Country's installed generation capacity grows to 167.27 GW

With a laudable fresh capacity addition of around 2,442 MW of during October 2010, the installed power generation capacity of the country has shot up to 1,67,278.36 MW. The hydropower and the thermal sectors added 2,085 MW and 357 MW, respectively, to the country's generation portfolio, over the last month.

• According to a recent report released by the Central Electricity Authority, out of the total installed capacity, as of October 31, 2010, thermal power plants-- powered by coal, gas, naphtha and oil-- account for around 64.92%, while hydroelectric plants contribute 22.31%. Nuclear power plants account for 2.42%. The share of renewable power capacity is 6.44%.
• As per the report, the western region of the country has the highest installed capacity, of 51,657.57 MW, followed by the southern region, with a capacity of 45,680.18 MW, and the northern region, with 45,466.32 MW, while the north-eastern region has an installed capacity of 2,329.06 MW, which is the least of any major region of the country, constituting 1.39% of the country's aggregate. 
• Further, the installed capacity of the eastern region stands at 22,069.11 MW, while that of the island regions has been pegged at 76.12 MW.
• The grid connected captive generating capacity of the country aggregates to a total of 19,509 MW.