The State government has set its eyes on achieving total installed capacity of about 29,000 MW in the next three years.
The State presently has installed capacity of 10,222 MW and it has prepared ambitious plans to add generation capacity of another 18,000 MW. Of the total capacity addition planned, thermal plants are expected to contribute around 7,000 MW, hydel projects (1,010 MW), solar projects (4,530 MW) and wind projects (4,000 MW). This is in addition to 1,600 MW coming from the Central generating stations by 2019.
The current peak demand, according to the power utilities, is pegged at 6,200 MW and this was expected to increase significantly to 13,500 MW by 2018-19.
The power requirement is expected to shoot up from the existing 43,000 million units to 80,000 MU during the period, according to Energy Secretary Ajay Jain.
The power utilities have therefore focussed on energy efficiency and energy conservation measures to ensure that the State achieves maximum savings in energy.
Global meet
The State government has decided to showcase the energy efficiency measures during the global energy efficiency conference scheduled to be held in Visakhapatnam from December 16 to 18. It was planned to invite investments from the industry for setting up LED manufacturing units in the State.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who reviewed the power supply situation with senior officials, wanted them to make the new capital a model by incorporating energy efficiency systems right from the planning stage. The review was taken up to mark the completion of one year since the launch of energy efficiency measures like distribution of LED lights started by the Chief Minister on the Gandhi Jayanti day last year.
LED bulbs
The power utilities since then launched an intensive drive to distribute LED bulbs to domestic consumers and replacement of streetlighting with energy efficient lights. Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, who is also chairman of the State Energy Conservation Mission, underscored the need for promoting renewable energy sources like solar and wind power to ensure uninterrupted power supply under the power for all scheme.
The Chief Minister, Mr. Krishna Rao said, was satisfied over the pace of distribution of the LED lights that was taken up in Guntur, Srikakulam, Anantapur and West Godavari districts in the first phase at a nominal price of Rs. 10 for each bulb. With the successful implementation of the energy conservation measures, the State had been selected for hosting the international conference on energy efficiency measures by the Central government.
The conference would witness participation of delegates from across the world and it would enable knowledge sharing on the best practices in energy conservation in addition to information about the latest technological trends adopted in other countries that could be replicated here.
