Tamil Nadu’s electricity board has invited tenders to procure 1,000 MW of power every day during the evening peak for seven months, as declining solar and wind generation increases pressure on the state’s electricity supply system.
The proposed procurement will run from November 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027. The power is to be supplied daily between 6 pm and midnight, the period when solar generation is no longer available and electricity demand remains high.
Tamil Nadu’s average daily electricity demand is around 16,000 MW, according to a report by Dinamalar. Demand rises above 20,000 MW during the summer. Although the summer season has ended, high temperatures have kept consumption elevated, creating continued pressure on the power network.
During the daytime, solar power plants supply an average of around 6,500 MW each day, helping the electricity board meet demand. However, solar generation falls after evening, when households, commercial establishments and other consumers continue to draw power. The resulting gap has become more difficult to manage following a sharp decline in wind generation.
Wind power generation had provided around 4,000 MW a day after the wind season began in May. According to the report, output has fallen to less than 1,000 MW since last week. The decline has increased the need for additional power purchases during the evening hours.
The electricity board has already entered into agreements with some companies to purchase 1,500 MW a day between the 15th of the current month and October 31. The reported price for that procurement is Rs 35 per unit. The additional purchase is intended to help the state manage the immediate supply pressure while demand and renewable generation conditions remain volatile.
Recent rainfall in several districts has reduced electricity demand and the requirement for power purchases on some days. However, the board has proceeded with the new tender to secure supply for the longer period covering the coming months and the next summer season.
The new tender specifies a daily supply window of six hours, from 6 pm to midnight, rather than round-the-clock procurement. This timing corresponds to the period after solar generation declines and before the end of the day’s peak demand cycle. The tender is therefore aimed at addressing a defined evening shortfall in the state’s power supply arrangements.
The procurement period will cover November, the remaining winter months, the transition into the next summer and the first part of the following wind season. The board’s tender process will determine the companies selected to supply the contracted 1,000 MW during the specified hours. Further details on the bidders, tariff discovered through the tender and final contracted capacity were not provided in the report.
