Southern India faces power shortages amid low wind energy production

Southern Indian states Tamil Nadu and Kerala are managing electricity shortages driven by a significant drop in wind power production and high consumer demand due to rising temperatures.

In Tamil Nadu, Electricity Minister Nirmal Kumar stated that the government has procured sufficient power to prevent outages, including 2,500 MW last week and 1,500 MW on Tuesday. He clarified that recent power cuts in certain areas were due to transmission and distribution issues rather than a lack of supply. The state is also working toward long-term power purchase agreements to stabilize costs.

Kerala faces a more critical situation, with the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) reporting shortages of up to 800 MW. Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph noted that the state is exploring all options, including potentially purchasing power from the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), though such a move would require Cabinet approval and impose a financial burden. KSEB is also seeking assistance from northern states and exploring power availability from the central grid as temperatures potentially drop in North India.