Page 48 - Tcexpression2021 - Sept to Dec 2020

Road Map to Environment-Friendly Power Generation in India

The Journey So Far: The emission levels recommended by MOEF & CC are
presented below:
n 2015 while India signed the Paris Climate Change
Agreement, the country faced the challenge of Year SPM SO NO Mercury
2
Ibecoming the world’s highest emitter of SO 2 600 mg/Nm 3 x 0.03
gases, producing over 15% of global emissions due Pre 100 mg/ for <500 MW 600 mg/Nm
3
to anthropogenic activities. The focus on India’s 2003 Nm 3 200 mg/Nm 3 mg/Nm 3 for
environmental sustainability became urgent. To for >500MW >500MW
battle, climate change & increasing pollution levels, 600 mg/Nm 3
the government & regulatory authorities needed to 2003- 50 mg/ for <500 MW 300 0.03
address a significant contributor, i.e. 198.8 Giga-Watt 2016 Nm 3 200 mg/Nm 3 mg/Nm 3 mg/Nm 3
(GW) coal-based Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) operating for >500MW
at pollution standards considerably lower than
international benchmarks. Post 30mg/ 3 100 0.03

2017 Nm 3 100 mg/Nm mg/Nm 3 mg/Nm 3
In December 2015, The Ministry of Environment, Forests
& Climate Change (MOEF &CC) prescribed stringent
environmental norms for power plant emissions There was inevitable inertia & resistance to change
(for pollutants like SO , NO Hg, SPM) & specific during the power producers’ initial stages because of
X,
2
water consumption guidelines, with an optimistic the pertinent pain-points associated with implementing
implementation deadline of 2 years for accelerating these norms. Stringent execution timelines, significant
the compliance. These harmful gases (generated cost impact, increased auxiliary power consumptions,
during coal combustion in a boiler) are liberated along operation & maintenance issues and no clarity on the
with exhaust flue gas. Hence, meeting the stipulated way forward and retrofit challenges like unit shutdowns,
emission levels called for retrofit/installation of Air layout constraints, integration with existing systems,
Pollution Control (APC) systems to treat the flue gas etc. were some such issues. In due time, the power
before escaping to the atmosphere through stack. producers, Government & regulatory authorities,

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