Heatwaves, Low Coal Stocks, And Delayed Payments Lead To Power Outages.

Why in news?

• Over the past week, the total electricity shortage in India hit 623 million units (MU).

Reasons for power shortages

• Heatwave conditions have increased the demand for energy intensive cooling infrastructure.
• States are reluctant to purchase power from the open market due to high rates and competition among states.
• Thermal plants usually face coal shortages during monsoon, however now, coal shortage started early due to lesser coal supply and shortage of wagons for ferrying coal to plants.
• Due to Russia-Ukraine Crisis, the global coal prices increased by 250% over the last few months.

Power generation via coal

• About 70% of India’s power demand is met by coal-fired power plants.
• India is the world’s 2nd largest coal producer, with the world’s 5th largest reserves as on 2020.

Classification of coal

• Anthracite (best quality): Carries 80 to 95 per cent carbon content, found in small quantity in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Bituminous: Carries 60 to 80 per cent of carbon content and a low level of moisture content. Found in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
• Lignite– It carries 40 to 55 percent carbon content. Found in Rajasthan, Lakhimpur(Assam) and Tamil Nadu.