Arecord 15,795 mw of new power generation capacity got added to the national grid during 2010-11, according to statistics presented by Union power minister Sushilkumar Shinde in Parliament recently. While 42 projects for 12,160 mw were commissioned over the year, seven other projects with total capacity of 3,635 mw were synchronized, though they had yet to achieve full-load commercial operations. Fiscal year 2009-10 had seen 9,585 mw worth of fresh power generation capacity.

Commissioning of new capacity progressed rapidly from around 2,065 mw in the first quarter to 2,870 mw in the second, only to reach a high of 4,795 mw in the third quarter. The last quarter, however, could not keep pace and witnessed addition of only 2,430 mw, with the year ending with 12,160 mw of new additions. Private sector contributed 5,122 mw, Central government-owned utilities 4,280, mw and state government-owned entities 2,759 mw. Thermal power dominated with 33 projects aggregating 11,250 mw commissioned during the fiscal; followed by eight hydro power for 690 mw and one nuclear power project of 220 mw.

The seven power projects synchronized during the year were all coal-based projects. These include three state government projects (capacity: 1,250 mw), three private sector projects (capacity: 1725 mw) and one Central government project (capacity: 660 mw).

In the meantime, according to statistics released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), February witnessed only 250 mw fructified, reflecting Bawana CCPP, U-2 (250 mw) of PPCL commissioned on February 17. The feat met only a fourth of the addition planned for the month and the gross addition of 10,461 mw in the first eleven months of the ongoing year fell 44 per cent short of target for the period. Private sector accounted for a half of the capacity commissioned during April-February 2010-11, while Central and State government utilities filled in the balance half.

Cumulatively, the net capacity addition in public utilities till February in the ongoing 11th Plan amounted to 28,903 mw, comprising 25,310 mw of thermal, 2,713 mw of hydro (renewable) and 880 mw of nuclear power. The renewable energy sources (grid connected) including small hydro power, biomass gas/power and wind energy, etc whose estimates are sourced from Ministry of Renewable Energy (MNRE) contributed 10,694 mw. The addition to stock of public utilities has already exceeded 21,151 mw added during 10th plan and 18,524 mw in the 9th Plan. Renewable energy, a star performer, has in fact already surpassed the climb in earlier plan by 74 per cent.

Power transmission: The capacity addition of 29,076 ckm to 400kV transmission lines and 19,158 ckm to 220 kV transmission lines till February in the ongoing 11th Plan has already exceeded their respective additions during the 10th Plan. Likewise the additions in terms of MVA in 400 kV and 220 kV substations have also surpassed their 10th plan augmentations.

Power generation: Total power generation including that from Bhutan joint venture increased by 6.78 per cent in February, and 5.3 per cent over the first 11 months of FY11. Thermal power increased 3.6 per cent, hydro power 9.5 per cent and nuclear power, 39.9 per cent. Capacity utilization in 2010-11, as measured by plant load factor in thermal power, dropped from 77.2 per cent to 74.3 per cent, while that in nuclear plants improved from 50.4 per cent to 63.4 per cent due to better availability of nuclear fuels.

Power deficit: Power deficit during the first eleven months of FY11 worked out to 8.6 per cent, improving from 9.9 per cent in the corresponding period a year ago, and 11 per cent in this period two years back. In fact, after running higher till August, relative to year ago levels, power deficit has tended to be less severe than year-ago levels in the subsequent six months. Cumulative peak demand level deficit worked out to 10.3 per cent, against 12.6 per cent in the similar period last year and 13.8 per cent two years back. Lower power shortage could be reflective of a slowing economy as growth in generation during the period was lower than that a year ago.

Maharashtra, the biggest power consuming state, faced a 17 per cent power deficit during April-January 2010-11. Madhya Pradesh faced 20 per cent deficit and Uttar Pradesh 22 per cent. Down south, Karnataka faced a 7.5 per cent power deficit with comparable metrics for Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu standing at 3.2 per cent and 6.3 per cent, respectively.

Power Sector Performance in XI Plan period
Parameter	Unit	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
		(Apr-Mar)			(Apr-Feb)
Capacity addition	mw	9,263	3,454	9,585	10,461
Power generation	Twh	704	724	772	735
Peak power deficit	per cent	9.8	11.0	10.1	8.6

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