Electricity Sector

Adani Power begins electricity supply from Godda plant to Bangladesh

Adani Power on Sunday said that it has begun supplying electricity from its plant in Godda in Jharkhand to Bangladesh. Adani Power Ltd (APL), a part of the diversified Adani Group, has commissioned the first 800 MW ultra-super-critical thermal power generation unit at Godda in Jharkhand. The plant has started with supplying 748 MW of power to Bangladesh, a company statement said. The electricity supplied from Godda will significantly improve the situation in the neighbouring country as it will replace expensive power generated from liquid fuel, bringing down the average cost of power purchased, it stated. The Godda Power Plant is a strategic asset in the India-Bangladesh's long-standing relationship, said S B Khyalia, CEO of Adani Power, in the statement. It is the first power plant in the country, which has started its operations from Day One with 100 per cent Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD), SCR and Zero Water Discharge, it stated. In November 2017, Bangladesh Power Development

27,000 ckm of power transmission lines to be added by 2024-25: Govt

This addition has been proposed in the Inter State Transmission system (ISTS) network at 220kV and above voltage level

Govt sets criteria for allocation of power from central pool to states, UTs

Electricity from the central pool will not be allocated to states and UTs which will impose taxes on clean energy projects, impede the inter-state flow of power and have not cleared subsidy dues on electricity tariff, according to an official order. The Ministry of Power in an office order also stated that the power from the central pool will not be allocated to those states which have regulatory assets. Regulatory assets come into existence when power regulators acknowledge that the tariffs imposed on electricity consumers do not adequately cover the power purchase costs of distribution companies (discoms). Certain aspects will be examined whenever a request will be received from any state/union territory (UT) for allocation of power from the unallocated quota of Central Generating Stations, the order dated March 31, 2023, said. The ministry will take into account non-creation of regulatory assets and timely payment of subsidy declared, if any, in the consumer tariffs by the state

Delhi government extends power subsidy scheme for another year: Minister

Delhi cabinet in its meeting on Tuesday approved extending the power subsidy scheme for next one year, despite "conspiracies" to stop it, Power minister Atishi said in a press conference. The people of Delhi will continue to get free electricity on monthly consumption of 200 units. Those using 201-400 units will get a 50 per cent subsidy. Applications received for power subsidy from October till now will be considered valid till April 2024, said the minister. "The decision comes despite efforts by the BJP and the Lieutenant Governor to stop the scheme," said the minister, who had earlier claimed that attempts were being made to stop free electricity provided by the Kejriwal government to the farmers and lawyers. In the wake of her allegations, the BJP had accused her of lying that farmers were getting free power supply and claimed they were receiving bills of thousands of rupees due to fixed charges. In a statement, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal thanked the people of Delhi

Nepal seeks to sign electricity deal with India during Prachanda's visit

Nepal is keen to sign a 25-year agreement with India on selling its surplus power to the neighbouring country during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda's expected visit to New Delhi. Though the official date of Prachanda's visit to India is yet to be announced, the Kathmandu Post newspaper, quoting Nepali officials, reported on Sunday that the prime minister is likely to travel to New Delhi after the second week of April. However, the two sides have yet to announce the dates, it said. We are preparing a proposal for the Indian side on the 25-year agreement. But a lot also depends on whether the Indian side agrees to include our proposal in the agenda, the report quoted a senior official at the energy ministry as saying. Dinesh Ghimire, secretary at the ministry, said the issue of the long-term inter-governmental agreement was under discussion at the ministry but was yet to be forwarded to Nepal's foreign ministry to make it an agenda item ahead of the prime minister's ...

Free electricity, jobs for unemployed if AAP forms govt in Assam: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday promised free electricity and jobs for all youths in Assam if his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is voted to power in the Northeastern state. He also claimed the AAP government changed the face of Delhi in seven years, and that nothing but dirty politics took place in Assam, even though BJP has been in power in the state for the same duration. AAP governments in Delhi and Punjab are giving free electricity to their states, and it will be the same in Assam, too, if the party forms government, Kejriwal said at a rally here. He promised jobs for all unemployed youths of Assam if AAP is voted to power, adding that the party has given employment to 12 lakh people in Delhi in seven years, and 28,000 people in one year in Punjab. Kejriwal also assured of providing piped water to all households of Guwahati within a year of the AAP government in the state. "AAP came to power in Delhi in 2015 and the BJP here in 2016. Today, we have changed the face of

DVC registers 'highest' power generation at 43.32 bn units in FY23

Damodar Valley Corporation achieved the highest power generation in its 75 years of existence, with a 6.5-per cent on-year rise in 2022-23 to 43.32 billion units, which mostly came from thermal sources, company officials said. It also registered a robust 29 per cent growth in power sales to Rs 24,432 crore in 2022-23 over the preceding fiscal, aided by tariff revision and a central scheme, they said. The plant load factor, too, stood at a record 74.23 per cent as against 68.96 per cent in the 2021-22 fiscal. "In FY'23, billing was Rs 24,432 crore, which is higher by around Rs 5,461 crore over the previous year. Apart from higher generation, regulatory approvals of tariff revision and the Union government's Late Payment Surcharge (LPS) scheme also boosted revenue collection," DVC Chairman Ram Naresh Singh told PTI. DVC Member Finance Arup Sarkar said billing had risen by about 29 per cent and realisation was higher by 23 per cent in FY'23 to Rs 23,413 crore. The figures are subject

Electricity consumption dips 0.74% to 127.52 bn units in March: Govt data

India's power consumption dipped 0.74 per cent to 127.52 billion units (BU) in March this year for the first time in 31 months, according to government data. The contraction in power consumption is mainly because of widespread rains due to western disturbances in the country and low temperature in March. Last contraction in power consumption was recorded in August in 2020, when it declined by over two per cent to 109.21 BU, compared to 111.52 BU in August 2019. Power consumption had slumped in 2020 due to the impact of lockdown restrictions imposed to curb the spread of deadly coronavirus. Experts are hopeful that power consumption and demand would grow April onwards, due to further improvement in economic activities as well as rise in temperature. In March 2022, power consumption stood at 128.47 billion units (BU), higher than the 120.63 BU in the same month of 2021, the data showed. Electricity consumption in March 2020 stood at 98.95 BU. However, the data showed that the peak

Ford's upcoming electric pickup truck will drive itself, says CEO

Ford Motor Co. plans to make driver-assistance features central to the next electric F-Series pickup - so much so that you might be able to take a snooze at 60 miles per hour

Mizoram plans to set up 5 hydro power plants of 800 MW capacity

The Mizoram government has prepared Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for five hydro-electric power plants in the state with a total generation capacity of around 800 MW, Power & Electricity Department officials said on Tuesday.

Hindustan Power Exchange trade crosses 2.5 bn unit mark in 8 months

Hindustan Power Exchange (HPX) on Monday said that it has crossed the trade milestone of 2.5 billion units within eight months of its launch. "HPX, promoted by PTC India, BSE and ICICI Bank, has successfully crossed the milestone of 2.5 Billion Units of power traded within 8 months of its launch," an HPX statement said. HPX was able to cross this landmark with a rapid increase in trade volume across contingency, weekly, monthly, and Long Duration Contracts (LDC) segments, it explained. The exchange recently concluded monthly long-duration contracts of 453.7 MU (million units) which will be delivered in the months of March and April 2023 and is a part of the above volume. HPX raced to 2.5 BU within a short span of 67 days with a daily average volume of 18 MU, post crossing the historic landmark of 1 BU, which happened within six months of its launch, it stated. This is the fastest increase in volume for the initial few months of the existence of any of the power exchanges operating

NTPC logs nearly 12% growth in electricity generation in April-Feb FY23

State-owned power giant NTPC on Monday said that it has logged nearly 12 per cent growth in electricity generation to 364.2 billion units in April-February period this fiscal compared to year ago. "NTPC Ltd registered 11.92 per cent growth in generation i.e. 364.2 BU in FY23 till February month, compared to the country's generation growth of 9.56 per cent," a company statement said. NTPC continues to demonstrate an increasing trend in coal production from its captive mines. It stated that the NTPC Captive Coal production stood 2.6 Million Metric tonnes(MMT) whereas the despatch stood 2.5 MMT, thus registered a robust growth of 80 per per cent and 87 per cent respectively, in February vis--vis previous corresponding year. On a cumulative basis, the coal production crossed 20 MMT in FY23, it stated. NTPC has taken various steps to augment the coal production from its coal mines. The engagement of high-capacity dumpers as well as an increase in the existing fleet size of excavators h

Power Grid Corporation bags 2 inter-state electricity transmission projects

State-owned Power Grid Corporate has bagged two inter-state electricity transmission projects under a tariff-based competitive bidding. Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd has been declared as the successful bidder under tariff-based competitive bidding to establish two inter-state transmission system on build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis, a BSE filing stated. It bagged the project named Western Region Expansion Scheme- XXVII (WRES-XXVII). The project comprises establishment of a 400-kV D/C transmission line passing through Chhattisgarh and bays extension works at two existing sub-stations. Besides, it also bagged a project named Western Region Expansion Scheme- XXVIII (WRES-XXVIII) & XXIX (WRES-XXIX). The project comprises bays extension works, including creation of 220kV voltage at two existing sub-stations in Chhattisgarh. Power Grid Corporation received the Letters of Intent (LoIs) on 2nd March.

New thermal plants: A reality check

The quest to secure India's energy future should not lead to suboptimal policy solutions

Gencos with high input cost allowed to sell power at up to Rs 50 per unit

Power generating companies that incur high variable costs due to fuel expenses and other charges will soon able to sell electricity at a price of up to Rs 50 per unit on energy exchanges. The relaxation in norms by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) will provide relief to three category of power generating companies (gencos) -- those running their plants on expensive natural gas (RLNG), imported coal and using Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). At present, there is a price ceiling of Rs 12 per unit in the Day Ahead Market (DAM) on the energy exchanges. With the ceiling, gencos having high variable costs for operating their plants are generally not keen on selling electricity on the energy exchanges and this in turn results in stranded power generation capacity. Against this backdrop as well as the upcoming summer season, the CERC, earlier this month, allowed the introduction of a new segment -- High Price Day Ahead Market (HP-DAM) -- on the energy exchanges ...

39 hydro projects under implementation; 9 stalled: Power ministry

As many as 39 hydro projects totalling 14,623.5 MW capacity are under implementation in the country while nine out of these are stalled, Parliament was informed on Thursday. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Power Minister R K Singh said steps are being taken by developers/government for revival of the stalled projects. "39 Hydro Electric Projects (above 25 MW) aggregating to 14,623.5 MW are under implementation in the country. Out of these, 30 projects aggregating to 13,387.5 MW are under active construction and likely to be commissioned by 2026-27 and 9 projects aggregating to 1,236 MW are presently stalled (as on December 31, 2022)," Singh said. In order to fast-track the development of HEPs in northeastern region, a basin-wise indication of projects has been undertaken by CPSUs, he said. As on December 31, 2022, total 211 HEPs aggregating to an installed capacity of 46,850.15 MW were in operation in the country, he added. In another reply to the House, Singh said that at ..

Pak minister says cyber attack could be behind nationwide power breakdown

Pakistan's Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir said the government is probing the massive January 22 electricity outage across the country from different angles

Pak suffers nationwide power outage after grid failure: Power ministry

Pakistan faced a major power breakdown on Monday due to a "frequency variation" in the national grid, leaving millions of people in large parts of the country, including capital Islamabad and financial hub Karachi, without electricity. According to the Ministry of Energy, the system of frequency of the national grid went down at 7:34 am local time, resulting in the breakdown. System maintenance work is progressing rapidly, it tweeted. Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir said the restoration work was going on. "I can assure you that power will be fully restored across the country within the next 12 hours, he was quoted as saying by Geo News. Explaining the failure, he said the authorities shut down the power generation system at night due to lower demand in winter to save fuel costs. But when the systems were turned on in the morning, frequency variation and voltage fluctuation were observed in the south of the country somewhere between Dadu and Jamshoro resulting in shutting down of

State-run DVC seeks electricity buyers from brownfield coal-fired units

India's state-run Damodar Valley Corp (DVC) on Tuesday invited power distribution utilities and industries to buy power from 5 brownfield coal-fired units it is expanding

Coal India should aim to provide electricity at just price: Chairman

State-owned CIL chief Pramod Agrawal has said that the coal behemoth should aim at providing electricity to the county at "just price" as 80 per cent of the company's supplies is directed towards coal-based power plants. Coal India (CIL) accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal supply and three quarters of the country's power generation is coal-based. In a recent message to its employees, Agrawal who is the chairman and managing director of CIL said that "our role is to supply assured energy at affordable costs". Stating that as there is a sizeable scope for energy expansion in the country for the next few decades, he said that the company has a greater responsibility to shoulder. "Aim for even loftier heights in the last quarter of the financial year and make FY23 momentous by shattering the annual targets as well. And, not rest there. Once we achieve 700 MT production target that should be a benchmark base for further growth," he said. Agrawal asked the employees to make