Energy Efficient Norms For Power Plants

The Government has identified 144 thermal power plants/stations for improving energy efficiency and thereby reducing fuel consumption under Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme of the Ministry of Power (MoP) being implemented by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). . This was stated by Sh. Piyush Goyal, Minister of state for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today. The energy savings of 3.211 million ton of oil equivalent/year is targeted to be achieved by these thermal power plants by the end of first PAT cycle which is from 1.4.2012 to 31.3.2015.

The Minister further stated that the steps taken/being taken by the Union Government to improve Demand Supply Management are as follows:-

1. Advanced planning of generation projects for 12th Five Year Plan in detail and perspective planning for 13th Plan.

2. Rigorous monitoring of under execution projects – All the under execution projects are monitored at the highest level to resolve the bottlenecks and to ensure that the projects are commissioned on time.

The following steps are being taken to design and operate the power plants as per energy efficiency norms across the country:-

1. Renovation & Modernisation (R&M) and Life Extension (LE) of existing old thermal power stations are taken up for improving plant performance. R&M and LE works of total capacity of 18776 MW have been completed.

2. Mapping studies of 85 thermal power generating units were carried out during 2007-09 in the country under Indo-German Energy Programme (IGEN). The mapping studies were carried out by using Ebsilon Professional Software to identify gaps in operating parameters vis-à-vis design parameters pertaining to overall energy efficiency of the plant. This has enabled power utilities to take remedial measures to enhance operational efficiency of their plants. The 15 different thermal power generating utilities have been supplied 55 Ebsilon Professional Software and around 100 engineers from 15 different utilities have been trained to use Ebsilon Professional Software.

3. Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has notified Technical Standards for Construction of Electric Plants and Electric Lines Regulations – 2010 which lay down the requisite efficiency criteria to be complied by the stations coming up in the country.

4. Old & in-efficient thermal units are being retired in a phased manner. A total capacity of about 3000 MW has already been retired till date.

5. Supercritical technology is being adopted to enhance the efficiency of coal fired power generation and reduce the specific coal consumption in production of power. A capacity addition of 24750 MW based on supercritical technology has already been achieved till date.