India’s annual power output records a new high of 1 trillion units

 The Dollar Business Bureau For the first time in the country, in 2014-15, the annual power generation has crossed 1 trillion units and the biggest contribution was from the coal-based power stations, which recorded an annual growth of 12.1%. The power generation during 2014-15 (1048.403 BU) has registered a growth rate of 8.4% year-on-year and is the highest in the last two decades, said an official release of the Ministry of Power, Government of India. Against a target of 17,830 MW, the generation capacity addition during 2014-15 stood at 22,566 MW, which is the highest achievement in a single year, added the release. Of the total 22,566 MW added capacity in 2014-15, the thermal sector’s contribution alone stood 92% (20,830 MW), which also includes the NTPC's 660 MW unit at Barh in Bihar, where the first indigenously manufactured super critical units by BHEL have been commissioned. The year also marked the turnaround in Hydro sector with 736 MW contribution in Central sector, which also included the NTPC’s maiden contribution and entry in hydro sector with Koldam units. The release further informed that the gas-based Monarchak Power Plant (65.4 MW capacity), Agartala ST-II (25.5 MW capacity) and Palatana Unit-II (363.3 MW capacity), which were commissioned in Tripura during the 2014-15 will address power issues in the North-East. And the commissioning of the Kudankalam Nuclear Power Station having 1000 MW generation capacity will address the power shortages in the entire South India, the release informed. Following the government’s efforts towards fast execution of forest clearances and intensive monitoring of critical transmission lines, transmission lines spread across 22,101 circuit kilometers (ckm) have been commissioned during 2014-15, thus registering a growth of 31.96%, the highest ever achievement in a single year. On a whole, the efforts of the government could reduce the rate of power generation shortage to the recorded lowest level of 3.6 %, from a level of 7 to 11% during the last two decades.    

This article was published on April 15, 2015 – 8.35 pm IST.