Lok Sabha Question No. 815 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Power Supply in Lakshadweep
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Shri Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.815 ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025

## POWER SUPPLY IN LAKSHADWEEP

815.   SHRI MUHAMMED HAMDULLAH SAYEED:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the power supply in the Union Territory of  Lakshadweep  is  entirely  dependent  on  Diesel  Generator  (DG)  sets  without  any backup systems in place and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to provide additional DG sets on all islands to prevent prolonged power outages and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there is any proposal to appoint specialist technicians on ad-hoc or permanent basis to address technical failures in DG sets and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  steps  taken  or  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure uninterrupted  power  supply  in  all  inhabited  islands  of  the  Union  Territory  of Lakshadweep?

## A N S W E R

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

- (a) :   The primary source of power supply in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep is diesel generator (DG) sets, with a total installed capacity of 33.88 MVA to meet the peak demand of 13.3 MW for the year 2024-25. In addition to diesel-based generation, the Lakshadweep Electricity Department is also harnessing solar energy through the following systems:
1. A 1400 kWp Solar PV Plant with a 1400 kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Kavaratti.
2. A 300 kWp Solar PV Plant at Agatti Island.
3. An aggregate of 1603 kWp solar capacity from 538 rooftop solar systems is installed and commissioned across the islands.
- (b) :   The Lakshadweep Electricity Department continually assesses the demand and augments  generation  capacity  accordingly.  The  Details  of  commissioned,  under installation and proposed DG set during 2025-2026 are given below.

## A -Commissioned:

- 1 1 x 1010 kVA at Agatti.
- 2 2 x 1010 kVA at Andrott
- 3 1 x 750 kVA at Chetlat
- B - Currently Under Installation:
- 1 1 x 1010 kVA at Minicoy
- 2 1 x 1010 kVA at Amini
- 3 1 x 1010 kVA at Kiltan
- 4 1 x 1500 kVA at Kavaratti

- C - Proposed for 2025-26 (Tendered):
- 1 1 x 1010 kVA at Kiltan
- 2 1 x 1010 kVA at Kalpeni
- 3 1 x 1010 kVA at Agatti
- 4 1 x 320 kVA at Bitra
- 5 1 x 1500 kVA at Kavaratti

The  additional  diesel  generator  sets  are  available  on  all  islands  to  ensure operational  efficiency,  reliability,  and  backup  during  emergencies.  Further,  this additional DG capacity is utilized during operations and maintenance (O&M) activities and in the event of any DG set failure, thereby maintaining an uninterrupted power supply.

- (c) :    The electricity department of UT of Lakshadweep has arrangements in place for  the  repair  and  overhauling  of  DG  sets  through  qualified  service  personnel.  In addition, a dedicated team of departmental technical staff is available on each island. As  and  when  required,  specialist  technicians  are  engaged  on  a  short-term  or assignment  basis  to  attend  to  specific  faults  or  major  repairs,  ensuring  minimal disruption to the power supply.
- (d) :  To ensure uninterrupted power supply across all inhabited islands of the UT of Lakshadweep, following steps have been taken:

## A. Solar Power Plants (Ground Based):-

1. A 1400 kWp Solar PV Plant with 1400 kWh Battery Energy Storage System I (BESS) has been commissioned at Kavaratti.
2. A 300 kWp Solar PV Plant has been commissioned at Agatti Island.
3. Work has been awarded for the installation of a 638 kWp ground-mounted Solar PV Plant with 25 kWh BESS at Andrott.
4. Work has been awarded for the installation of a 314 kWp ground-mounted Solar PV Plant with 12 kWh BESS at Amini.

## B. Rooftop Solar Installations:

1. A total of 538 rooftop solar systems with an aggregate capacity of 1603 kWp have been  installed  and  commissioned  on  private  residential  buildings  across  the islands.
2. Rooftop  solar  installations  on  Government  buildings  are  also  being  taken  up separately.  A  tender  has  already  been  floated  for  the  installation  of  2107  kWp capacity with 5525 kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to achieve this objective.

## C. Floating Solar Plant:

1. Tenders have been floated for setting up a 6 MWp Floating Solar Power Plant with 16 MWh BESS at Kavaratti.
2. Tenders have been floated for setting up a 5.25 MWp Floating Solar Power Plant with 16 MWh BESS at Agatti Island.
3. Feasibility studies have been completed, and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)  studies  are  ongoing  for  similar  floating  solar  installations  at  Minicoy, Kadmat, Kiltan, and Chetlat Islands.

This hybrid approach combining diesel and renewable sources, supported by energy  storage  systems,  is  aimed  at  ensuring  energy  security,  reliability  and sustainability in the long run.

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