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New Delhi: The upcoming El Niño will be a double whammy for India, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). India is likely to witness an increase in power demand due to the warmer temperatures associated with the weather phenomenon, and a decrease in rainfall and winds could cause a dip in wind and hydro power generation in the country.

Using model simulations, researchers at CREA analysed the impact of the predicted transition from the La Niña (a period of cooler temperatures and more rainfall that was in effect over India for a while) to the El Niño (a period usually associated with hotter temperatures and lesser rainfall) on the power sector in 110 countries from July 2026 to June 2027.

India’s two challenges

Per the analysis, the transition from La Nina to El Nino in 2026-27 will push up fossil fuel consumption across 110 countries, with the increased fossil fuel demand totalling approximately 80 terawatt-hours (TWh) from July 2026 to June 2027. 

India........

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