Grid-India NLDC: All-India peak demand hits 247,403 MW on May 15; coal dominates at 69% of generation; India exports 27.30 MU to Nepal and Bangladesh
India’s national grid recorded another high-demand operating day on May 15, 2026.
Grid Controller of India’s National Load Despatch Centre reported all-India maximum demand met at 247,403 MW.
The peak was recorded at 15:30 hours.
Total energy met across the five regional grids stood at 5,423 MU.
This confirms sustained pre-monsoon demand pressure across the country.
Regional demand
The Western Region recorded the highest maximum demand.
Its demand stood at 78,570 MW.
The Northern Region followed with 76,863 MW.
The Southern Region recorded 66,084 MW.
The Eastern Region reached 30,037 MW.
The North-Eastern Region stood at 3,279 MW.
Evening peak
During the evening peak period, the Northern Region served 73,813 MW.
The Western Region served 72,822 MW.
The Southern Region served 55,985 MW.
The Eastern Region served 28,207 MW.
The North-Eastern Region served 3,192 MW.
This shows that both northern and western systems were under high evening demand pressure.
Coal generation
Coal-based thermal power remained the backbone of the grid.
Coal generation stood at around 4,063 MU.
This represented nearly 69% of total gross generation of 5,897 MU.
The data shows that even with rising renewable energy penetration, coal continues to carry most of India’s daily energy requirement.
Renewable contribution
Renewables also made a meaningful contribution.
Solar generation stood at 633 MU.
Wind generation stood at 315 MU.
Together, solar and wind contributed around 948 MU.
This represented about 16.76% of total gross generation.
The figure is lower than midday VRE penetration because it is measured over the full day.
Hydro generation
Hydro generation contributed 459 MU.
The Northern Region accounted for 224 MU of this hydro output.
Hydro remains important during high-demand periods.
It provides flexibility and supports ramping when solar generation declines in the evening.
This makes hydro a key balancing resource alongside coal and renewables.
Grid frequency
Frequency management remained relatively controlled.
The all-India Frequency Variability Index stood at 0.053.
The grid remained outside the IEGC band of 49.9 Hz to 50.05 Hz for 31.08% of the day.
This indicates that despite demand being met, system balancing pressure remained visible.
Cross-border trade
India remained a net power exporter on May 15.
The country exported 27.30 MU to Nepal and Bangladesh.
It imported 9.62 MU from Bhutan.
This reflects India’s role as a regional power trading hub.
Cross-border electricity trade continues to strengthen South Asian grid cooperation.
Shortage position
The Northern Region faced a minor aggregate peak shortage.
The shortage stood at 255 MW.
Energy shortage stood at 1.60 MU.
Punjab accounted for 0.97 MU of the shortfall.
Overall, the national system still delivered a strong supply performance under intense demand conditions.
Strategic message
NLDC’s May 15 data shows India operating close to the 2.50 lakh MW demand level.
Coal remained dominant at 69% of generation.
Renewables contributed meaningfully but still required support from coal and hydro for full-day reliability.
As summer demand moves toward future 3 lakh MW levels, India will need more generation, storage, flexible resources, transmission capacity, and real-time balancing capability.
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