Srinagar, Mar 30 (KNO): The government Monday said that it has managed a peak load of over 1600 Megawatts (MWs) in Jammu division during the previous summers and 2035 MWs in Kashmir division in the current winter.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the government informed the Legislative Assembly that the hydro power generation during the winters plummets due to the less water discharge in the rivers.
“UT of J&K being hydro rich state is surplus in power during summers as hydro generation is at its peak but during winters the hydro generation plummets due to lesser water discharge in rivers owing to onset of winter season,” the in-charge Minister of Power Development Department (PDD) informed the house.
The house was further informed that during the previous summer season, the transmission system successfully handled a peak load of more than 1600 MW in Jammu division and the peak load of 2035 MW in Kashmir division in the current winter.
PDD said that meeting that much of load successfully is demonstrating the adequate capacity and operational headroom within the existing infrastructure, supported by local generation, indicating there in the realistic load-handling capability of the system under prevailing conditions.
It also said that the present transmission system is capable of meeting the current demand levels of the UT of J&K with sufficient operational margins, besides accommodating local generation support.
“In addition to imported power, the system is supported by local hydroelectric generation, which together contribute an average of approximately 90-100 MW during peak summer hours in Jammu region & local hydro generation from LJHP, USHP-I and USHP-II, which collectively contribute an average of approximately 70 MW during peak winter hours in Kashmir region,” the government said.
The government also informed the house that in order to cater the load growth and enhance system reliability and redundancy, augmentation works have already been taken up for four key grid substations:
“These augmentations are aimed at increasing transformation capacity, improving voltage profile, and ensuring reliable power supply to meet the projected demand of UT of J&K in the coming years,” the government said—(KNO)