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At a time, when private thermal power producers including Adani Power, Tata Power and Essar Power have discontinued electricity supplies to Gujarat citing financial non-viability, the State continues to be on strong footing even at the peak of summer, thanks to renewable capacities in wind and solar power generation.
The leading three private power producers, which had committed to supply power to the tune of combined 5,171 megawatts (MW) to Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) through their respective Power Purchase Agreements (PPA)s, have started phased discontinuation of power supply to the discoms.
The move by companies come after the Supreme Court passed an order terming that a change in the Indonesian regulation with respect to coal prices can not be considered as change in law or force majeure in the PPAs with the State Electricity Boards.
However, the companies’ decision is not likely to create panic for the power-surplus State, which has over 5,000 MW flowing in from the renewable sector — wind and solar — of the total 20,595 MW it consumes, as per the data shared by the State Load Despatch Center (SLDC) under Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation (Getco).
On Thursday, the State recorded peak demand of over 15,200 MW in the afternoon.
“Currently, our daily requirement is in the range of 12,000 MW to 15,000 MW. And we have adequate arrangements to meet our requirements. There is no panic, the State has over 25,256 MW installed capacity. There is no chance of power shortfall in the State. There can be some escalation in cost due to old units not operating at the higher efficiency,” Chimanbhai Sapariya, Gujarat Energy Minister, told BusinessLine .
Sapariya also said Gujarat’s surplus capacity in thermal and renewable sources has put the State in a stronger position in such critical times. Considering the future challenges arising from the stand-off with the power producers, he said that there would be no shortage of power even during monsoon, when the State goes for kharif sowing.
A source in the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) — the parent body of state discoms, said, “There could have been problems by sudden discontinuation of power in the grid. But, we have excess capacities in renewable power generation — primarily wind. This largely compensates it and therefore we are much relieved due to renewable capacities.”
In the renewable capacities, Gujarat has 1249.5 MW under solar and 4,975 MW under wind power. On May 11, generation from wind power was 1,897 MW, while for solar it was 107 MW.
Gujarat’s installed thermal power generation capacities include 6,131.67 MW under Gujarat Electricity Corporation Ltd (GSECL), another 8,411.86 MW under private power producers including 2000 MW promised by Adani under the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and 6051.44 MW under Central Sector including atomic power plants, taking the tally to 20,595 MW installed capacity.
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