Thermal Power Plants Face Efficiency Hurdles Amidst Renewable Energy Integration
New Delhi – The transition to renewable energy sources like wind adn solar is presenting significant operational challenges for India’s thermal power plants, which are currently required to maintain a minimum operating capacity of 55% even during daylight hours. This necessity stems from the inability of these plants to rapidly scale up their output to meet peak demand, especially in the evenings when renewable energy generation typically declines. Experts emphasize the urgent need to enhance the efficiency of thermal power stations, enabling them to operate at lower capacity levels.
Ramesh Veeravalli, a member of India’s Central electricity Regulatory Commission, highlighted the technical feasibility of reducing the minimum running level threshold for thermal plants. “Technically it is possible,” he stated at a recent event, posing the question of “How low can we go?”
Beyond operational adjustments, strategies to improve thermal plant efficiency include the adoption of carbon dioxide capture technologies. However, the effectiveness of these systems is currently limited, with one estimate from the World resources Institute suggesting they capture only about 0.1% of global emissions.
Another proposed solution involves co-firing thermal plants with agricultural residue instead of coal. parth Kumar, a program manager with CSE, noted that this approach has led to a significant reduction in coal consumption in thermal power plants in Delhi and surrounding areas. Despite regulatory mandates, other regions of the country have yet to fully implement this practice.
Ultimately, experts agree that substantial systemic changes and significant financial investment will be required to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants. The precise cost implications and the distribution of these expenses remain complex questions without immediate answers.
