6.34 percent in the year-ago period. Energy generation from hydro electric stations (excluding import from Bhutan) during the month exceeded its target by 17.06 percent. Generation from hydro power plants rose by 28.47 per cent to 13,850 MUs, compared to 10,781 MUs last year. For April-July, the cumulative hydro generation was 46,052 MUs against the target of 37,743 MU - up 122.02 percent.

The gas-based generation remained flat; this was largely due to supply limitation and increased generation from hydro, nuclear and coal-based plants. During April-July, gas-based generation was up by 1.43 percent from the corresponding month last year, while liquid fuel-based stations had negative growth 48.33 percent. Average PLF achieved by gas /liquid fuel-based plants during July reduced to 61.51 percent, against PLF of 63.50 percent during the same period last year. Average PLF for the northern region (NR) gas plants was the lowest during July at 59.20 percent, against PLF of 69.58 percent by NR gas plants during the same month last year. According to CEA, only six gas-based power stations having an aggregated installed capacity of 2008 MW operated at a PLF above 80 percent in July.