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The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Sulphur-cleaning device in coal plants not necessary: Central scientific committee
A high-powered committee of experts, chaired by Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) Ajay Sood, has recommended that India do away with a decade-long policy of mandating equipment, called Flu Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) units, in all coal-fired thermal power plants (TPPs), according to documents perused by The Hindu. These FGD units are required to be retro-fitted in TPPs to cut harmful sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions. While 92% of India's 600 TPPs have not yet installed FGD units, the recommendation would exempt about 80% of them from needing to install such equipment. The limited number of vendors capable of installing such equipment in India, the high installation costs, the potential rise in electricity bills, and disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been some of the reasons historically cited by the Power Ministry, the overseer of India's TPPs, for plants' inability to adhere to previous deadlines. In theory, the costs of non-compliance could run to crores of rupees in fines, though these have not materialised thanks to deadline extensions. 'FGD not necessary' However, this was the first time that multiple arms of the government congregated to deliberate on whether FGDs were required in the first place. Their verdict draws on three reports by the CSIR-NEERI, the National Institute of Advanced Studies, and the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. The lead scientists of these three institutions – each 'supported' by different arms of the government – were at the meeting on April 23, along with representatives from the Office of the PSA, the Union Power Ministry, and the NITI Ayog. They were all largely unanimous that FGD 'was not necessary.' The guiding principles informing the committee's recommendation are that: SO2 levels in ambient air across the country are around 10-20 micrograms/cubic metre, well below India's air quality norms of 80; Indian coal is low in sulphur; SO2 levels in cities near plants with operational FGD units do not differ significantly from those without these units, and all of these were anyway well below permissible levels. The committee opined that concerns about sulphates – a potential by-product when SO2 emissions reach certain atmospheric levels, thus forming particulate matter (PM) – are unfounded. They cited an analysis of 5,792 PM samples across the country, which found 'low elemental sulphur' content (max 8 micrograms/m3 after outlier removal) which was deemed 'insignificant — for considering PM removal as a benefit of FGD.' FGDs may worsen carbon emissions One argument mentioned in the report was that using FGDs might result in additional carbon dioxide emissions and accentuate global warming. 'Installing FGDs in all TPPs by 2030 will increase the Auxiliary Power Consumption (APC) of the TPPs, thereby adding approximately 69 million tons of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere (2025-30) while reducing SO2 emissions by —17 million tons. Adding more long-lived CO2 emissions while removing short-lived SO2 emissions by installing FGDs indiscriminately in all TPPs in India despite the low Sulphur content of Indian coal will enhance global warming.' On the other hand, given that burning coal is India's primary source of electricity, India's annual SO2 emissions has risen from 4,000 kilotonnes in 2010 to 6,000 kilotonnes in 2022. By comparison, Indonesia, a source of imported coal to India has averaged about 2,000 kt in the same period, according to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a Helsinki-based think tank. This is when India's emission standards, at 100 micrograms/m3 (thus requiring FGD), is lower than Indonesia's 800. Environment Ministry 'studying' order Those who attended the meeting included the Secretary, Minister of Power and three other senior officials; Secretary, Environment and Forests and two other officials; four officials of the Office of the PSA; representatives of the NITI Ayog, Central Electricity Authority (the power regulator), Central Pollution Control Board, and academicians. A detailed questionnaire to the Power Ministry was unanswered until press time. Tanmay Kumar, Secretary, Environment Ministry, told The Hindu that his Ministry was 'studying' the order. India has 180 coal-fired thermal power plants, each of them with multiple units. The 600 TPPs, depending on their size, age, proximity to densely populous cities, and background pollution levels, were given different timelines by the Environment Ministry to comply with the FGD installation requirements. Deadlines have been shifted three times, with the most recent extension coming on Dec 31, 2024. Major population centres The committee, according to the minutes of the meeting seen by The Hindu, will 'recommend' to the Power and Environment Ministers that only power plants located within a 10-km radius of the National Capital Region and other cities with a million-plus population be required to install FGDs. These are called Category A plants. There are 66 such plants, and only 14 of them have installed FGDs. Currently, all these plants are required to comply by 2027. Plants within a 10-km radius of 'Critically Polluted Cities' or 'Non Attainment Cities', called Category B plants, would be eligible for exemption on a 'case by case' basis, on a joint review by the Central Electricity Authority or Central Pollution Control Board. There are 72 such plants, with only four having installed FGD. These plants currently have a deadline of 2028. The remaining 462 plants all come under Category C, of which 32 have installed FGDs. These plants have been given a 2029 deadline, but the committee has now recommended that Category C plants be exempted completely, along with some units in Categories A and B which were set up at least 20 years ago. 'Will not affect public health' 'The key common point in these studies is that fitment of FGDs in all TPPs in India is not necessary to comply with the NAAQ (National Ambient Air Quality) standards whose compliance is essential to safeguard public health. While all TPPs must comply with the December 2015 stack emission standards for PM pollution and freshwater consumption, the SO2 stack emission standards can be relaxed to ensure that they are in conformance with the NAAQ standards which are notified by CPCB, keeping in mind the human health and other aspects. This way, TPPs may be able to comply with these standards without fitting FGDs. Since the existing NAAQ standards (for ambient SO2) must be complied with, this change will not affect human health in India,' the committee concludes. Currently, State governments or affiliated companies run a majority of the Category A TPPs, whereas private authorities hold the highest share in Categories B and C.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Central scientific committee says sulphur-cleaning device in most coal plants ‘not necessary'
A high-powered committee of experts, chaired by Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) Ajay Sood, has recommended that India do away with a decade-long policy of mandating equipment, called Flu Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) units, in all coal-fired thermal power plants (TPPs), according to documents perused by The Hindu. These FGD units are required to be retro-fitted in TPPs to cut harmful sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions. While 92% of India's 600 TPPs have not yet installed FGD units, the recommendation would exempt about 80% of them from needing to install such equipment. The limited number of vendors capable of installing such equipment in India, the high installation costs, the potential rise in electricity bills, and disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been some of the reasons historically cited by the Power Ministry, the overseer of India's TPPs, for plants' inability to adhere to previous deadlines. In theory, the costs of non-compliance could run to crores of rupees in fines, though these have not materialised thanks to deadline extensions. 'FGD not necessary' However, this was the first time that multiple arms of the government congregated to deliberate on whether FGDs were required in the first place. Their verdict draws on three reports by the CSIR-NEERI, the National Institute of Advanced Studies, and the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. The lead scientists of these three institutions – each 'supported' by different arms of the government – were at the meeting on April 23, along with representatives from the Office of the PSA, the Union Power Ministry, and the NITI Ayog. They were all largely unanimous that FGD 'was not necessary.' The guiding principles informing the committee's recommendation are that: SO2 levels in ambient air across the country are around 10-20 micrograms/cubic metre, well below India's air quality norms of 80; Indian coal is low in sulphur; SO2 levels in cities near plants with operational FGD units do not differ significantly from those without these units, and all of these were anyway well below permissible levels. The committee opined that concerns about sulphates – a potential by-product when SO2 emissions reach certain atmospheric levels, thus forming particulate matter (PM) – are unfounded. They cited an analysis of 5,792 PM samples across the country, which found 'low elemental sulphur' content (max 8 micrograms/m3 after outlier removal) which was deemed 'insignificant — for considering PM removal as a benefit of FGD.' FGDs may worsen carbon emissions One argument mentioned in the report was that using FGDs might result in additional carbon dioxide emissions and accentuate global warming. 'Installing FGDs in all TPPs by 2030 will increase the Auxiliary Power Consumption (APC) of the TPPs, thereby adding approximately 69 million tons of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere (2025-30) while reducing SO2 emissions by —17 million tons. Adding more long-lived CO2 emissions while removing short-lived SO2 emissions by installing FGDs indiscriminately in all TPPs in India despite the low Sulphur content of Indian coal will enhance global warming.' On the other hand, given that burning coal is India's primary source of electricity, India's annual SO2 emissions has risen from 4,000 kilotonnes in 2010 to 6,000 kilotonnes in 2022. By comparison, Indonesia, a source of imported coal to India has averaged about 2,000 kt in the same period, according to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a Helsinki-based think tank. This is when India's emission standards, at 100 micrograms/m3 (thus requiring FGD), is lower than Indonesia's 800. Environment Ministry 'studying' order Those who attended the meeting included the Secretary, Minister of Power and three other senior officials; Secretary, Environment and Forests and two other officials; four officials of the Office of the PSA; representatives of the NITI Ayog, Central Electricity Authority (the power regulator), Central Pollution Control Board, and academicians. A detailed questionnaire to the Power Ministry was unanswered until press time. Tanmay Kumar, Secretary, Environment Ministry, told The Hindu that his Ministry was 'studying' the order. India has 180 coal-fired thermal power plants, each of them with multiple units. The 600 TPPs, depending on their size, age, proximity to densely populous cities, and background pollution levels, were given different timelines by the Environment Ministry to comply with the FGD installation requirements. Deadlines have been shifted three times, with the most recent extension coming on Dec 31, 2024. Major population centres The committee, according to the minutes of the meeting seen by The Hindu, will 'recommend' to the Power and Environment Ministers that only power plants located within a 10-km radius of the National Capital Region and other cities with a million-plus population be required to install FGDs. These are called Category A plants. There are 66 such plants, and only 14 of them have installed FGDs. Currently, all these plants are required to comply by 2027. Plants within a 10-km radius of 'Critically Polluted Cities' or 'Non Attainment Cities', called Category B plants, would be eligible for exemption on a 'case by case' basis, on a joint review by the Central Electricity Authority or Central Pollution Control Board. There are 72 such plants, with only four having installed FGD. These plants currently have a deadline of 2028. The remaining 462 plants all come under Category C, of which 32 have installed FGDs. These plants have been given a 2029 deadline, but the committee has now recommended that Category C plants be exempted completely, along with some units in Categories A and B which were set up at least 20 years ago. 'Will not affect public health' 'The key common point in these studies is that fitment of FGDs in all TPPs in India is not necessary to comply with the NAAQ (National Ambient Air Quality) standards whose compliance is essential to safeguard public health. While all TPPs must comply with the December 2015 stack emission standards for PM pollution and freshwater consumption, the SO2 stack emission standards can be relaxed to ensure that they are in conformance with the NAAQ standards which are notified by CPCB, keeping in mind the human health and other aspects. This way, TPPs may be able to comply with these standards without fitting FGDs. Since the existing NAAQ standards (for ambient SO2) must be complied with, this change will not affect human health in India,' the committee concludes. Currently, State governments or affiliated companies run a majority of the Category A TPPs, whereas private authorities hold the highest share in Categories B and C.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India's power transmission body flags regulatory hurdles in equipment procurement
India's power transmission sector is facing acute supply-side bottlenecks, especially in procuring High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) equipment critical for carrying renewable energy over long distances, raising concerns over the country's ability to meet its 2030 renewable energy targets. The Electric Power Transmission Association (EPTA) has urged the Power Ministry to provide a level-playing field in procurement policies, highlighting a regulatory mismatch that allows renewable energy (RE) developers to bypass subcontracting restrictions, while transmission companies remain bound by them. The association has called for a temporary exemption from these restrictions until December 2030, to help transmission developers procure key HVDC components without delay. 'This mismatch between generation and transmission is hurting the overall power sector and delaying addition of capacity,' said an official from a leading transmission company, reported PTI. According to the official, while RE projects are built in 12–18 months, transmission lines often take 3–4 years, and HVDC systems even longer. The issue stems from restrictions on suppliers and subcontractors from countries sharing land borders with India, particularly China, which is a major source of HVDC equipment. Although these curbs apply to central ministries, autonomous bodies, and public-private partnership (PPP) projects, they also extend to transmission developers operating under the fully privately funded Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model, leaving them similarly affected. The EPTA noted that renewable developers are exempt from these restrictions, following a 2022 clarification by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. It stated that while SECI's procurement qualifies as public procurement, the contracts don't fall under 'works contracts,' thereby allowing unrestricted subcontracting, including from China. Transmission developers, on the other hand, continue to face full restrictions under tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB). 'Despite TBCB projects not being PPPs, the transmission service providers cannot procure or subcontract from countries sharing land borders with India, thereby severely limiting supplier choices,' said an industry official. This asymmetry, industry players say, has created a systemic gap between RE generation and transmission readiness, particularly in HVDC-dependent regions like Rajasthan and Khavda in Gujarat. At present, only two domestic OEMs offer LCC-based HVDC systems, while global manufacturers in Europe and the US are booked until 2030, amid surging renewable installations in the West. As a result, the constrained market is pushing project costs higher, with tariffs reaching up to 17% above levelised rates, and project timelines extending up to six years. 'HVDC projects are vital for renewable energy development, and must be governed by the same procurement norms as RE projects,' EPTA said in its representation to the Power Ministry. Data from two recently concluded HVDC bids show that it took 19 months just to finalise the tender, with an overall implementation window of 54 months. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has also acknowledged the issue, noting that HVDC component supply constraints are inflating project costs and justifying higher bids. Calling for urgent policy harmonisation, EPTA Director General G P Upadhyaya said: 'A systemic gap has emerged between generation readiness and transmission infrastructure timelines, particularly for HVDC-dependent RE zones like Rajasthan and Khavda in Gujarat. The timely execution of HVDC systems is a critical path for achieving India's renewable energy targets.' With inputs from PTI
Bloomberg
19-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
India Readies Gas Power Fleet to Prevent Summer Blackouts
India has invoked emergency measures that require gas-fired power stations to produce more in order to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply during the summer season, as soaring temperatures boost demand. The nation's grid controller will assess the periods of high demand when the gas-based plants will be required to generate electricity, according to a power ministry order seen by Bloomberg. The units will get a two-week notice, giving them enough time to arrange fuel, the order said.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Oversupply risk in India's power sector, because of sustained low demand: Fitch Ratings
New Delhi: India's power sector is facing a risk of oversupply because of sustained low electricity demand says a report by Fitch Ratings. "Sustained lower electricity demand growth would increase the risk of oversupply, given rapid ongoing capacity additions," Fitch Ratings said in its report. The report adds, that India is facing a low electricity demand growth of around 4 per cent for last two years amid rapid capacity additions by power companies. India's power demand will grow modestly by 4-5 per cent over the medium term, similar to the 4 per cent growth in the fiscal year ended March 2025 (FY25). The power demand in FY25 has witnessed a drastic sluggishness, declining to almost half than the about 8 per cent growth over FY22-FY24. The official data of the Power Ministry reveals that India successfully met an all-time maximum power demand of 250 GW during FY 2024-25. Due to significant additions in generation and transmission capacities, energy shortages at the national level have reduced to a mere 0.1 per cent in FY 2024-25, a major improvement from 4.2 per cent in FY 2013-14. The Power Ministry data reveals that the average availability of electricity in rural areas has increased from 12.5 hours in 2014 to 21.9 hours, while urban areas now enjoy up to 23.4 hours of power supply, reflecting substantial improvements in the reliability and reach of electricity services. Meanwhile, total installed power generation capacity has surged by 83.8 per cent, increasing from 249 GW as of March 31, 2014, to 457 GW as of November 30, 2024. The global rating agency added in its report power demand in FY25 witnessed a slowdown sharply than the anticipated, partly reflecting slower GDP growth. "We project economic growth at 6.4 per cent in FY26 and 6.3 per cent in FY27, which will support steady increases in power demand," the Fitch rating added. However, the rating agency said that risks to the economic outlook are significant, given uncertainties around India-Pakistan relations, global trade and US tariffs. It further added that weaker-than-expected economic growth would weigh on power demand. Fitch expects capex among Indian power utilities to remain high in the medium term, particularly for renewable generators, as the government is aiming to expand power storage and transmission capability, and raise renewable capacity to 500GW by 2030, from around 220GW currently. The rating agency said that the renewable capacity addition will remain high in FY26 after an increase to 30GW in FY25, from 18GW in FY24. Strong renewable capacity addition will weigh on coal demand growth, which slowed to 3.4 per cent yoy in 11 months of FY25, from 9.4 per cent in FY24, the rating agency anticipated. The report adds that slower demand growth and improving domestic supply are likely to lead to lower coal imports in the next few years. (ANI)
