India Hits Record Power Output Amid Severe Heatwave Surge

India’s power system has recorded its highest-ever electricity generation as an intense heatwave pushes demand across large parts of the country, according to the Ministry of Power.

The ministry said Thursday marked the fourth consecutive day that peak electricity demand during solar hours reached a new all-time high, reflecting sustained pressure on the national grid.

At 3:45 pm on Thursday, when temperatures in New Delhi hit 45.3°C, peak power demand reached 270.82 gigawatts and was successfully met, the ministry said. This surpassed Wednesday’s previous record of 265.44 GW.

Officials attributed the sharp rise in demand mainly to increased use of cooling appliances such as air conditioners and fans during extreme heat conditions.

India’s power mix showed heavy reliance on thermal generation, primarily coal, which accounted for 62% of output. Solar energy contributed 22%, while wind and hydropower each made up 5%, with other sources covering the remainder.

Despite record generation levels, reports from some regions indicated occasional power cuts, highlighting the strain on local distribution networks. Experts say ageing infrastructure, including transformers and wiring, can struggle under extreme heat, leading to localized outages.

The country, home to over 1.4 billion people, regularly experiences heatwaves between April and June, but recent years have seen more intense and prolonged hot spells.

Meteorological data showed temperatures remained extreme across several regions, with Banda in Uttar Pradesh recording a high of 47.6°C on Thursday. Earlier in the week, some areas had approached 48°C.

The highest temperature ever officially recorded in India remains 51°C in Phalodi, Rajasthan, in 2016.

Scientists link the increasing severity of heatwaves in South Asia to climate change, noting that rising global temperatures are making extreme heat events more frequent and intense.

India, the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2070, though coal remains a dominant part of its energy system.

Recent monitoring has also shown the growing geographic spread of extreme heat, with large parts of India frequently ranking among the hottest regions globally during peak summer months.