SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir with its strategic geographic location and robust transmission infrastructure, is playing a pivotal role in India’s interstate power trade, the data placed in Lok Sabha suggests.
Over the past five years, Jammu Kashmir has consistently transmitted substantial amounts of power to neighbouring regions, underscoring its importance in the national energy framework. In the 2023-24 fiscal year alone, the region transmitted 14,639 million units (MU) of power, further highlighting its role as a vital link in India’s energy landscape. For the current fiscal, 6687 MUs have already been transmitted, the data revealed by power minister in response to the question by MP Kartip Chidambaram.
Jammu Kashmir’s energy generation has seen fluctuations over the years, influenced by variations in output from both conventional and renewable sources. In 2019-20, the region generated 18,094 MU from conventional sources and 443 MU from renewable energy. By 2023-24, these figures had declined to 15,874 MU and 409 MU respectively, reflecting a gradual decrease in total generation. The trend is expected to continue into 2024-25 as so far 12,680 MU generation from conventional sources and 325 MU from renewable has been recorded.
The demand for energy in Jammu Kashmir has remained relatively stable, with a marginal increase over the years. In 2019-20, the region required 20,025 MU of energy but managed to supply only 16,259 MU, leaving a significant shortfall of 3,766 MU. This gap has progressively narrowed, with the supply increasing to 19,763 MU against a demand of 20,040 MU in 2023-24.
By 2024-25, the energy requirement has been of the order of 11,097 MU, so far, with an almost equal supply of 11,042 MU been provided, the government said.
In response the question, the power ministry offered a detailed narrative about the generation, consumption and distribution mechanism of the energy across India.
The Government said it has implemented a comprehensive series of measures aimed at augmenting the country’s power generation and transmission capacities. These efforts are focused on ensuring long-term energy sustainability, addressing power shortages, and facilitating the smooth transfer of energy from surplus to deficit regions across the nation.
To meet the ever-increasing electricity demand, the Government has laid out ambitious plans for expanding India’s power generation infrastructure. The Ministry of Power, in close consultation with state governments, has devised a plan to add a substantial 80,000 MW of thermal power capacity by 2031-32. As of now, 29,200 MW of thermal capacity is under construction, while another 51,520 MW is at various stages of planning and development. This will significantly strengthen the country’s thermal power base and help bridge the demand-supply gap.
Additionally, the government is keenly focused on hydroelectric and pumped storage projects. Currently, 13,997.5 MW of hydroelectric projects and 6,050 MW of pumped storage projects (PSPs) are under construction. Moreover, another 24,225.5 MW of hydroelectric capacity and 50,760 MW of PSP are in the planning stages, with completion targeted for 2031-32. These initiatives are pivotal in harnessing India’s natural water resources and storing energy for peak demand periods.
In line with its commitment to clean energy, the government is also expanding nuclear and renewable energy capacity. The country is working on adding 7,300 MW of nuclear capacity, while an additional 7,000 MW is under various stages of approval and planning. Furthermore, India’s renewable energy capacity has seen a significant leap, with the installed capacity reaching 203,215 MW. In the coming years, the country aims to add another 127,050 MW of renewable energy, with 89,690 MW in various stages of tendering. India’s commitment to clean energy is exemplified by its ambitious goal of achieving over 500,000 MW of non-fossil fuel-based electricity generation capacity by 2030.
The government said it has also taken several steps to optimise the use of existing power generation infrastructure to meet demand peaks. Directions under Section 11 of the Electricity Act have been issued to imported coal-based plants to operate and generate power at full capacity. Similarly, gas-based power plants operated by NTPC and other generation companies have been scheduled during periods of high demand to ensure a steady supply of electricity.
The steady supply of coal to thermal power plants is being actively managed to prevent fuel shortages, while all generating companies (GENCOs), including independent power producers (IPPs) and central generating stations, have been instructed to ensure full availability of power, excluding planned maintenance or forced outages. Hydro-based generation is also being carefully scheduled to conserve water during the monsoon season for peak periods, ensuring that the generation capacity is available when demand spikes.
In its efforts to ensure a reliable power supply across the country, the government has facilitated power trading through a well-structured regulatory framework. States with surplus generation are now able to sell power to deficit states through three key power exchanges—Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), Power Exchange India Ltd (PXIL), and Hindustan Power Exchange Ltd. This inter-state trading is crucial in managing regional imbalances in power supply.
To strengthen the national power grid, the government has made significant investments in interstate transmission infrastructure. The inter-regional transmission capacity has grown from 75.05 GW in 2016-17 to 118.74 GW by October 2024. This capacity is expected to reach 143 GW by 2027 and 168 GW by 2032. These enhancements are essential for facilitating the seamless transfer of power from surplus regions to deficit areas, ensuring that all regions of the country can access reliable electricity.
In addition to generation and transmission capacity, the government has focused on upgrading the power distribution infrastructure to ensure 24×7 reliable power supply to all consumers. The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), and Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA) have collectively invested over Rs. 1.85 lakh crore in strengthening the distribution system. These schemes have facilitated the addition of nearly 3,000 new substations, upgradation of existing ones, and installation of over 6,92,000 distribution transformers. Additionally, more than 8.5 lakh km of HT and LT lines have been upgraded to ensure better connectivity and minimize power outages.
To further enhance the quality and efficiency of power distribution, the government launched the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) in July 2021. With an outlay of Rs. 3.03 lakh crore and an estimated government budgetary support (GBS) of Rs. 97,631 crore, the scheme aims to improve the operational and financial health of the distribution sector. Under this scheme, Rs. 2.77 lakh crore has already been sanctioned for projects focused on upgrading distribution infrastructure and implementing smart metering systems nationwide.
