CEA norms soon for supercritical tech design in power plants

V. Rishi Kumar, Hyderabad, July 25

Manjit Singh, Member, Thermal, CEA, said, "This was felt necessary to ensure that various manufacturers in the country conform to the standards. As we get into higher capacity supercritical technology based power plants of 800 MW and even more than that, such norms would ensure consistency."

The country had its first 660 MW unit based on supercritical technology in December 2010. Thereafter more than 13,900 MW capacity have been commissioned using this technology. The Tata Mundra project has set up five units of 800 MW.

Of the 44,950-MW of thermal generation capacity now coming up in the country, it is estimated that more than 50 per cent of this capacity addition is based on supercritical technology, he said.

Supercritical technology based projects deliver higher efficiencies, consume less power and have lower emission levels.

BHEL and NTPC have been working on advanced supercritical technologies with about 700 degree centigrade. There has also been significant progress in a project taken up by NTPC, BHEL and US Aid with regard to 180 MW integrated combined cycle plant. NTPC has also worked on a 10-MW integrated project.

Referring to fuel shortage leading to demand supply gap, he said the Ministry of Power, Coal and various other departments are working to resolve the issue.

The supply gaps will be bridged but it is difficult to ensure 100 per cent coal supplies given the current scenario. Therefore, import of coal and blending is one option for power plants.