Powered programme

The government has embarked on a powered programme to provide 24×7 power across the country by 2019 as it invests in generation capacity.

Its special focus is on the #North East by giving approval to the region’s power system improvement project and comprehensive scheme for strengthening of transmission and distribution.

Several landmark decisions have already been taken in thermal power generation, hydel and more importantly in solar, wind and other green energy, besides strengthening of transmission and distribution, separation of feeder and metering of power to consumers.

These also include not only achievements in capacity addition but also important reforms being undertaken on increasing energy efficiency of the present infrastructure and thereby reducing power losses.

During the 12th Plan period (2012-17) and as on 31 Oct 2016, about 88,928.2 MW of capacity has been added compared to target of 88,537 MW from conventional sources.

The increase in electricity generation has reduced power shortage to 0.7 per cent during the current year 2016-17 (as of October, 2016), from 8.7 per cent during the year 2012-13.

Domestic coal supply to power plants has increased by about 6.2 per cent on the year during 2015-16.

During the 12th Plan period (2012-17), 1,00,468 ckm out of a target of 1,07,440 ckm of transmission lines and 2,88,458 MVA of 2,82,750 MVA of transformation capacity have been completed as at 31st October, 2016.

The government has launched a scheme by providing support from Power System Development Fund (PSDF) for operationalization of stranded gas based generation.

The outlay for the support from PSDF has been fixed at Rs.3,500 crores and Rs. 4,000 crores for FY 2015-16 and FY 2016-17, respectively.

Under the ‘24×7 Power for All’ initiative, State specific Plans for 34 out of 36 States/Union Territories (UTs), have already been prepared and are under implementation.

#Energy Efficiency Services Limited has issued Secured, Redeemable, Taxable, Non-Cumulative, Non-Convertible Bonds as Debentures in dematerialized form of Rs.500 Crores in the month of September, 2016. The #Bonds, listed with #Bombay Stock Exchange, are for financing various energy efficiency projects

Power Generation

Power Generation during 2016-17 (April-November, 2016) was 777.506 billion units (BU), up by 4.99 per cent over the same period in previous year. Coal-based power generation during the current year was 595.124 BU, an increase of 5.92 per cent over the same period in the previous year.

A total of 3,000 MW of inefficient thermal generating capacity was retired as September 2016.

Measures initiated for reducing the generation cost of coal based power projects: Increasing supply of domestic coal; #Coal usage flexibility; Rationalisation of coal linkages.

Twenty-nine thermal stations, of 13440.5 MW capacity, are to be commissioned in 2016-17; nine of these with 3608.5 MW capacity have already been commissioned as of October 2016.

In-principle clearance has been given to replace 11,000 MW Thermal Power Plants, older than 25 years, with #Energy Efficient Super Critical Plants in about five years, an investment of around Rs.50,000 crores.

In Hydro power sector, 13 hydro stations, of 1949 MW capacity, are to be commissioned, five of which, with 320 MW capacity, have already been commissioned as at 31.10.2016.

Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of 12 Hydroelectric Projects, of 7,165 MW capacity, are being examined. #Hydro power projects from 1st April, 2016 to 31st October, 2016 was 88,306.78 million units (MU), excluding power imported from Bhutan which is 4,908.67 MU.

Electricity generation has increased from 1,048 BU in 2014-15 to 1,107 BU in 2015-16. #The National Peak Power Deficit is down to half at 1.6 per cent in the same period as compared to 2015-16.

Six thermal power units/modules, of 1103.1 MW capacity, have been commissioned during the 12th Plan period in the North-Eastern States. Further, five thermal units/modules of 625.5 MW are under construction in the region.

The government has sanctioned a scheme for importing spot #Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) in 2015-16 and 2016-17 for the stranded gas based power plants and others depending on domestic gas. The Power System Development Fund will provide Rs.7,500 crores — Rs.3,500 crores and Rs.4,000 crores during 2015-16 and 2016-17, respectively. fii-news.com