YEAR 2015 – A new set of standard that was notified for the plants involved in power generation by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in December 2015 which implanted will reduce freshwater withdrawal from coal power sector by 85%, particulate emissions by 65%, and SOx emissions by over 85% and NOx by almost 70%.

YEAR 2017 - CEA instructs power plants to INSTALL FGD for 1,61,402 MW and UPGRADE ESP for 64,525 MW of generation capacity to meet new environment norms with deadline ranging from 2020 to 2024 to meet the new environment norms and none are expected to adhere to the pollution norms before that if one goes by the CEA’s “Phasing Plan”.

TODAY to stay in business, India’s coal-based power plants —the backbone of power generation - face the challenge of cutting down on their emissions by 2022.

These are massive cuts and they will be achieved by implementing a set of standards that are no more stringent than what other countries across the world have imposed on their coal power sectors. In fact, China today implements far more stringent standards than those that have been notified by the MoEF&CC. But the industry has so far dragged its feet. Most companies have not even started initial work.

The non-compliance shouldn’t come as a surprise. For, right from the draft stage to the post-notification phase, the move to raise the bar faced stiff resistance from within the government and the industry.

Thermal power generation process will become more complex owing to the need of addressing climate change issues and mitigating stricter emission norms in future, at the same time tremendous pressure is on the generator to make the electricity affordable to all and to also remain competitive in the market.

In this new emerging scenario, there is a bigger responsibility to be shared by stake holders involved in the power plant design & engineering, operation & maintenance, renovation & modernization, erection & commissioning, environment management, commercial management, technology provider, product and solution providers, policy maker, regulators and others. These professionals have to work with new set of different challenges and constraints which are known or lesser known at this stage.

Mission Energy Foundation captured the views of the industry form the time of notification till end 2017 and represented them to the Ministry of Power and Ministry of Environment, with at least two meetings held at the ministerial level and also noted that Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) regulations allow any capital expenditure to be categorised under “change in law”, ensuring it could be passed on to consumers in the form of higher tariffs. As per projected figures, installation of emission-reducing equipment would necessitate a rise of Rs 0.62-0.93/unit in power tariffs — the average price at which discoms purchase power is Rs 3.5/unit. Since power plants with lower generation costs get to sell their electricity first, producers that raise tariff on account of installation of FGD units would find it more difficult to sell power. The power producers, who account for the second-biggest portion of India’s $150 billion in bad loans after the steel industry, have sought access to the more than $4 billion National Clean Energy Fund to help install cleaner technology.

The 3rd edition of SOx NOx 2018, Conference – Expo – Awards, will be organised by Mission Energy Foundation to address the current issues and challenges and gather industry stakeholders on 20-21 September 2018 at Vivanta by Taj – Dwarka, New Delhi.

Below Personnel involved in or with interest in below SHOLD BE THERE AT SOx NOx 2018?

• Power Plant Operation
• Power Plant Maintenance
• Power Plant Environment Management
• Renovation & Modernization
• Erection & Commissioning
• Power Plant Design & Engineering
• Commercial Management
• Power Plant Technology Provider
• Power Plant solution Providers
• Policy Makers or Regulators
• And Many others

The clean-power agenda would require huge amounts of limestone, which is used in a big way by the cement industry. Has the government worked out any plan to raise pure limestone supply by about 95%?

Older plants face issues of land availability and high variable costs, requiring them to consider more comprehensive steps such as a complete renovation or closure?

Completely meeting requirements of revised environmental norms may not be feasible?

Is this tussle a between energy and environment or do we need energy in an affordable and environmentally-sound manner by implementing the norms?

Are there any discussions existing to increase implementation deadline?

Is the approach of cleaning up coal plants and promoting renewable energy together meets this objective?

Will the old polluting plants be replaced with supercritical super efficient plants to reduce the current pollution level?

Has the government has identified 7,738 MW inefficient thermal plants, which would be replaced with supercritical units, to conserve scarce natural resources like land, water and coal?

- Get your answers at SOx NOx 2018 the 3rd edition of Conference – Expo – Awards

The Environment Excellence Awards - 2018 will be presented to power producing units demonstrating highest level of commitment to Environment Management covering Thermal Power Plants and services sector who demonstrate highest level of commitment and best practice. The awards aim to recognize exemplary operations, systems and the evidence of their impact to business vitality. Mission Energy Foundation awards serve as a catalyst to understanding the intrinsic value of Environment Management in business excellence and sustainability. Mission Energy Foundation invites nominations from companies and their units having strong concern and commitment for Environment Management and is willing to improve their own performance.