Recipe for power grid failure (Serves one big country)
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Manu Sharma
Aug 1, 2012, 12:50:37 AM8/1/12
to Green-India, India Environmental Journalists
Dear members,
We had the world's biggest grid failure yesterday apparently due to a number of states overdrawing power allocated to them. Not surprising after a summer that broke all records in power cuts at least in North India. At one time, here in Gurgaon, we had 18-hour long power cuts a day which led people to get out on the streets in protest leading to a riot-like situation.
While the media, clueless as always, focuses on the symptom -- indiscipline of certain states in overdrawing power -- the root cause lies elsewhere.
Three major factors are at play here:
- India's rising electricity demand
- Coal supply constraints
- A crippling and inefficient grid
The states are overdrawing because of rising consumer demand; the grid cannot meet that demand because coal India is unable to increase production and because imported coal has gotten expensive, in part due to rising oil prices which have increased in part due to rising demand from India and China. Finally, out of whatever electricity is being produced we lose between a quarter and a third in transmission and distribution losses due to our crippling and inefficient grid.
Combine these three ingredients, shake thoroughly and you'll get increasing power cuts and grid failures.
Thanks,
Manu
PS: Interesting article in TOI today on how Gujarat fixed its grid by separating agricultural and domestic supply. This halved its T&D loss from 35% five years ago to about 17% today.
_______________
Manu Sharma
Climate Revolution Initiative
Manu Sharma
Aug 1, 2012, 1:36:52 AM8/1/12
to Green-India, India Environmental Journalists
Some links:
Economist Article: Future is Black (Jan'12)
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subbu prashant
Aug 1, 2012, 3:13:06 AM8/1/12
to green...@googlegroups.com, India Environmental Journalists
Dear all,
Power has become one of the most important ingredients for human
sustainance. Now we can infact frame the basic necessities as 'Roti,
Kapada, Makhan aur Bijli'. Moreover, power sector is one of the most
dynamic sectors and it needs to be governed in a most dynamic fashion.
Today, there are 5 Ministries at the central level which directly or
indirectly govern the power sector. Looking, at some of the past trend
in the investment patterns one can say with no doubt that Indian Power
Sector has no vision for itself and it is based purely on the whims
and fancies of the ministries. A simple example is that of the
Integrated Policy Report released in 2006, says that if the current
level of power generation using coal continues then India will run out
of the domestic coal in another 70 to 80 years. Here the point of
contention is not the years of availability of coal but the policy of
the government that they still go for coal based plants. India
certainly cannot avoid the usage of fossil fuels but can always reduce
the same with proper planning and integrated approach.
This is just the supply side of it, but the other half of demand is
much dark and cruel. It probably needs a decentralised system and not
centralised system to govern.
Probably members can throw light on these issues which are as vast and
long as the transmission and distribution lines.
Thank you
Regards
S Subramanian
On 8/1/12, Manu Sharma <orang...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear members,
>
> We had the world's biggest grid failure yesterday apparently due to a
> number of states overdrawing power allocated to them. Not surprising after
> a summer that broke all records in power cuts at least in North India. At
> one time, here in Gurgaon, we had 18-hour long power cuts a day which led
> people to get out on the streets in protest leading to a riot-like
> situation.
>
> Green-India members may recall that back in February we had discussion on
> coal supply constrains based on an article in The Economist. It was
> evident, as I said at that time, that the power supply situation will get
> worse, perhaps much worse before it gets any better. It didn't take long.
>
> While the media, clueless as always, focuses on the symptom -- indiscipline
> of certain states in overdrawing power -- the root cause lies elsewhere.
>
> Three major factors are at play here:
>
> - India's rising electricity demand
> - Coal supply constraints
> - A crippling and inefficient grid
> You received this message because you are subscribed to Green-India
> to discuss India's Energy Future and Sustainable Living.
>
> Green-India
> http://green-india.in
>
> Rules & Disclaimer (Important)
> http://goo.gl/Te9d2
>
> To unsubscribe, send email to
> green-india...@googlegroups.com
>
--
S Subramanian
Research Associate
Institute for Social and Economic Change
Nagarabhavi
Bangalore 560072
Phone: +91 9916357384
E Mail: prasha...@gmail.com, prasha...@isec.ac.in
Power has become one of the most important ingredients for human
sustainance. Now we can infact frame the basic necessities as 'Roti,
Kapada, Makhan aur Bijli'. Moreover, power sector is one of the most
dynamic sectors and it needs to be governed in a most dynamic fashion.
Today, there are 5 Ministries at the central level which directly or
indirectly govern the power sector. Looking, at some of the past trend
in the investment patterns one can say with no doubt that Indian Power
Sector has no vision for itself and it is based purely on the whims
and fancies of the ministries. A simple example is that of the
Integrated Policy Report released in 2006, says that if the current
level of power generation using coal continues then India will run out
of the domestic coal in another 70 to 80 years. Here the point of
contention is not the years of availability of coal but the policy of
the government that they still go for coal based plants. India
certainly cannot avoid the usage of fossil fuels but can always reduce
the same with proper planning and integrated approach.
This is just the supply side of it, but the other half of demand is
much dark and cruel. It probably needs a decentralised system and not
centralised system to govern.
Probably members can throw light on these issues which are as vast and
long as the transmission and distribution lines.
Thank you
Regards
S Subramanian
On 8/1/12, Manu Sharma <orang...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear members,
>
> We had the world's biggest grid failure yesterday apparently due to a
> number of states overdrawing power allocated to them. Not surprising after
> a summer that broke all records in power cuts at least in North India. At
> one time, here in Gurgaon, we had 18-hour long power cuts a day which led
> people to get out on the streets in protest leading to a riot-like
> situation.
>
> Green-India members may recall that back in February we had discussion on
> coal supply constrains based on an article in The Economist. It was
> evident, as I said at that time, that the power supply situation will get
> worse, perhaps much worse before it gets any better. It didn't take long.
>
> While the media, clueless as always, focuses on the symptom -- indiscipline
> of certain states in overdrawing power -- the root cause lies elsewhere.
>
> Three major factors are at play here:
>
> - Coal supply constraints
> - A crippling and inefficient grid
>
>
> The states are overdrawing because of rising consumer demand; the grid
> cannot meet that demand because coal India is unable to increase production
> and because imported coal has gotten expensive, in part due to rising oil
> prices which have increased in part due to rising demand from India and
> China. Finally, out of whatever electricity is being produced we lose
> between a quarter and a third in transmission and distribution losses due
> to our crippling and inefficient grid.
>
> Combine these three ingredients, shake thoroughly and you'll get increasing
> power cuts and grid failures.
>
> Thanks,
> Manu
>
> PS: Interesting article in TOI today on how Gujarat fixed its
> grid<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Power-grid-failure-Amid-gloom-Gujarat-sets-an-example/articleshow/15299794.cms>by
>
> The states are overdrawing because of rising consumer demand; the grid
> cannot meet that demand because coal India is unable to increase production
> and because imported coal has gotten expensive, in part due to rising oil
> prices which have increased in part due to rising demand from India and
> China. Finally, out of whatever electricity is being produced we lose
> between a quarter and a third in transmission and distribution losses due
> to our crippling and inefficient grid.
>
> Combine these three ingredients, shake thoroughly and you'll get increasing
> power cuts and grid failures.
>
> Thanks,
> Manu
>
> PS: Interesting article in TOI today on how Gujarat fixed its
> separating agricultural and domestic supply. This halved its T&D loss
> from 35% five years ago to about 17% today.
> _______________
>
> Manu Sharma
> Climate Revolution Initiative
> http://climaterevolution.net
>
> --
> from 35% five years ago to about 17% today.
> _______________
>
> Manu Sharma
> Climate Revolution Initiative
> http://climaterevolution.net
>
> You received this message because you are subscribed to Green-India
> to discuss India's Energy Future and Sustainable Living.
>
> Green-India
> http://green-india.in
>
> Rules & Disclaimer (Important)
> http://goo.gl/Te9d2
>
> To unsubscribe, send email to
> green-india...@googlegroups.com
>
--
S Subramanian
Research Associate
Institute for Social and Economic Change
Nagarabhavi
Bangalore 560072
Phone: +91 9916357384
E Mail: prasha...@gmail.com, prasha...@isec.ac.in
Kiran Dwivedi
Aug 2, 2012, 3:22:59 AM8/2/12
to green...@googlegroups.com, India Environmental Journalists
This blog on the recent grid collapse posted on the India environment
portal may be of interest to members of this forum.
Two consecutive days of grid collapse has left almost half of India's
population without power. Apart from grid discipline & setting up
systems to ensure that states do not overdraw power, we will have to
change our electricity generation configuration
http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/blogs/change-power-generation-configuration-stabilise-grid
portal may be of interest to members of this forum.
Two consecutive days of grid collapse has left almost half of India's
population without power. Apart from grid discipline & setting up
systems to ensure that states do not overdraw power, we will have to
change our electricity generation configuration
http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/blogs/change-power-generation-configuration-stabilise-grid
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