This week India's grid faced its most severe heatwave test of the decade. Peak demand hit 224 GW on Thursday — and the grid held, though frequency dipped below 49.8 Hz twice.
| Metric | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Peak demand | 224.1 GW | ↑ 4.8% WoW |
| Total generation | 3,584 MU | ↑ 2.1% WoW |
| Renewable share | 31.8% | ↓ 0.4pp |
| Avg frequency | 49.86 Hz | Within norm |
An intense heat dome over the Indo-Gangetic plain pushed temperatures past 45°C across UP, Bihar, and Delhi NCR on Thursday, driving cooling loads to record levels. Northern region alone contributed 89 GW of the national peak — 39% of all-India demand from a single region.
Thermal PLF across NTPC stations averaged 84.3% through peak hours — among the highest readings of the year. Solar contributed 68 GW at noon on Wednesday before demand surged past its coverage capacity by 3pm.
IMD forecasts continued above-normal temperatures across North and Central India through May 25. If numbers hold into next week, we could see another all-time peak. The monsoon onset over Kerala — currently forecast for June 1 — is the key relief valve to watch.
Data covers May 12–18, 2025. All figures from POSOCO daily reports and CEA generation summaries.