GUVNL Gets Nod For Short-Term Power Procurement For Winters

The Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) has now got approval for short-term procurement from conventional energy sources to counter the peak demands between September to December this year. The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) recently approved the plan of the GUVL.

GUVNL, in its petition before the GERC, told the Commission that anticipated peak demand for GUVNL and its subsidiary discoms from September-December 2023 is in the range of 16,600 MW and 22,500 MW, respectively. 

“The peak deficit of power during evening hours is anticipated up to 1777 MW for September 2023, up to 2477 MW for October 2023, up to 2496 MW for November and up to 2833 MW for the month of December 2023. The said deficit of power was worked out considering the full availability of power from imported coal-based capacity (5496 MW) and excluding the Gas capacity for other period & Hydro based capacity,” the petition said. 

GUVNL earlier floated a tender and also signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with selected thermal power producers like Tata Power, PTC India, Sembcorp Energy India, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited and Manikaran Power, among others. GUVNL claimed that as the power procurement, especially during peak hours at the power exchanges, is higher and renewable power is variable, the Gujarat government enterprise wanted a firm round-the-clock (RTC) power. 

As per the details furnished by GUVNL, the state has a power tie-up of 21,819 MW from conventional sources, which includes Gas based capacity of 2475 MW on Long Term basis and 150 MW capacity on Medium Term basis (for a period of upto October 2023). In addition, it also has around 8602 MW capacity tied up from renewable sources. 

The GERC, while approving the plan of the GUVNL in its order, said, “…It is decided to approve the above Short Term Power Purchase of Round-the-Clock (RTC) power for the period September 2023 to December 2023. Further, the Petitioner is directed that for the purpose of transparency, it shall make the bids public by indicating the tariff quoted by all the Bidders…”