Thermal plants hold India’s power hope

rajeev ranjan roy

Chandigarh

Notwithstanding hype over nuclear power, thermal plants still hold the key in meeting India’s power requirements. As on November 30, 2011, the country’s power generation capacity stood at 185496.62 mega-watt (MW). During 2007-11, over 44000 MW capacity was added, out of which thermal plants accounts for 38,588 MW, followed by hydro at 5,302 MW and nuclear 880 MW. Union Ministry of Power has adopted a robust monitoring system for the capacity addition programme so as to see that the projects are executed in time. Monitoring of power projects are carried by the ministry at different levels by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), and the ministry itself through the power project monitoring panel (PPMP) and the advisory group.

The ministry has also launched an initiative for development of coal based ultra-mega power projects (UMPPs) each of about 4000 MW capacity by employing super critical technology. Pit head projects are proposed as integrated proposals with corresponding, captive coal mines. For coastal projects imported coal is proposed to be utilised. India has initiated a number of reforms to ensure the power sector grows in a smooth manner. Open access is one of the key features of the Electricity Act, 2003, which is fully operational in inter-state transmission now. To give a fresh impetus to the implementation of open access over transmission lines of state utilities and over the distribution networks, the central government has resolved that a non-discriminatory open access in intra-state transmission and distribution system would be provided in letter and spirit.

In order to ensure that Indian rural areas are properly electrified, the central government has launched Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), a flagship programme of the central government, which provides 90 per cent of the project cost as subsidy. So far, 578 projects targeting to electrify about 1.10 lakh un-electrified villages, intensive electrification of about 3.47 lakh already electrified villages and to provide free electricity connections to 2.26 crores below poverty line (BPL) households have been sanctioned and are under implementation.

Under the Re-structured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP), power infrastructure is being upgraded in urban areas, especially in towns and cities with over 30,000 population, by establishing IT enabled baseline system for energy auditing and strengthening of sub- transmission distribution system. As per an estimate, there has been a verified energy saving of 2162 MW of avoided generation capacity during year 2010-11 due to the implementation of S&L scheme. The targets for reducing specific energy consumption in 477 designated consumers across eight industrial sectors have been approved by the Union Ministry of Power.