KOCHI: It is only the first week of February, but Kerala is reeling under a scorching sun. With meteorologists finding no possibility of rain for the next couple of weeks, Kerala is bracing for the hottest summer in a decade. Meanwhile, power consumption has started soaring, forcing the KSEB to purchase an additional 9 million units (MU) per day from the real-time market at a high rate.
The state recorded a departure of 1.5 -3 degrees Celsius in daytime temperature during the past week. The scorching sun coupled with high humidity has left Kerala sweating. On Tuesday, Kannur recorded the highest temperature of 37.9 degrees Celsius followed by Thiruvananthapuram city with 36.2 degrees Celsius.
Weather experts attributed the unusual rise in temperature to El Nino, which is at its peak. (El Nino is a climate pattern that leads to unusual warming of Ocean waters which can impact atmospheric temperature. As the warm ocean releases excess heat into the atmosphere, the temperature rises). “The temperature has been hovering above normal, but we can’t say it is an indicator of a scorching summer,” said IMD senior scientist V K Mini.
KSEB forced to buy additional power at high rate
“Thiruvananthapuram city set a record for January when the mercury touched 36.2 degrees Celsius on January 27. Minicoy in Lakshadweep set a record with 33.9 degrees Celsius on January 3, which is one degree higher than the previous record for the month,” she said
“The next couple of days could be unusually warm and the heat index will be high in the plains,” said S Abhilash, director of Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research, Cusat.
“The wind pattern induced by El Nino is unfavourable and the temperature has been soaring globally. The sea surface temperature of the southeast Arabian Sea, close to the Kerala coast, has risen by 1 to 1.5 degrees Celsius, which can be one of the reasons contributing to the hot conditions prevailing in Kerala. But we can’t say it is an indicator of a drought. According to experts, El Nino will wane by April. So there is no chance of it adversely affecting the monsoon,” he said.
Meanwhile, the scorching heat has added to the woes of KSEB. With the temperature soaring, people are using air conditioners, coolers and fans extensively, leading to a spike in power consumption.
The state’s average power consumption — which hovers around 70 to 75MU a day —has already crossed 87MU, and the KSEB is forced to purchase 9MU of power from the real-time market at a higher rate.
The situation is causing concern to the power entity as the storage in Kerala’s hydel plants is not encouraging.
To save the storage in reservoirs, the KSEB has reduced generation at hydel projects and is relying more on power imports.
On Monday, the total power consumption was 87.03 MU, while the internal generation was only 12.72 MU. The hydel power generation stood at 10.69 MU.
The state’s power consumption crossed the 100MU mark for the first time on April 13, 2023, and a record consumption of 102. 9 MU was recorded on April 19, 2023.
Power stats
Kerala’s daily power consumption
Feb 1 85.49 MU
Feb 2 86.7 MU
Feb 3 86.9 MU
Feb 4 79.9 MU
Feb 5 87.03 MU
(Normal consumption: 70-75 MU)
Storage in top reservoirs in Kerala
Idukki 56%
Sabarigiri 71%
Sholayar 74%
Idamalayar 62%
Banasurasagar 54%
Internal generation of power on Feb 5: 12.6 MU
Besides purchase through long-term agreement, Kerala is buying 9MU of power daily from real-time market at a high rate to meet peak-hour demand
Record power consumption: 102. 9 MU on April 19, 2023