1. Thermal Power
Karthik Madhavan
SCMHRD, Pune.

2. Facts
• Convert energy rich • Other sources - landfill
fuel into electricity and gas and biogases
heat. • Electricity consumes
• Accounts for over 65% 80% of the coal
of India's generated produce.
electricity. • Coal and lignite - 57%
• Fuels - coal, natural of installed capacity.
gas, petroleum • Low calorific value and
products, agricultural high ash content of
waste and domestic Indian coal.
trash / waste.

3. Current Status
• Installed capacity of Thermal Power in India is
1,41,327.18 MW which is 66.99%.
• Coal Based Thermal Power is 1,20,103.38 MW which
comes to 57.38%.
• Gas Based Thermal Power is 18,903.05 MW which is
9.03%.
• Oil Based Thermal Power is 1,199.75 MW which is
0.57%.
• On average, about 0.7 kg of coal to generate a kWh.
• Indian coal has a GCV of about 4500 Kcal/kg.
• Maharashtra is the largest producer of thermal power
in the country.

4. Current Status
Generators MW %
State 58,089 41.10
Central 42,094 29.78
Private 41,144 29.11
Total 1,41,327 100
Source: Ministry of Power

5. Technologies
• Steam cycle facilities
• Gas turbines
• Cogeneration and combined cycle facility
• Internal combustion

6. • 91 nos.

7. Issues
• Maintenance and operating costs are high
• Long time required for erection and putting
into action
• A large quantity of water is required
• Great difficulty experienced in coal handling
• Presence of troubles due to smoke and heat
in the plant
• Unavailability of good quality coal

8. Issues
• Maximum of heat energy lost
• Problem of ash removal
• Thermal efficiency is just about 45%
• Clearances from Ministry of Environment and
Forests
• Land acquisition
• Site accidents due to process hazards, bad
plant designs, technical errors, inadequate
training of personnel employed
• Coal shortage

9. Recommendations
• Informed decision making
• Clear procedures and standards for
environmental aspects
• Make energy auditing compulsory to ensure
optimal power utilization
• Natural air flow and other low power
demand utilities to beat the power needs
• Ancillary industries to be set up near thermal
power plants

10. Thank You!