India will postpone maintenance shutdowns at thermal power stations and activate additional capacity to guarantee approximately 10,000 MW of extra supply during peak summer demand, the Ministry of Power announced on Friday, as it aimed to enhance short-term electricity availability amidst global uncertainties.

Power plants must undergo an annual shut down for maintenance and repair of machinery wear-and-tear; however, this has been postponed to provide electricity to satisfy peak demand, stated Piyush Singh, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Power, during a media briefing.

This will contribute an additional 10,000 megawatt (MW) of generation, which will more than offset the 8,000 MW of generating capacity lost due to interruptions in liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies from the conflict in West Asia, he stated.

Additionally, coal-based power plants that rely on imports are being completely activated, and sufficient coal reserves are being upheld at thermal facilities to manage immediate supply challenges.

According to him, India's electricity infrastructure is "strong, well-diversified, and suitably equipped" to fulfill demand, noting that the nation's installed capacity has surpassed 531 gigawatts.

Non-fossil sources currently represent over 50 percent of overall capacity, backed by coal, hydro, nuclear, and renewable energy.

He stated that 22,361 megawatts of electricity generation capacity will be added over the next three months. This involves 3,500 MW of added thermal power capacity, 10,000 MW of solar, 2,400 MW of wind, 1,900 MW of battery storage, 3,461 MW of hybrid (solar and wind), 750 MW of hydro, and 250 MW of pumped storage initiatives, he noted.

The ministry stated that a robust transmission network of approximately 5 lakh circuit kilometres and more than 120 GW of inter-regional transfer capacity guarantees dependable power distribution among regions.

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In the long run, India's installed capacity is anticipated to increase to around 874 GW by 2031-32, with non-fossil sources likely surpassing 67 percent.

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The government aims to increase energy storage capacity to 300 GWh and enhance transmission infrastructure to approximately 6.5 lakh circuit kilometres, featuring 167 GW of inter-regional transfer capability.

In recent years, there have been no plans for new gas-based or imported coal-based power plants, as the emphasis has shifted to aligning existing facilities with local fuel sources.

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The ministry stated that policy measures like 10-year resource adequacy planning by states, green energy corridors, waivers for interstate transmission charges, and initiatives such as PM-KUSUM, PM Surya Ghar, and the National Green Hydrogen Mission are facilitating the transition.