The electricity shortfall has reached 3,000 MW

[jackson6612]

In news stories about the countries suffering from energy crisis it is said that, let's say, the electricity shortfall has reached 3,000 MW while the generation is 5,000 MW and demand 8,000 MW. Watt is used for rate of energy, energy flow per unit time. Are they talking about the shortfall in average terms? Perhaps, the shortfall keeps varying, at times it is over 3,000 and sometimes below the indicated value, but when taken average it's 3,000 MW. Do I have it right? Please let me know.

 

[russ_watters]

Must be something like that because obviously a power plant can only produce what it can produce. Do you have a link to the news story you're talking about?

 

[jackson6612]

Thanks, Russ.

No, I don't have the link - I just made it up. Let me google it.

I found this: http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/may/03power.htm

According to the latest government estimates, the country will face a peak hour power shortage of 14,000-15,000 Mw in the coming months, against a demand of over 100,000 Mw, which would result in inevitable blackouts and loadshedding.

 

[Sakha]

Power plants sometimes just can't give enough juice for the peak hours, that's is usually at noon.

 

[Robot B9]

If you are talking about a power shortage in India there is a serious issue with efficiency. India, 2004 figures, wastes over 25% of their power! So its not a generation problem.

Look here:
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/ene_ele_pow_tra_and_dis_los_of_out-power-transmission-distribution-losses-output

India has one of the worst efficiency numbers.