Technology Options: Coal based thermal power stations

Centre for Science and Environment

Introduction

• CSE recognizes coal power would remain central to India’s power needs for several

decades. 185 GW currently; another 72 GW in pipeline based on CEA report

• Coal power stations – disproportionate share of emissions of CO2 emissions and

other pollutants

• Reducing environmental impact of coal , Allow only SC/USC plants, retiring old

capacity which is polluting and inefficient - need of the hour.

Heat on Power: CSE study

• Dec 2011- Feb 2015: CSE Green Rating Project did a study of 47 plants, covering half of the sector spread over 16 states

Report spurred wide public debate and prompted the govt. to announce several policies : a) Air Pollution, b) water conservation, c) ash utilization and d) monitoring systems (December 2016)

The Norms Earlier • Particulate Matter:

50 mg/Nm3 since 2008 150 mg/Nm3 (210 MW and more)

350 mg/Nm3 (less than 210 MW)

• Sulphur di Oxide: none

• Oxides of Nitrogen: none

• Mercury: none

• Stack height norm: to limit ambient dispersions by up to 10µg/Nm3 for particulate matter and 20-30µg/Nm3 for sulphur di oxide and oxides of nitrogen in a 50km radius of a power station.

Recently Notified • Particulate Matter: Before 2003: 100 mg/Nm3 2003-2016: 50 mg/Nm3 Over 2016: 30 mg/Nm3

• Sulphur di Oxide: Existing plants:

>500 MW: 600 mg/Nm3 <=500 MW: 200 mg/Nm3

New plants: 100 mg/Nm3

• Oxides of Nitrogen: Before 2003: 600 mg/Nm3 2003-2016: 300 mg/Nm3 Over 2016: 100 mg/Nm3

• Mercury : 0.03 mg/Nm3

Between draft and final

Water standards – tightened SOx – for post 2003 plants 600 mg/Nm3 for smaller units – loosened Still rationalization possible

Implementation of the norm: Current Status

• Very little progress: Handful of plants making attempts to meet the standards (ESP

refurbishment listed: Odisha TTPS, NTPC FSTPS, NTPC TSTPS, Korba ( KSTPS ),

Vindhyachal, Ukai TPS - GSECL, WBPDCL Bakreswar TPS, DVC CTPS – Source:

Central Electricity Authority)

• Concerted push back by industry arguing constraints in

» Space [esp. for FGD]

» Technology i.e. suitable for Indian coal (PM, NOx)

» Investment costs

• No clarity amongst policy makers’ on technology. In fact even plants seem ill-

informed [especially those owned by state govt. Where the approving authority

vests with bureaucrats]

Meeting Purpose

• Understand from Manufacturers

– Technology matrix which can be suggested and/or is appropriate under ground reality [coal quality, age/technology of plants, new standards, investment required]

– Impediments in implementing the norms – ranging from financing to manpower capacity issues

– What measures needs to be taken to push the implementation

– Do we need to fine-tune the standards further?

Control of Particulate Matter

Centre for Science and Environment

Indian fleet: Particulate Emissions

Emissions in mg/Nm3

Capacity in MW prior 2003 post 2003

0-50 98,548 3,147 95,401

50-100 27,335 14,880 12,455

100-150 34,173 28,953 5,720

150-250 9,553 7,133 2,420

250-500 8,398 8,398 -

500+ 2,493 2,493 -

Performance – most likely understated

Our estimate – 2/3rd in violation [MIT study in Gujarat – similar conclusion]

Control of Sulphur di Oxide

Centre for Science and Environment

UNIT SIZE

CAPACITY in MW

+ 25 years 1990-2003 2003-2008 2008-2016 Total

<500 MW 28,610 21,642 5,920 26,626 82,798

>=500 MW 5,500 9,500 5,980 77,220 98,200

Total 34,110 31,142 11,900 1,03,846 180,998

Sulphur di oxide control - Matrix

Control of Oxides of Nitrogen

Centre for Science and Environment

UNIT SIZE

CAPACITY in MW

+ 25 years 1990-2003 2003-2008 2008-2016 Total

< 250 MW 28,610 21,642 2,070 5,816 58,138

250 -- <500 MW - - 3,850 20,810 24,660

>=500 MW 5,500 9,500 5,980 77,220 98,200

Total 34,110 31,142 11,900 1,03,846 1,80,998

Oxides of Nitrogen control - Matrix