Indian power blackout of 2012 | World's biggest power failure
Electricity Production in India: Challenges and Developments
Overview of India's Electricity Production
- India ranks third globally in electricity production, with over 400 power plants generating around 350 GW of hydroelectric power.
- A significant blackout occurred on July 31, 2012, affecting approximately 620 million people (9% of the world's population) for 48 hours due to failures in major power plants.
Impact of Blackouts
- The blackout caused widespread disruption across various sectors including schools, hospitals, and airports as many electronic devices ceased functioning.
- The interconnectedness of India's power generation units began in 1968; prior to this, localized power plants supplied electricity only to nearby areas.
Development of Power Grids
- Regional grids were established in the late 20th century (e.g., Northern Grid, Eastern Grid), leading to the formation of the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited for centralized distribution.
- By 2012, four out of five regional grids were interconnected; however, challenges remained with supply limitations between different regions.
Causes and Consequences of Blackouts
- The Northern Grid experienced a major failure due to overload conditions previously in 2001; similar issues arose again during peak demand periods when hydroelectric output was low.
- On July 30, 2018, high demand led to a critical situation where circuit breakers activated due to excessive load causing further disruptions.
Major Reforms Post Blackout
- Following these incidents, significant reforms were initiated within India's electricity supply system aimed at improving reliability and interconnectivity among grids.
- The blackouts highlighted systemic vulnerabilities and prompted discussions about enhancing infrastructure resilience and operational efficiency.