India: Conventional Power Generation Up 5% M-o-M in Dec’19

Power generation from the conventional sources have rebounded during Dec’19, thereby ending a series of decline witnessed for the past 6 months.

Tentative data provided by Power Ministry indicates that the country had recorded 98.76 BU power output during Dec’19, which stood 5% higher on the month from 93.67 BU noted in Nov’19. However, the generation volumes continued its Y-o-Y fall for the fourth straight month, as it dropped 2% on the year from 100.84 BU in Dec’18.

Apparently, the increase in power output on the monthly basis was attributed to the surge in demand witnessed across various states, which had experienced intense cold waves during the month.

A source-wise break-up shows that power output from thermal plants increased 8% M-o-M to 86.12 BU in Dec’19 as against 79.53 BU in Nov’19, but had fell 4% Y-o-Y compared with 89.96 BU in Nov’18.

Contribution from the primary energy source-Coal, had also witnessed an uptick M-o-M, but was still noted 4% lower on the year at 79.65 BU in Dec’19.

Hydro power generation decreased 11% M-o-M to 8.88 BU in Dec’19, thus continuing the suit followed since the departure of monsoons. However, the hydro sources had attained the output target set for the month.

Power generation from nuclear sources was marked 6% lower on the month at 3.55 BU during Dec’19, while the remaining volume was imported from Bhutan.

Source-wise Power Generation

Source: Power Ministry
Quantity in BU
*excludes generation from Hydro stations up to 25 MW

During the first 9 months of FY20 (Apr-Dec’19), Indian power generation from conventional sources stood 950.4 BU, which remained almost stable compared with the levels attained in the year-ago period. Meanwhile, the contribution from thermal sources was down 3% Y-o-Y to 779.62 BU in the 9-month period, however, the decline was offset by a noticeable rise seen in output from the hydro and nuclear sources.