India boosts coal use to stop power outages as hydroelectricity output falls
Live MintWith an aim to stop outages caused by lower hydroelectricity output, India has stepped up the use of coal to generate electricity as an increase in renewables is struggling to keep pace with record power demand, according to Reuters reports. Hence, the driest August has resulted in power generation surging to a record 162.7 billion kilowatt hours, a Reuters analysis of data from the federal grid operator Grid India showed. has further aggravated the situation.” India's peak demand - the maximum capacity required during any time of the day - rose to a record 243.9 gigawatts on Aug. 31, the Grid India data showed, exceeding available capacity by 7.3 GW, as per Reuters reports. Coal's share in output rose to 74.2% in the eight months that ended in August, the Grid India data showed, compared with 72.9% in the same period last year and on track for a third consecutive annual increase.