India power demand eases to 4,614 MU on 1 November as shortages near zero

Power shortages have almost disappeared since mid October

The energy shortage is the electricity demand that the grid could not supply. On Sunday, 1 November, the all-India shortage was 0.15 million units (MU) of electricity. It was 40.5 MU on 6 October and 31.3 MU on 14 October. The shortfall at peak demand outside solar hours was zero. On 14 October it reached 4,680 megawatts (MW). Saturday had a small shortfall of 2.55 MU, with 415 MW short at the evening peak. That did not carry into Sunday.

Demand has cooled well below its early October high

Energy met measures how much electricity the grid actually supplied in a day. It was 4,613.82 MU, down from 4,774.85 MU on Saturday. That is about 17% below the 5 October high of 5,533 MU. Maximum demand met, the highest load served during the day, was 215.5 gigawatts (GW). It was 260.7 GW on 5 October and 256.5 GW on 14 October.

Lower demand, not better supply, is easing the strain on coal

• Coal generation was 3,659 MU, about 72% of the 5,066 MU total. It was 4,168 MU on 14 October.
• Gas, naphtha and diesel generation fell to 39 MU from about 150 MU in mid October. This suggests the costly plants used to meet peak demand are no longer needed.
• Less coal burning eases pressure on thin coal stockpiles at power plants.

Hydropower keeps falling while solar holds steady

Hydro generation is still falling after the monsoon. It was 290 MU, against 497 MU on 14 October. Solar generation held steady at about 625 MU. Diwali, likely in the week of 8 November, and the start of winter heating demand in northern India are the next tests for the grid.