CEA working on 13th electricity plan

Kolkata, Aug 21 (PTI) Central Electricity Authority (CEA)is working on the 13th National Electricity Plan and the draftis expected in a month. "We are working on 13th national electricity plan forfive years and perspective plan for the next five years," CEAchairman S D Dubey said. The plan will try to gauge power demand in the country andhighlight policy enablers to achieve the same. "Earlier, the plan used to demand that projections bemade state-wise. But this time, we are undertaking demand atdiscom level," Dubey said. CEA will map some 78 distribution companies of the countryin the process. The 12th plan (2012-17) had estimated a capacity additionof about 76,000 MW to meet the demand projections of thecountry, of which 63,000 MW would be coal based. Inter-regional transmission capacity of 37,800 MW wasprojected during the period. With rise in renewables, mainly in solar generation, andwith impetus from government, an installed capacity of 100GWof solar was expected by one to two years from 19,000 MW in2015-16. In the wake of high renewable generations in the country,new standards in power sector are also being worked out by theauthority. "We are working on standards on construction, operationand maintenance of power equipment for renewable electricitysystems for grid stability," Dubey said. Stakeholders’ feedback is received and after modificationsnew standards will be revealed shortly. In the 12th plan, 40 per cent of power projects were supercritical which will increase in the years to come, heindicated. PTI BSM KKANU