Understanding Tamilnadu power crisis

Reports suggest that the first reactor of the Kudankulam power plant is close to operational. With state discoms struggling, advocates of nuclear power see Kudankulam as a necessary boost to India’s struggling power sector.  The Kudankulam power plant will have two reactors.  At full capacity, the plant would produce 2 GW of energy, making it India’s largest nuclear plant, and significantly increasing India’s nuclear capacity (currently at 4.8 GW or 2.3% of  total capacity). Internationally, nuclear power plants contributed 12.3 % of the world’s electricity production in 2011.  In terms of number of nuclear reactors, India ranks 6th in the world with 20 nuclear reactors (in seven power stations across five states: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu).  The Kudankulam power station would be Tamil Nadu’s second power station after the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS).

Tamil Nadu is struggling to meet electricity demand, recently moved the Supreme Court, asking the Centre for more power. Peak demand deficit (the difference between electricity supply and demand at peak periods) in the state was 17.5% in 2011-12.  The per capita consumption of electricity in the state was 1,132 kWh in 2009-10, significantly greater than the India average of 779 kWh.  Currently, electricity in Tamil Nadu is fueled by a mixture of coal (35% of capacity), renewable sources (42%) and hydro sources (12%).  A fully operational Kudankulam reactor would boost Tamil Nadu’s capacity by 6% (including state, private and centrally owned generating entities).

The interactive table below provides a state-level breakdown of key power sector indicators.  To view data in ascending or descending order, simply click the relevant column heading.  (For a detailed overview of the power sector and even more state-wise statistics, see here.)

Power statistics in the states

State	Per capita consumption, kWh (2009-10)	Coal capacity, % of total capacity (Aug 2012)	Nuclear capacity, % of total capacity (Aug 2012)	T&D Loss, % of avl. electricity (2010-11)	Peak demand deficit, % (2011-12)
Andhra Pradesh	967	50.13	1.65	16.06	14.80
Assam	205	5.88	0.00	29.85	5.30
Bihar	122	88.59	0.00	37.00	14.40
Chhattisgarh	1,547	92.18	0.84	34.69	4.50
Delhi	1,651	61.44	1.76	NA	0.10
Gujarat	1,615	61.43	2.34	22.74	1.80
Haryana	1,222	71.61	1.44	24.39	4.20
Himachal Pradesh	1,380	3.64	0.92	14.61	7.10
Jammu & Kashmir	952	12.58	3.27	60.01	25.00
Jharkhand	880	92.75	0.00	33.46	15.70
Karnataka	903	45.37	1.89	20.10	18.90
Kerala	525	23.46	2.50	19.06	5.10
Madhya Pradesh	602	54.62	2.93	34.13	7.10
Maharashtra	1,028	59.27	2.50	22.49	22.10
Meghalaya	675	0.00	0.00	29.98	16.30
Orissa	874	65.67	0.00	NA	1.80
Punjab	1,527	45.49	2.91	17.76	16.90
Rajasthan	736	49.87	5.59	27.62	7.10
Tamil Nadu	1,132	34.94	2.96	18.00	17.50
Uttar Pradesh	348	75.08	2.45	28.86	2.30
Uttarakhand	1,112	10.99	0.87	22.53	0.70
West Bengal	550	83.66	0.00	23.54	0.90
Arunachal Pradesh	470	0.00	0.00	35.60	2.50
Goa	2,264	75.17	6.17	17.38	10.60
Manipur	240	0.00	0.00	43.33	0.90
Mizoram	377	0.00	0.00	35.36	4.90
Nagaland	218	0.00	0.00	30.77	5.40
Puducherry	1,743	81.47	6.90	13.53	4.50
Sikkim	850	35.89	0.00	42.44	5.00
Tripura	335	0.00	0.00	20.94	0.50
All India	779	56.92	2.30	23.73	10.60

Source: Central Electricity Authority; Planning Commission; PRS.

Note: capacity for states includes allocated shares in joint and central sector utilities.

T&D (transmission and distribution) losses refer to losses in electricity in the process of delivery

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