New Delhi: The Indian government has informed parliament that it plans to meet 75.66% of the electricity requirement of 1,750 billion units in fiscal year 2023-24 from thermal power plants. Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh stated in a written reply to Lok Sabha that the electricity generation program for the year 2023-2024 has been fixed at 1,750 BU, with 66.90% of electricity to be generated from thermal power plants with an average plant load factor (PLF) of 66.90%.

Additionally, the minister stated that there is sufficient capacity in the country to meet the increasing power demand, with a projected energy surplus of 56,796 million units (3.6%) and peak surplus of 1,717 MW (0.7%) in 2023-2024.

To boost power generation capacity in the country, 18 coal-based thermal power projects with a total capacity of 25,440 MW, one gas-based thermal power project with 370 MW capacity, and 42 hydro-electric projects (above 25 MW) with a total capacity of 18,033.5 MW (as of June 30, 2023) are under construction. Furthermore, the country has nuclear capacity totaling 8,000 MW under various stages of construction.

Singh emphasized that there is sufficient capacity available to meet the rising power demand and projected energy surplus in 2023-2024.

During the April-June 2023 period, 4,07,762 million units of electricity were supplied against the demand of 4,08,621 million units, leaving a deficit of 858 million units or 0.2%. Singh mentioned that there is adequate availability of electricity in the country, and any gap between energy requirement and supply is due to factors attributable to discoms, such as constraints in the distribution network, financial constraints, and commercial reasons.