India set for 6.7% drop in power supply

Transmission problems to hit Southern Region the hardest.

The Central Electricity Authority said the supply shortfall in the current fiscal year comes at a time when acute coal shortages, environmental hurdles and transmission woes are hurting electricity generation.

The total energy shortfall is expected to be 70,232 million units, resulting in a deficit of 6.7% this fiscal year.

CEA said this will be due to transmission constraints between Northern-North Eastern-Eastern-Western-Southern Regional Grid that restricts flow of power to the Southern region.

It noted, however, a capacity increase of 18,432 MW, most of which will come from thermal sources. Of the additional capacity, thermal plants would account for 15,234 MW, hydro sources 1,198 MW with the remaining 2,000 MW from nuclear energy.