According to government data, India’s power consumption has seen a year-on-year growth of over nine per cent, amounting to 117.84 billion units in February 2023. This robust growth in power consumption indicates the sustained momentum of economic activities in the country.
Experts had earlier predicted that power consumption and demand would significantly increase in March 2023, owing to further improvements in economic activities and a rise in temperature.
The data revealed that power consumption stood at 108.03 billion units (BU) in February 2022, which is higher than the 103.25 BU recorded in the same month of 2021. In February 2020, the electricity consumption stood at 103.81 BU.
In February 2023, the peak power demand met, which is the highest supply in a day, reached 209.66 gigawatt (GW), indicating a significant rise from 193.58 GW in February 2022 and 187.97 GW in February 2021. The peak power demand met was 176.38 GW in February 2020, before the pandemic.
Experts predict that power consumption and demand will continue to grow in the upcoming months due to higher temperature forecasts for this summer season, compared to last year.
This increase in power consumption and demand is a positive sign for India’s economy. It indicates that industrial and commercial activities are on the rise, which leads to greater employment opportunities, higher production, and increased revenue.
Moreover, this growth in power consumption and demand could have a cascading effect on other industries, such as mining, manufacturing, and construction. These sectors require large amounts of electricity to operate their machinery and equipment, and a surge in power demand could stimulate their growth as well.
However, the rise in power consumption could also have adverse effects on the environment. Power generation in India is primarily dependent on coal, which is one of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. India has been struggling to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change, and this increase in power consumption could make it even more challenging to achieve its targets.
India’s power consumption has seen a robust growth rate of over nine per cent in February 2023, indicating sustained momentum of economic activities in the country. While this growth is a positive sign for India’s economy, it could have adverse effects on the environment if not managed sustainably. It is crucial to find a balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability to ensure a better future for the country.
