📷 Image Credits: The Hindu
India’s power consumption saw a significant rise of nearly 9% to 152.38 billion units in June compared to the previous year. This surge was largely attributed to the scorching heat experienced across the country, leading to the excessive use of cooling appliances such as air conditioners and desert coolers.
According to official data, in June 2023, power consumption stood at 140.27 billion units, highlighting a notable increase in power consumption within a year. The peak power demand also saw a rise, reaching 245.41 GW in June 2024 compared to 223.29 GW in the same month last year. Additionally, the peak power demand hit an all-time high of 250.20 GW in May 2024, surpassing the previous record set in September 2023.
Experts pointed out that the combination of scorching heat and humidity towards the end of June, coupled with the onset of monsoon rains in various parts of the country, led to a surge in power consumption. This surge in power demand is expected to continue in the upcoming days as high humidity makes the use of air conditioners unavoidable.
The Ministry of Power had previously anticipated a peak power demand of 235 GW during daytime and 225 GW in the evening for May, as well as 240 GW during daytime and 235 GW in the evening for June 2024. Furthermore, the Ministry estimated that the peak power demand might even reach 260 GW during the summer.
The conditions predicted by the Indian Meteorological Department suggest further advancement of the Southwest Monsoon into Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana in the next 2-3 days, with the monsoon expected to cover the entire country within the next three days. As the country grapples with rising temperatures and increased power consumption, the need for sustainable energy solutions becomes more pressing.
