In a recent meeting of the Southern Regional Power Committee (SRPC), state power managers raised certain issues at the North Chennai Thermal Power Station. , photo credit: b. Jothi Ramalingam
The commissioning of the 800-MW North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) Stage III has been extended from March 2023 to June 2023. The plant was to be completed by July 2019.
It was one of a total of 4,380 MW of coal power projects envisaged by the state sector between 2017 and 2022 that did not materialize, according to data provided in the draft power plan published by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). Union Ministry of Power.
Trial runs have been done at NCTPS.
In a recent meeting of the Southern Regional Power Committee (SRPC), state power managers said that some issues have been taken up, and the plant could be commissioned in June 2023.
He also pointed out that the NCTPS capacity was not considered for the availability of power during the peak demand period of the coming summer.
According to data shared at the SRPC meeting, Tamil Nadu’s power demand reached a maximum of 16,063 MW on January 10, almost 7% higher than the same period last year.
Tamil Nadu’s peak demand on Friday was 16,370 MW, according to data from the State Load Despatch Centre. Tamil Nadu witnessed an all-time high electricity demand of 17,563 MW on April 29, 2022.
According to the Tamil Nadu Energy Department’s policy note for 2022-23, the state’s peak demand is around 17,000 MW-17,500 MW. As per the data shared in the SRPC meeting, the state’s evening peak demand is expected to range from 17,600 MW to 18,300 MW by March-May 2023.
Tamil Nadu is expected to see a shortfall of 1,938 MW-2,193 MW against the availability during the evening peak demand period.
According to the 2022-23 policy note of the Department of Energy, the total installed capacity from conventional sources is 16,652.20 MW. Tangedco’s own thermal power capacity is 4,320 MW and central generating stations account for 6,972 MW.
Power managers said they planned to acquire power in the range of 1,250 MW-2,850 MW through bilateral agreements as well as purchases from power exchanges.