New Delhi: With more people switching to induction cookers due to shortage of LPG, India’s peak power demand is expected to rise by up to 27 GW, an official said on Friday.
This is significant as India’s peak power demand is expected to reach a record 271 GW this summer. Mint had earlier reported that the state-run EESL is considering revamping the National Efficient Cooking Program to encourage the use of induction cookers.
Krushna Chandra Panigrahy, director general of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), noted on Friday that the shift towards induction cooking has already begun and will create “another layer of demand” during the morning and evening peaks.
While usage patterns vary across India due to different “climatic zones, socio-economic conditions and cooking habits”, the impact will be most visible at the distribution level. Panigrahy estimated that depending on how widely the technology is adopted, “additional demand would be in the range of 13-27 GW using low and high induction cooking”. He added that BEE and the Ministry of Power are studying the demand scenario and proactively working to meet it.
Demand for electric stoves has soared since the outbreak of the Iran war as consumers look for alternatives to offset shortages of LPG cylinders. The prices of these hobs have increased, although not significantly. Basic models that usually stand around ₹1800 saw an increase in prices of approximately ₹100, while higher-end models saw a steeper increase, according to e-commerce data.
Briefing the media on India’s power demand and fuel stocks, Piyush Singh, additional secretary in the power ministry, said that around 10 GW of thermal power plants had postponed their maintenance programs this summer to ensure uninterrupted power supply amid the ongoing crisis.
He noted that with about 8 GW of gas-based power capacity idle due to war-induced supply shortages, delaying scheduled maintenance would help bridge the gap and meet rising demand. He added that of the 15 GW of capacity originally planned for maintenance, 10 GW will remain in operation to cover demand, while the remaining 5 GW will continue their scheduled repairs.
Power play
The ministry also plans to accelerate the addition of power generation capacity and commission a total of 22 GW, including thermal, solar, hydro, battery and pumped storage. India currently has over 531 GW of installed capacity, reflecting a well-diversified portfolio with significant contributions from coal, renewables, hydro and nuclear. Non-fossil resources make up more than 50%.
Regarding natural gas supply across sectors, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said the priority sectors, pipeline natural gas and compressed natural gas will continue at 100% of their average requirement. Based on available stocks and scheduled deliveries of LNG cargoes, the total gas allocation to fertilizer plants was further increased by 5% effective Thursday to approximately 95% of their six-month average consumption.
CGD entities have been advised to prioritize PNG connections for commercial establishments such as hotels, restaurants and canteens to address concerns regarding availability of commercial LPG, she said.
