Why in the News
- Central Electricity Authority released midterm review of 20th Electric Power Survey (EPS).
About Central Electricity Authority:
- The Central Electricity Authority of India advises the government on policy matters and formulates plans for the development of electricity systems.
- It is a statutory organisation constituted under section 3 of Electricity Supply Act 1948, which has been superseded by section 70 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
Demand & Growth
- Peak demand: 459 GW (2035-36)
- Electricity need: 3,365 BU
- Growth: ~5.6–6.4% CAGR
Capacity Expansion
- From ~520 GW (2026) → 1,121 GW (2035-36)
Energy Mix:
- Solar: 509 GW (45%)
- Coal: 315 GW (28%)
- Wind: 155 GW (14%)
- Hydro: 77 GW
- Others: small share
- Non-fossil capacity ~70%
Key Insight
- Solar leads in capacity
- Coal dominates generation (51%) → ensures baseload power
Energy Storage Need
- 174 GW / 888 GWh
- BESS: 80 GW
- Pumped storage: 94 GW
- Critical for renewable integration + grid stability
- Investment: ~$2.2 trillion required
Challenges
- Import dependence: 75–80% lithium-ion cells
- Critical minerals vulnerability: Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel
| [2024] Recently, the term “pumped-storage hydropower” is actually and appropriately discussed in the context of which one of the following? (a) Irrigation of terraced crop fields (b) Lift irrigation of cereal crops (c) Long duration energy storage (d) Rainwater harvesting system |
