India’s power system faces its toughest test after sunset. Here is why several states are now asking the Centre for extra nighttime electricity.

India has added huge amounts of solar power, but the sun stops at night. There is not enough battery storage to shift daytime solar surplus into the evening, when homes switch on lights and fans.

That gap is normally filled by hydropower and coal plants. But hydropower is weak this year after an El Nino-linked rainfall shortfall. Some plants are also under maintenance. September’s shortage reached 560 million units, a three-year high.

The Centre holds 14 to 15 gigawatts it can allocate during crises. It has already sent extra power to Punjab, which saw outages of up to 14 hours a day in September.

Expect more coal burning this winter and higher coal imports. Until large batteries arrive, India’s nights will stay vulnerable.

Analysts note the monsoon rainfall deficit reached 13 per cent, directly cutting hydropower output that usually supports supply.