India's Energy Surge: Record Power Demand Amid Intensifying Heatwaves

On Saturday, India's peak power demand hit a record 256.11 GW as intensifying heat waves increased cooling device usage. This surpassed the previous day's 252.07 GW. With temperatures soaring, demand nears the power ministry's 270 GW estimate, suggesting rising electricity consumption amid harsh summer forecasts by the India Meteorological Department.

On Saturday, India's power demand surged to a new peak of 256.11 GW, as the nation grappled with heatwaves compelling greater usage of cooling appliances. This new high overshadowed the prior record of 252.07 GW from just a day before.

The increase in consumption is inching towards the power ministry's forecast of 270 GW for the summer, signaling potential stress on energy resources. The India Meteorological Department warned of developing heat stress, with temperatures exceeding normal by 5 degrees Celsius or more in various regions.

Such extreme temperatures have already caused a spike in energy usage, evident in Delhi's maximum temperature reaching 42.8 degrees Celsius, the highest since 2022. Experts anticipate further demand rise as the summer intensifies.