Generation from thermal power plants surged during the month amid shortage created by lower generation from hydropower and nuclear plants.
India’s total conventional power generation has increased 8% Y-o-Y to 102.711 BU (Billion Units) in Aug’17, in comparison with 95.221 BU in Aug’16, according to the Power Ministry’s monthly report. Power generation in Aug’17 was also 5% higher on the month compared with 98.023 BU power generated during Jul’17.
Hydro-power generation remained almost constant from the previous month and was recorded at 15.529 BU in Aug’17. However, on the yearly basis, hydro-power generation in Aug’17 was 12% lower than the generation of 17.668 BU achieved during Aug’16.
Lower rainfall in southern and western region in the country has led to a decline in hydro-power generation. Also, the shutdown of one unit at the Kudankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu had dropped Nuclear power generation by 25% M-o-M to 2.272 BU in Aug’17.
In order to cater the power demand caused by lower generation from Hydro and Nuclear plants, thermal power generation had surged 15% Y-o-Y to 83.855 BU in Aug’17, which was also 7% higher on the month compared with 78.544 BU in Jul’17.
Moreover, during the period of rise in demand, PLF of thermal power plants rose to 58% in Aug’17, which was recorded 51.59% a year ago.
| Source | Aug’17 | Jul’17 | %Change |
| Thermal | 83.855 | 78.544 | 7% |
| Hydro* | 15.529 | 15.454 | 0% |
| Nuclear | 2.272 | 3.042 | -25% |
| Bhutan Imports | 1.055 | 0.983 | 7% |
| Total | 102.711 | 98.023 | 5% |
Source: Power Ministry
Power in BU
*excludes generation from Hydro stations upto 25 MW
Power Plant Capacity Addition:
Capacity of 39 MW was added in Aug’17 with the commissioning of two new hydropower plant units. Unit-I (30 MW) of Tuirial HPS in Mizoram and Unit-4(9 MW) of Pochampad HPS were added to the country’s installed capacity during the month.
No new thermal power plants were added during the month, albeit a total of 956.375 MW thermal plant units were retired due to ageing.
List of Power Plant Units Retired during Aug’17
| Plant | State | Units Retired | Capacity |
| Chandrapur Thermal Power Station | Assam | U-1 &2 (2X30 MW) | 60 |
| Ukai Thermal Power Station* | Gujarat | U-1 & 2 (2X120 MW) | 240 |
| Sikka Thermal power Station* | Gujarat | U-1 & 2 (2X120 MW) | 240 |
| Harduaganj Thermal Power Station* | Uttar Pradesh | U-5 (60 MW) | 60 |
| Obra Thermal Power Station* | Uttar Pradesh | U-1 & 2 (40+50 MW) | 90 |
| Bhusawal Thermal Power Station* | Maharashtra | U-2 (210 MW) | 210 |
| Chinakuri Thermal Power Station | West Bengal | U-1, 2 & 3 (3X10 MW) | 30 |
| Dishergarh Thermal Power Station | West Bengal | 18 | |
| Seebpore Thermal Power Station | West Bengal | 8.375 | |
| Total Capacity Retired | 956.375 | ||
Source: Power Ministry
Capacity in MW
* Plants still active, only the mentioned units are retired
All India installed capacity of power stations stood 329226.27 MW as on Aug’17, with coal-fired plants having a share of 193466.50 MW.
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