India Power Shortage: States Seek Additional Electricity As Hydropower Output Falls, 41 GW Capacity Offline

Multiple Indian states have requested additional electricity allocations from the central government as declining hydropower generation and plant maintenance have restricted supplies, especially at night, according to government sources. Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Delhi are among the states seeking extra electricity, reported Reuters.

Normally, the central government can provide between 14 GW to 15 GW of power from coal and hydro plants to states experiencing shortages. However, reduced hydropower output due to lower rainfall caused by El Niño has decreased the electricity available for redistribution. In September, India faced its largest power shortage since August 2023, with usage reaching 560 million kilowatt-hours, despite coal-fired plants boosting production.

Generation from coal plants increased by 13.3% year-on-year in September, but hydropower output dropped by 20%. Currently, approximately 41 GW of electricity generation capacity is offline, as per Grid India data. Around 47% of coal-fired plants also had limited fuel supplies, less than a quarter of the required coal. With much of the available electricity already allocated, additional requests may necessitate taking power from other states, according to a government official quoted in the report.

Battery storage is crucial for renewables as the power shortage underscores India's challenge in meeting demand after sunset, despite the rapid growth of renewable-energy capacity. Inadequate battery storage hinders the ability to store and supply surplus solar power generated during the day during evening and nighttime peak demand.

Consequently, the Power Ministry has been urging renewable-energy producers to expedite the integration of battery energy storage systems. Enhanced storage capacity could capture solar electricity that would otherwise go to waste during the day and make it available when renewable generation decreases after sunset, improving grid reliability as India expands its renewable-energy capacity.