Delhi’s peak power demand increases to approx 7000 MW
21 May, 2022 | Pravina Srivastava
Delhi's power demand continues to rise northwards, setting new records, despite rising temperatures in the national capital
Delhi’s power demand continues to rise northwards, setting new records, despite rising temperatures in the national capital. On Friday, BSES attributed an increase in power demand to an increase in cooling load.
According to the Discom’s estimations, the city’s peak power consumption, at 7070 MW on Thursday night at 11:24 p.m., was not only the most of the season, but also the greatest in the month of May. The cooling load (ACs + Coolers + Fans) accounts for about half of Delhi’s power demand in the summer. The cooling load was directly affected by the rain.
However, as per Friday night’s Discom peak power demand, this is only the fourth year in Delhi’s history that peak power consumption has exceeded 7000 MW.
It was also revealed that Delhi’s peak electricity demand has climbed by 10% since May 1, and by more than 58 percent since April 1.
The national capital’s peak electricity demand has surpassed 6000 MW for the 15th time in the last 20 days of May.
According to the Discom, in May 2021 and 2020, Delhi’s peak electricity demand never exceeded 6000 MW. Only three times in 2019 had it exceeded 6000 MW: on May 29 (6020 MW), May 30 (6240 MW), and May 31 (6480 MW) (6461 MW).
So far in May, peak electricity consumption has been greater on 100% of the days corresponding to May 2021, 2020, and 2019.
Discom further stated “Previously, peak electricity consumption in April 2022 was greater on 100% of the relevant days compared to April 2021, 2020, and 2019. Furthermore, Delhi’s peak electricity demand surpassed the previous record seven times in April 2022, each time exceeding the previous record in short succession. On April 19, it was 5735 MW; on April 20, it was 5761 MW; on August 21, it was 5781 MW; on April 27, it was 5786 MW; on April 28, it was 6050 MW; on April 29, it was 6197; and on April 30, it was 6036 MW.”
Rains in areas of Delhi today provided some relief from the searing heat.
At Safdarjung, the city’s base meteorological station, the highest temperature rose to 43.6 degrees, three degrees above usual, earlier on Thursday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rain and gusty winds from May 21 to 24, thus relief is expected from Saturday.