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8,000 MW of Old Thermal Power Generation Capacity Phased Out, Says Official

Around 8,000 MW of old thermal power generation capacity has been phased out till now and will be replaced by cleaner options such solar energy in a bid to clean up the power generation sector.

 

“Nearly 8,000 MW of old thermal power generation capacity (25 years and older) has already been phased out but they will be replaced by new capacities. The Centre is focused on augmenting the available resources, including land at the project sites,” a top Power Ministry official told sources.

 

“For instance, in Jharkhand, the capacity phased out by Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) will be replaced solar power generation units,” he added. In September 2015, the Centre decided to explore the possibility of retiring or replacing the old and inefficient thermal power units by installing new supercritical (consuming less coal to produce more power) units.

 

By December 2016, NTPC had already given an in-principle clearance to replace around 11,000 MW of its old and inefficient thermal power plants. A Power Ministry statement said, “The plants would be replaced in about five years, with an investment of around ₹50,000 crore.” According to data compiled by the Central Electricity Authority, 6075 MW of the identified old and inefficient thermal power units have been retired and deleted from National Installed Capacity from September 2015 to March 2018. Another 797.32 MW of private sector, gas-based diesel Genset units have also been retired during the same period.

 

The CEA has assessed that 4116.5 MW of capacity can be phased out during 2018-19.

 

Thermal power projects phased out this year include NTPC’s 285-MW Badarpur, Punjab State Power Corporation’s (PSPCL) 840- MW Ropar and Guru Nanak Dev (Bathinda) 220-MW thermal power stations.

 

But phasing out older power projects is not a smooth exercise. “In Punjab, the Rophar and Bathinda thermal power stations were shut down, but there have been some issues with the unions opposing the move,” the official said.

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