Delhi experienced the hottest day of the season on April 7, recording a temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung which is 5.1 notches above the normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
IMD also issued a heatwave alert for the national capital and other parts of north and central India on April 6, placing a yellow alert for Delhi till April 9. The maximum temperatures are likely to remain between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius through April 9.
Heatwave is predicted to impact several other states as well. Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab are expected to experience heatwave conditions till April 10. Western Uttar Pradesh is likely to experience a heatwave till April 9 while Madhya Pradesh will be impacted from April 8 to April 10. The IMD has also warned that around 21 cities across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha and Maharashtra are expected to record high temperatures in the coming days, reported Business Today.
With temperatures soaring across the country, power demand is expected to peak as people turn to air conditions for relief.
Peak Power Demand Ahead
India will add an additional 130-150 million new room ACs between 2025 and 2035 and without targeted interventions, room ACs alone could contribute over 180 GW to India’s peak load by 2035, stated a report by the India Energy & Climate Center. This increased power demand could strain the power system.
According to Ember’s Global Electricity Review, India’s electricity demand has tripled in the last two decades. However, with accelerated clean energy deployment, fossil fuel generation is slowing down as the growing electricity demand is being met by clean energy sources. This marks a significant shift in India’s energy landscape.
Commenting on India’s ability to meet peak power demand during summer season, Union Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal said that India is ready to meet up to 270 GW of peak power demand.
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In 2024, the country had met the peak power demand of 250 GW during summer against projected demand of 260 GW. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on February 21, Agarwal further informed that thermal power plants in the country have ample coal stocks of 51 million tonnes, which is sufficient for generating electricity for 21 days.
To further ensure uninterrupted supply amid rising demand, the government is prepared to invoke Section 11 (of Electricity Act).
The Section 11 enables the government to mandate power producers to operate plants in a specified manner in extraordinary circumstances.
(With inputs from PTI.)
