Hydro power generation in state is shockingly low

Chittaranjan Tembhekar I TNN
 

Mumbai: Is the threat of long hours of loadshedding looming large on Maharashtra even during the monsoons?
    With the generation of hydro power and gas-based power dwindling and no substantial increase in generation from renewable energy resources like biomass and sugarcane cogeneration plants, the situation is turning out to be grim. The only exception is wind energy which shows a growing proportion, an increase of about 40%.
    During the monsoon, most power plants undergo overhaul anticipating good rainfall and less power demand. In case of sudden increase in power demand during this time, the renewable energy resources take the centrestage but they have failed to meet the demand over the last two years. Last week, several areas in the state faced over an hour’s load-shedding due to the shortage.
    “This is due to the depleting generation capacity of these resources except wind power,’’ said a senior energy department official.
    As per the economic survey of the state, the generation of electricity by Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Company Ltd (Maha-Genco) through hydro power dwindled by 18.4% in 2007-08 and again went down by 15.19% in 2008-09. Their generation through natural gas also dipped by 7.4% in 2007-2008 but this year, it has gone up by 18% due to the recent commissioning of power plants at Dabhol.
    Similarly, Tata Power’s hydro power generation dipped by 30.3% in 2007-2008 and again came down by around 5% in 2008-09. Also, Tata Power’s natural gas power generation has approximately come down to 1191 million kilo watt hours (MKWH) from its 1339 MKWH in 2006-07.
    The state has signed energy purchase agreements with 24 biomass developers with a total capacity of 268 MW but till now, only 57 MW agrowaste power projects have come up. Also, there are 185 sugar factories in the state with about 1250 capacity of power generation, but only 28 projects of 228 MW capacity have been commissioned.