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Kerala Kaumudi Online
Wednesday, 12 February 2025 1.49 PM IST

Power crisis; Kerala seeking central assistance

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electricity-eating

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala, which rejected even smart meters by taking an anti-central stance, has finally sought the help of the Center to solve the electricity crisis.

Financial assistance is needed to complete large hydropower projects and implement pumped storage projects. Central funding should be provided to establish a battery energy storage system to avoid the situation of buying power from outside at a high cost during nighttime. Additional power is needed from central power plants. These are what Kerala has requested from the Centre.

There are strict conditions for getting more power from the central pool. Kerala's demand is to supply excess electricity from NTPC's thermal power plants and nuclear power plants at a low rate if that is not possible. The demand is for 350 MW from the Atomic Power Station in Rajasthan, an additional 220 MW from NTPC's Talcher plant and an additional 233 MW from NTPC's Barh plant till June next year. The situation is that if the centre does not act, there will be severe power shortage in summer.

6000 MW required

  • The Regulatory Commission had cancelled the long-term contract of 465 MW, which had helped receive electricity at a low rate, due to irregularities, but could not replace it with a new contract. The crisis worsened when the state's hydropower projects could not be completed and rains decreased.
  • It is reported that the consumption will increase to 6000 MW in the coming summer. The consumption had reached 5200 MW last year. The current availability is 4300 MW including contracted power, hydropower, solar generation and power from the central pool.

Tender for battery storage in Kasaragod

In view of the Viability Gap Fund allocation of Rs 135 crore by the Central Government, tenders have been invited from private firms to set up a 500 MW battery energy storage system at Milady Kasaragod. The process will be completed in February. The tender has been invited by the National Solar Energy Corporation on behalf of KSEB. It is a private enterprise. The condition is that KSEB will purchase electricity from them at a fixed rate. It will be useful from 2026 onwards.

TAGS: POWER
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