COAL BASED THERMAL POWER PLANTS

Recently, the Ministry of Power has decided to set up a National Mission on use of Biomass in coal based thermal power plants.

Important points:

The proposed National Mission on biomass will also contribute to the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
It would further support the energy transition in the country and our targets to move towards cleaner energy sources.
To address the issue of air pollution due to farm stubble burning and to reduce carbon footprints of thermal power generation.
Increase the level of biomass co-firing from present 5% to higher levels to have a larger share of carbon neutral power generation from the thermal power plants.
Biomass co-firing stands for adding biomass as a partial substitute fuel in high efficiency coal boilers.
Take up R&D (Research & Development) activity in boiler design to handle the higher amount of silica, alkalis in the biomass pellets.
Facilitate overcoming the constraints in supply chain of biomass pellets and agro- residue and its transport upto to the power plants.
Consider regulatory issues in biomass co-firing.

Proposed Structure:

The Mission would have a Steering Committee headed by the Secretary (Ministry of Power) comprising all stakeholders including representatives from the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas , Ministry of New & Renewable Energy etc.
National Thermal Power Corporation Limited will play a larger role in providing logistics and infrastructure support.
The duration of the proposed National Mission would be a minimum 5 years.
Stringent emission standards for coal based thermal power plants have been notified.
Compulsory adoption of emissions standards for installing Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) units that cut emissions of toxic sulphur dioxide.
Approved automatic transfer of coal linkage from inefficient power plants to new supercritical plants subject to certain conditions to promote setting up of supercritical units in place of old ones.
Thermal power plants within 50 km of sewage treatment facilities will mandatorily use treated sewage water.

Other Initiatives to Reduce Air Pollution: