By ESS news
India can avoid looming energy shortages and ensure affordable electricity in the long term by leveraging its impressive performance in cheap clean energy and storage, according to a new study from the University of California’s India Energy and Climate Center (IECC).
Driven by rapid economic growth and extreme heat waves, India’s demand for electricity has increased dramatically in recent years. Peak demand has increased by 46 GW in just two years, from 204 GW in May 2022 to 250 GW in May 2024.
The IECC research shows that if this trend continues, peak electricity demand could increase by a further 50 GW to 80 GW by 2027.
The electricity grid is especially stressed during summer nights, when demand remains high but solar energy generation drops to almost zero. Despite plans to add nearly 100 GW of renewable energy generation capacity, 28 GW of thermal power and 13 GW of hydropower capacity by 2027, the IECC study expects that India will still face significant overnight power shortages of 20 GW to 40 GW, or about 8 GW. % to 12% of demand, as early as 2026.
To meet this shortfall, India needs robust energy capacity that can be deployed quickly, in addition to what is under construction. While new thermal or hydropower plants take five to eight years to build, solar and storage systems can be built in just one to two years and provide a quick and effective solution to the looming energy crisis.
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