India's peak power demand expected to surpass 400 GW by 2031-32, Says Power Secretary

India's peak power demand is anticipated to exceed the previously projected 384 GW and may reach 400 GW by 2031-32, according to Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal. Speaking at the CII-Smart Metering Conference on Tuesday, Agarwal noted that the country's peak power demand had already hit 250 GW in May this year.

Power demand

Agarwal highlighted the rapid growth in power demand observed in several states over the past two years, suggesting that this trend will likely continue. He emphasized that to meet this future demand, India would need an installed power generation capacity of 900 GW.

The government had initially projected this year’s peak power demand to be 260 GW. Agarwal mentioned that this level of demand is expected to be reached by September. However, he noted a recent decline in peak power demand with the onset of the monsoon, which brought the peak demand down to 209 GW on Monday, according to official data.

The significant increase in power demand underscores the need for substantial growth in India's power generation capacity. The government is actively planning to address these requirements to ensure reliable power supply across the nation. The anticipated surge to 400 GW by 2031-32 represents a considerable challenge and necessitates strategic planning and investment in power infrastructure.

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