Power deficit dips further, hits fresh record low of 2.4%

Government on Monday said the power deficit in the country has fallen further and has hit a fresh lowest-ever level of 2.4% due to additional 29,168 MW power generation capacity in the last one and a half year.

Highlighting its achievements in the coal, power and new & renewable energy sectors, the government said the country witnessed the highest-ever generation capacity addition of 29,168 MW during this period. More than three crore energy-efficient LED bulbs have been also been distributed till now, it added.

Earlier in May, the government had said that 22,566 MW of power generation capacity was added since the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government came into power. Moreover, Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal had then said the deficit dipped to an all-time low of 3.6%. According to the latest update on the website of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy there has been highest-ever increase in transmission line capacity of 37,821 circuit km.

Solar power tariff also touched the lowest-ever at Rs 4.63 per unit. Moreover, dispatch from Coal India mines grew at 9.9% during the April-October period this year. "First time ever, exceeded renewable capacity addition targets in solar, wind and small hydro etc," it added.

The government has set the target of raising renewable energy capacity by more than five times to 175,000 MW by 2022. Of the total 1,75,000 MW, solar power will have a lion's share of 1,00,000 MW followed by 60,000 MW from wind energy, 10,000 MW biomass energy and 5,000 MW of small hydro projects.