India has improved electricity supply reliability in early 2024 compared to previous years. Increased coal output and a substantial expansion of renewable energy have alleviated pressure on fuel inventories, Reuters reported.

After a weak monsoon capping hydropower generation in 2023, coal inventories reached critically low levels in October but recovered strongly in November, December, and January with record coal volumes mined and dispatched to power plants.

Generators have stored 38 million tonnes of coal on-site, up from 33 million tonnes in 2023 and 25 million tonnes in 2022, according to data from the Central Electricity Authority cited by Reuters on January 31.

These stocks could cover nearly 14 days of minimum requirements, up from 12 days in 2023 and nine days in 2022.

The improvement is attributed to efforts to boost coal production, prioritize coal deliveries on the railway network, and dispatch more coal to power producers.

In addition, India has expanded its renewable energy capacity, saving significant quantities of fuel.

Since the end of 2018, the country has added 79 GW of generating capacity, with renewables contributing 60 GW and coal-fired capacity adding only 10 GW.

Solar capacity has surged by 48 GW, while wind capacity has grown by 10 GW.

While solar and wind generation are intermittent, they have helped ease certain pressure on coal-fired generators, allowing for stock building and reducing the risk of fuel shortages and blackouts.

(Writing by Riley Liang  Editing by Rebecca Liu)
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