Adequate coal supply resulting in power surplus

While the demand for electricity has remained constant, the govt’s aggressive capacity push adequate coal supply to thermal plants has resulted in surplus power generation.
– Anil Sardana, CEO & MD, Tata Power
  Tata Power is a major integrated power company in India with a significant international presence. The company has an installed generation capacity of 9,432MW in India and a presence in all the segments of power sector, namely fuel and logistics, generation (thermal, hydro, solar and wind), transmission, distribution and trading. Tata Power is one of the largest renewable energy players in India and has developed the country’s first 4,000MW Ultra Mega Power Project at Mundra (Gujarat) based on super-critical technology.
Tata Power is also a pioneer in the renewable energy space in India. Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL), recently completed the largest transaction in the renewable space in India, when it acquired Welspun. With Welspun Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd (WREPL) acquisition the portfolio of TPREL grows to about 2,300MW making it one of the largest renewable energy companies in India. TPREL’s present operating capacity is 294 MW, comprising 240MW wind and 54MW solar, located in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
The power sector has been growing tremendously and country is expected to have a surplus of 3.1 per cent during peak hours and 1.1 per cent during non-peak hours during 2016-17, as per the data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).  
“Power surplus scenario is one of the big achievements. India can meet its power demands without further capacity addition for the next three years,” states an assertive Anil Sardana, CEO and MD, Tata Power. Coal output, which was stagnant for years, has increased significantly helping many stranded power plants start generating electricity. The renewable energy capacities have not only contributed to meet the power demand, but also the peak power requirements. “Energy efficiency improvements coupled with demand side management has helped reduce the energy intensity of industries and this has reduced losses to great extent. The discoms are trying to reduce their T&D losses that have helped in more power availability,” he adds.
Improved coal supplyAs per Sardana’s view, the ‘surplus’ power scenario can be attributed to the improved coal supply situation as well as the rapid expansion in renewable energy capacity building. He informed,  in May 2014, as many as two-thirds of coal based power plants were having critical coal stocks, meaning less than 7 days of coal stock. Recovering from such a dire situation, the power plants have ample coal availability now. “While the demand for electricity has remained constant, the government’s aggressive capacity push adequate coal supply to thermal plants has resulted in surplus power generation. That said, poor financial health of state discoms and transmission and distribution constraints are still resulting in power cuts across the country, he informs.”

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