Gujarat’s Power Crisis: More Electricity Promised, but Major Supply Boost Years Away
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Gujarat is looking to future power allocations and new projects to meet its growing electricity demand, but several major additions to the state's supply are still years away, even as industrial units face power cuts amid record demand.
The state recorded a peak electricity demand of 29,822 MW on October 16, 2026, surpassing its peak summer demand. Daily consumption reached 586 million units during this period.
The surge has put pressure on the power grid, with rotational power cuts and operational slowdowns reported in industrial belts such as Sanand and Dahej. While the state government has outlined measures to secure additional electricity, some of its major plans will take several years to translate into available supply.
Major power allocations expected only from 2028-29
The state government has said more than 1,300 MW from central thermal generating stations and over 1,200 MW from central hydro stations have been allocated to Gujarat. However, these allocations are expected to become available in phases from 2028-29.
The state has also asked the Centre to allocate more than 5,000 MW of additional electricity from central thermal generating stations, keeping its projected power requirements for 2031-32 in mind. This is a request, not a confirmed allocation.
For now, Gujarat is seeking to manage the immediate supply pressure through additional coal supplies and electricity procurement. The government said the Centre had assured the state of 10 to 11 railway rakes of coal daily until November, increasing to 13 to 14 rakes a day from November.
New projects will take years to deliver power
Gujarat's longer-term plans include several projects whose electricity will not be available immediately.
- 4,000 MW under the SHAKTI scheme: GUVNL is expected to issue a tender, with electricity projected to become available from 2030-31.
- 4,200 MW nuclear power project: Gujarat has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. The first unit is expected to become operational in 2032.
- 800 MW thermal plant at Ukai: The plant is under construction and is expected to begin generating electricity in September 2029.
- New thermal projects: Plans for projects at Sinor, Wanakbori and Gandhinagar are at the stage of land acquisition and obtaining in-principle approvals.
These projects form part of the state's longer-term plan to expand electricity availability. Their proposed timelines, however, mean they will not resolve the current demand-supply pressure.
Battery storage planned to meet evening demand
The government is also expanding battery energy storage systems to store daytime solar power for use during evening peak hours, when solar generation falls to zero and wind generation remains variable.
According to the state release, Gujarat currently has 192 MW of battery energy storage capacity operational. Contracts have been completed for projects with a combined capacity of 2,742 MW and 5,517 MWh.
A 500 MW / 1,000 MWh system is expected to become operational by March 2027, while the tender process for another 1,000 MW / 4,000 MWh project is under way.
Industries face the immediate pressure
The long-term plans come as Gujarat grapples with unusually high electricity demand. The earlier report attributed the pressure to high temperatures, deficient rainfall and increased agricultural pumping, while noting that industrial units in Sanand and Dahej were facing rotational power cuts and operational slowdowns.
The state government has said it is taking steps to maintain electricity supply to farmers, industries and households, including securing coal and making better use of available solar power.
But the larger additions to supply remain tied to future allocations and projects. With central thermal and hydro power expected only from 2028-29, and other projects scheduled for 2029 onwards, Gujarat's immediate challenge remains managing demand with the electricity currently available while waiting for the promised capacity to come online.
