We don't need more coal-based power until 2022: India

Electricity authority says peak power demand will be 20.7% lower in the coming years.

Indian government's power policy making and monitoring body Central Electricity Authority has said that there will be no need for additional coal-based power generation from 2017 to 2022.

This was revealed in the Draft National Electricity Plan 2016, which also predicts a much lower demand for power with a 20.7% drop in peak demand by 2026-2027, pegged at 317GW.

The draft pencils in an assumption of committed capacity addition from nuclear at 4,800MW, hydro at 12,000MWT, and other renewable sources at 100,000MW from 2022 to 2027.

The demand projection for coal-based capacity addition is at 44,085. However, India currently has a coal-based capacity of 50,025MW already under construction and these projects are likely to yield benefits during 2017-2022.

"This coal-based capacity would fulfil the capacity requirement for the years 2022-2027," the draft said.