Key Highlights

  • All-time high: Gujarat recorded peak electricity demand of 29,822 MW on October 16, up 36.6 per cent year-on-year.
  • Evening pressure: The toughest window is 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., when solar output drops to zero and wind remains intermittent.
  • Short-term fix: The state has arranged 2,990 MW in October, 1,740 MW in November and 1,335 MW in December through short-term procurement.
  • Storage push: 192 MW of battery storage is operational, with contracts finalised for 2,742 MW (5,517 MWh).
  • Long-term bet: An agreement with NPCIL for a 4,200 MW nuclear project has been signed, with the first unit expected in 2032.

Gandhinagar: Gujarat recorded its highest-ever electricity demand of 29,822 MW on October 16, a 36.6 per cent jump over the same period last year. The surge has pushed the state government to speed up power procurement and fast-track plans for battery storage, thermal generation and nuclear power.

Daily consumption in October rose to 574 million units, against 457 million units in October last year, an increase of around 27 per cent. According to the state Energy and Petrochemicals Department, demand in September and October is up by about 12 per cent, or 4,000 MW, compared with previous years.

What Is Driving the Spike

Energy Minister Rushikesh Patel and Minister of State Kaushik Vekariya reviewed the situation with senior officials and power companies in Gandhinagar on Saturday.

Officials pointed to three factors: continued high temperatures despite a weak monsoon, higher electricity use for agricultural irrigation, and increased industrial demand during Navratri and ahead of Diwali. Agricultural demand alone has touched a daily peak of 12,000 MW.

Supply-side pressure has added to the challenge. Lower rainfall in Gujarat and neighbouring states has cut hydropower generation, which usually peaks in October and November, while lower wind speeds have reduced wind output.

The 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Problem

The real stress point is the evening peak. Once the sun sets, solar generation falls to zero, and coal- and gas-based plants must carry the load while the State Load Dispatch Centre and distribution companies manage grid balance.

To shift load away from these hours, the government plans to schedule agricultural power supply during daylight to make the most of around 12,000 MW of solar generation.

Immediate Supply Measures

The Union Ministry of Coal has assured 10–11 railway rakes of coal daily until November and 13–14 rakes daily from November onwards for GSECL.

Gujarat will also procure 379 MW from NTPC’s Farakka plant for November and 500 MW on a long-term basis from Assam’s share of central generation. An additional 500 MW has been allocated from the unallocated share of central power.

Building for the Next Decade

On storage, a further 500 MW/1,000 MWh is expected by March 2027, and a tender for 1,000 MW/4,000 MWh is under process.

Over 1,300 MW from central thermal stations will flow in phases from 2027, and more than 1,200 MW from central hydropower stations is expected in phases from November 2026. The state has also sought over 5,000 MW from central thermal stations for 2031–32, while GUVNL will soon tender 4,000 MW under the SHAKTI scheme.

An 800 MW thermal plant at Ukai is expected by September 2029, and groundwork for new thermal projects at Sinor, Wanakbori and Gandhinagar is under way.

Why It Matters

Gujarat’s situation highlights a challenge many solar-heavy states now face: plenty of power by day, but a gap after sunset. The scale of battery storage and the planned nuclear capacity show the state is trying to solve that gap with round-the-clock sources, not just more solar.

What Comes Next

The government says current supply is adequate and expects demand to ease as the weather changes. It has urged citizens to avoid rumours, prevent wastage, shift heavy electricity use to daytime where possible and limit consumption during the evening peak.