Power

According to McKinsey Domestic demand of power (Electricity) will increase more rapidly as the quality of life for more Indians improve

India is the fifth largest producer of electricity in the world and according to the Planning Commission, while the State Governments account for 51.5% of the total generation capacity, the central sector and the private sector account for 33.1% and 15.4% of the generation capacity respectively. In line with the respective power generation share, while the government sector (both central and state) have contributed 85.5% of the total capacity addition of 45,295 MW during 1999-00 and 2008-09, the private sector has contributed the balance 14.5%, almost at par with its share in the total installed capacity in the country.

The electricity sector in India had an installed capacity of 207.85 Gigawatt (GW) as of September 2012, the world's fifth largest India's electricity sector is amongst the world's most active players in renewable energy utilization, especially wind energy. As of December 2011, India had an installed capacity of about 22.4 GW of renewal technologies-based electricity, exceeding the total installed electricity capacity in Austria by all technologies.

Captive power plants generate an additional 31.5 GW. Thermal power plants constitute 66% of the installed capacity, hydroelectric about 19% and rest being a combination of wind, small hydro, biomass, waste-to-electricity, and nuclear. India generated 855 BU (855 000 MU i.e. 855 TWh[2]) electricity during 2011-12 fiscal.

In terms of fuel, coal-fired plants account for 56% of India's installed electricity capacity, compared to South Africa's 92%; China's 77%; and Australia's 76%. After coal, renewal hydropower accounts for 19%, renewable energy for 12% and natural gas for about 9%.

The first demonstration of electric light in Calcutta was conducted on 24 July 1879 by P W Fleury & Co.On January 7, 1897, Kilburn & Co secured the Calcutta electric lighting licence as agents of the Indian Electric Co, which was registered in London on January 15, 1897. A month later, the company was renamed the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation.

There are both Government and highly reputed Private companies in India are generating Power (Electricity) in different states in India and providing us electricity. According to Oil and Gas Journal, India had approximately 38 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural gas reserves as of January 2011, world's 26th largest.

Different forms of Power Generation:

• Thermal power
• Nuclear Power
• Solar Power
• Wind Power
• Biomass Power
• Tidal Wave Energy
• Geothermal energy

The total manpower in the power sector at the end of 10th plan was approximately 9.5 lakhs as per the report of the Planning Commission's Working Group on Power for 11th Plan. Even in a scenario where employee productivity is projected to increase leading to decreasing Man/MW ratio, it is estimated that over five lakh technical manpower and 1.5 lakh non-technical manpower need to be inducted into the sector in the 11th and 12th plan periods. In addition to the technical manpower, tens of thousands of highly skilled managers will be required in areas such as project planning and management, project monitoring etc.