Master plan unveiled to ensure 24/7 power supply

Vijayawada: Energy department special chief secretary K Vijayanand said that the state government has unveiled a comprehensive energy roadmap aimed at ensuring uninterrupted 24/7 quality power supply and mitigating the impact of severe El Niño conditions.

Addressing the Andhra Pradesh Power Coordination Committee (APPCC) meeting at Vidyut Soudha in on Tuesday, Vijayanand said the State would procure 1,600 MW of new thermal power and expand battery and pumped hydro storage capacity by more than 2,000 MW to meet rising demand, bridge peak-hour deficits and reduce power procurement costs.

Under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003, the government will procure 1,600 MW of cost-competitive thermal base-load power through tariff-based competitive bidding under a Design, Build, Finance, Own and Operate (DBFOO) framework for 12 to 25 years. Developers will be required to maintain a minimum 15-day coal stock, against the existing seven-day requirement, besides furnishing performance bank guarantees to ensure timely supply. Vijayanand said APGenco had been permitted to procure imported coal through a transparent competitive bidding process to ensure uninterrupted generation during challenging weather conditions. He also directed DISCOMs to prepare a comprehensive 12-month advance power supply plan up to September 2027.

To minimise solar power spillage during daytime and meet evening peak demand, the State is deploying 1,500 MW/6,000 MWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Another 500 MW/1,000 MWh project is being taken up under the Centre’s Viability Gap Funding scheme in partnership with NHPC.

The State is also evaluating a 1,344 MW pumped hydro storage project through SECI and plans to seek APERC approval for 500 MW of short-term pumped storage services.

Vijayanand said average daily power consumption in August rose 20 per cent year-on-year to 269 million units, while peak demand touched 286 MU. September demand is expected to reach 14,150 MW. The measures, he said, would ensure uninterrupted power supply to households and industries and free power to the agriculture sector while strengthening the State’s grid against extreme weather conditions.

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