Peak power demand breaches estimated 235-GW mark for May

New Delhi: The peak power demand in India breached the estimated 235-GW mark for daytime on May 23 as heat wave conditions and above normal temperature continue for the last several days. Peak 'power demand met' was recorded at 236.9 GW till 1500 IST on May 23. The peak shortage was still to be analyzed, a government official said. The national capital saw the peak at 7,649 MW on the day, lower than the highest ever peak demand of 8,000 MW recorded on May 22.

The power ministry has projected the peak power demand in May at 235 GW during the daytime and 225 GW during evening hours. For June, the demand is projected at 240 GW in solar hours and 235 GW in non-solar hours.

Heat wave to severe heat wave conditions prevailed over parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh, according to the IMD.

The highest maximum temperature on May 22 was 48°C, recorded at Barmer in Rajasthan.

This is despite heavy to very heavy rainfall being observed in some parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, in isolated places over Bihar, West Bengal and Karnataka.

Last year, peak demand in May was 221.7 GW, as temperatures were lower than expected and with sparse heatwave conditions. However, the highest peak demand on record was also reported last year at 243 GW in September amid deficit monsoon rainfall.

Heatwave conditions are expected to continue in several parts of the country for the next few days.

The government expects the demand to be adequately met during the months, the ministry said in a statement earlier this month. For Delhi, it was the fifth day in a row when demand crossed the 7,000-MW mark and broke the previous all-time May high of 7070 MW, recorded in 2022. This year, peak demand is expected to reach up to 8,200 MW in the Capital.

Tata Power-Delhi Distribution Ltd saw an all-time peak power demand of 2268 MW in its regions and said it was met without any outages and network constraints. Similarly, distribution companies BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd said they successfully met the peak power demand in their respective areas.