Power plant O&M: Key consideration

Abstract

The Indian Power Industry is one of the largest and most important industries in India as it fulfills the energy requirements of various other industries. It is one of the most critical components of infrastructure that affects economic growth and the well-being of our nation. India has the world’s 5th largest electricity generation capacity and it is the 6th largest energy consumer accounting for 3.4% of global energy consumption. Due to the fast-paced growth of the Indian economy, the country’s energy demand has grown at an average of 3.6% p.a. over the past 30 years. In India, power is generated by State utilities, Central utilities and Private players. The Indian power market is evolving rapidly from a “nascent/ opening” market phase to a “developing” phase. The power demand in the base case is expected to grow at a steady 7.5%-8% CAGR till 2017. Further, the low “power penetration” levels indicate large latent/unmet demand. The power markets will have to achieve consistent high growth rates to bring our per capita consumption to comparable levels of some of the other developing countries like China and Brazil. The private sector in India is developing itself significantly in the power industry. Presently around 22% of the total power generated is contributed by the private players. This figure is going to increase significantly in the near future