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Source- This post on the Report on Power Cuts in India has been created based on the article “In 3 years, power cuts in India will rise, says report” published in “The Hindu” on 1 August 2024.
Why in the news?
As per the recent research report from the India Energy and Climate Centre, University of California (Berkley), the power cuts in India will rise in coming three years.
Findings of the report
1. More Power Cuts- The report predicts that rising electricity needs in India will likely result in more evening power cuts by 2027.
2. Insufficient renewable energy backup- India has an installed electric capacity of 446 GW, with 211 GW coming from coal, 195 GW from renewable energy sources, and the rest from gas and nuclear energy. However, during heatwaves, prolonged high electricity demand can extend into the night. While solar energy can meet daytime spikes in demand, it cannot address night time demand.
3. Inability of Coal to meet demand- India’s most reliable power source coal also cannot meet this demand alone.
4. Increase renewable energy storage- The report recommends increasing utility-scale solar plants alongside battery storage. Battery storage can store solar energy produced during the day for use at night.
UPSC Syllabus: Indian Economy
