India’s conventional power generation in Aug’18 has rebounded after falling to its lowest total for FY19 in Jul’18, as the demand for power picks-up after the monsoon season.
According to the tentative report provided by the Power Ministry, power generation from the conventional sources have increased 3% M-o-M to 105.701 BU (Billion Unit) in Aug’18, against 102.325 BU in Jul’18.
On the year basis, power output had witnessed nearly the same growth rate from 102.673 BU in Aug’17.
Power generation from Conventional sources include thermal power generation (from Coal, diesel and gas plants), Hydro power, Nuclear power and electricity imported from Bhutan.
The expected surge in power demand during Aug’18 had somehow lessened its toll on thermal power generation, as the part of the energy requirement from the thermal plants was fulfilled by the hydro plants.
Source-wise Power Generation:
Hydro power generation in Aug’18 attained its highest monthly total since FY18, significantly reducing the pressure from the thermal plants.
Hydro power generation which had been rising since the beginning of FY19 was recorded 20% higher on the year at 18.642 BU in Aug’18 compared with 15.559 BU in Aug’17. Moreover, the plants had generated more than their scheduled program during the second successive month.
Thermal power generation, on the other hand, were almost stable on the year at 83.432 BU in Aug’18 against 83.845 BU in Aug’17, but had increased 2% on the month from 82.18 BU in Jul’18.
Nuclear power generation had fell 23% M-o-M to 2.681 BU in Aug’18, but was 17% higher on the year from 2.288 BU in Aug’17.
| Source | Target for Aug’18 | Actual Generation in Aug’18 | Actual Generation in Aug’17 | %Change |
| Thermal | 88.892 | 83.432 | 83.845 | 0% |
| Hydro* | 17.523 | 18.642 | 15.559 | 20% |
| Nuclear | 3.111 | 2.681 | 2.288 | 17% |
| Bhutan Imports | 0.648 | 0.946 | 0.982 | -4% |
| Total | 110.174 | 105.701 | 102.673 | 3% |
Source: Power Ministry
Quantity in BU
*excludes generation from Hydro stations upto 25 MW
Hydro power output had a significant influence on Indian non-coking coal imports last year, when the decline in output from hydro plants along with other sources had demanded an increase in thermal power generation, resulting in a drastic fall in the existing coal stock at the plants. Consequently, Indian non-coking coal imports were seen rising from Aug’17 onward.
However, the increased output from Hydro plants this term would somewhat lower the coal demand from the thermal plants at a time when the country had recorded its highest Y-o-Y growth for non-coking coal imports in Aug’18 for the CY18.
During the first 5 months of FY19 (Apr’18-Aug’18), India’s net power output from the conventional sources had reached 527.387 BU, up 4% Y-o-Y from 508.759 BU recorded in the same period last year.
CEA, the governing body monitoring the power sector in the country, has targeted a total generation of 1265 BU in FY19, out of which 1091.5 BU would be procured from the thermal plants.
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