The Hindu : New Delhi News : Demand for inverters, batteries up by 30%

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Monday, Apr 27, 2009
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Demand for inverters, batteries up by 30%

Staff Reporter

Further widening of gap between power availability and demand likely

NEW DELHI: The sudden rise in temperature has boosted the demand for inverters, their batteries and generator sets by about 30 to 35 per cent in Delhi and the National Capital Region this summer as there has been virtually no winter rains, according to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India.

ASSOCHAM said there would be a further widening of gap between power availability and demand as power cuts are likely to go up in May-June on account of its restricted supplies.

“It will adversely impact industrial and residential areas, hospitals, schools and shopping centres, forcing them to install inverters, generator sets within their premises to cope with rising temperatures. It will also fuel a rise in demand for inverters, their batteries and generators between 30 to 35 per cent in Delhi and NCR as their sale has grown by nearly 20 to 22 per cent in April,” it said in a statement.

Pointing out that during the last summer the peak power demand in the NCR was about 4,600 MW as against its demand of over 5,500 MW, ASSOCHAM said: “Since hardly any capacity addition has come up in the region in the past couple of months, the peak demand might grow to over 6,400 this summer. Naturally, the power shortage will be met through installation of inverters and generators in the region. The demand will rise by 30 to 35 per cent as the purchasing power of the common man has gone up considerably.” Informing that the generator market size in the NCR was to the extent of less than Rs.5,000 crore during last summer, the statement said most of it was in the industrial, shopping centres and agriculture segment and partly in residential complexes. “The market size for generator is expected to grow at least by over Rs.1,200 crore in the region in view of their rising demand.”

Shedding light on the air-condition segment, ASSOCHAM said the domestic air-conditioner segment has been growing at 20 per cent annually and will rise to 25 per cent. “Split air-conditioner units currently comprise about 60 per cent of the market base. The Indian residential market for air-conditioners is put at 12 lakh units per year. While the domestic AC market is estimated at Rs.3,200 crore, Delhi has Rs.400 crore share.”

Expressing concern over the overload of power infrastructure in Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad, it said this had resulted in gutting down of over 1,000 transformers in the past two years. “Production in industries has come down heavily due to lack of power supply and has had a negative impact on the industrial growth of region. Gurgaon is also facing acute power shortage and its posh areas like the DLF, Sushant Lok, South City, Palam Vihar are also badly affected.” According to ASSOCHAM, South Delhi will witness the maximum power cuts due to high density population and unplanned number of offices and shops, followed by East Delhi areas.

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