Delhi's peak power demand hits this season's highest at 6,780 MW
May 16, 2024
New Delhi [India], May 16 : Delhi's peak power demand has clocked this season's highest. According to the SLDC (State Load Dispatch Centre) data, at 3:26 pm today, it clocked 6780 MW, the season's highest this year. BRPL and BYPL successfully met the peak power demand in their respective area, a release said.
On each of the days of May 2024 so far, Delhi's peak power demand has been more than that of May 2023. In the first 16 days of May last year, Delhi's peak power demand had clocked 5781 MW last year.
The weather has a profound impact on the power demand. This was visible in Delhi even during April 2024 in comparison to April 2023. In April 2024, Delhi's peak power demand ranged between 3809 MW and 5447 MW. As opposed to this, Delhi's peak power demand during April 2023 ranged between 3388 MW and 5422 MW.
"During April 2024, the peak power demand was higher on 83 per cent of the corresponding days compared to April 2023, with a difference of up to 32 per cent. This disparity highlights the profound impact that weather can have on a city's power consumption patterns," the release said.
It said Delhi's peak power demand during April 2024, like that of April 2023, has been tapered as compared with that of 2022, when it ranged between 4170 MW and 6197 MW.
The power demand can be attributed to weather conditions that led residents to use more air conditioning and coolers leading to an increase in electricity consumption. Air conditioning can contribute to 30-50 per cent of a household's or company's yearly energy expense.
After clocking a record power demand of 7,695 MW in 2022, Delhi's peak power demand during the summers of 2024 may cross the 8,000 MW for the first time- reaching up to 8200 MW, the release said. Last year, Delhi's peak power demand had clocked 7438 MW.
Peak power demand in BRPL' area of South and West Delhi, which had clocked 3250 MW and 3389 MW during the summers of 2023 and 2022 respectively, is expected to reach around 3679 MW during the summers of 2024. On the other hand, in BYPL's area of East and Central Delhi, the peak power demand, which had reached 1670MW and 1752 MW during the summers of 2023 and 2022 respectively, is expected to touch around 1857 MW this year.
"BSES discoms are geared-up to ensure reliable power supply to meet the power demand of about 50 lakh consumers and about 2 crore residents in South, West, East and Central Delhi. These arrangements include long term PPAs and banking arrangements with other states and deployment of latest technologies like AI and ML for predicting power demand accurately, critical for ensuring reliable power supply," the release said.
It said around 2100 MW of Green power will play an important role in ensuring reliable power during the summer months in the BSES area.
"This includes around 840 MW of solar power from SECI, 500 MW of wind power, 40 MW from Waste-to Energy," the release said, adding that BSES efforts in ensuring reliable power are also being helped by 160 MW+ of roof-top solar installed on roof-tops in South, West, East and Central Delhi.
