Ques : What is the scenario of steam power plants in india? Discuss the advantages, disadvantages and future aspects of steam power plants?

Electricity has been part of our lives. It has brought many things that surely have made many wonders and life would seem so hard without it. The use of electrical power categorized such as residential sector includes private households and apartment buildings where energy is consumed primarily for space heating, water heating, air conditioning, lighting, refrigeration, cooking, and clothes drying and other appliances. The commercial sector includes nonmanufacturing business establishments such as hotels, motels, restaurants, street and highway lighting, wholesale businesses, retail stores, health, social, religious and educational institutions, and government. The industrial sector includes manufacturing, construction, mining, agriculture, fishing, and forestry establishments. And the last transportation sector which includes railroads and railways where electricity is used for traction, including urban public transportation.

Present consumption of electricity in the world

Energy is a vital factor in industrial production and the lifeblood of any nation's economic development. In 2010, world total of electricity production and consumption was 21248TWh. 17635TWh (83%) of electric energy was consumed by final users. The difference of 3612TWh (17%) was consumed in the process of generating power and consumed as transmission loss. Following figure shows the electricity consumption in the world. The following figure presents the world power consumption as per August 2010.

Shortage of electric power will not only compromise a social comfort level but also seriously hamper the economic growth of a nation. The relationship between power consumption and national economic development has a great significance. Power consumption statistics are vital indicators for gauging the economic growth. Developing countries, in comparison with developed countries, generally have higher growth rates of population, energy, and electricity.

The present power scenario in the world is presented in following list (top ten countries included).

Present thermal power scenario in India

India is a nation in transition. Considered an "emerging economy," increasing GDP is driving the demand for additional electrical energy, as well as transportation fuels. The electricity sector in India supplies the world's 5th largest energy consumer, accounting for 4.0% of global energy consumption by more than 17% of global population. Rapid economic growth has created a growing need for dependable and reliable supplies of electricity, gas and petroleum products. Due to the fast-paced growth of India's economy, the country's energy demand has grown an average of 3.6% per annum over the past 30 years. In August 2011, the installed power generation capacity of India stood at 181.558 GW and per capita energy consumption stood at 787kWh. The country's annual energy production increased from about 190 billion kWh in 1986 to more than 837 billion kWh in 2010.

During the year 2010-11, the energy requirement registered a growth of 3.7% during the year against the projected growth of 5.6% (refer following figurevi ) and Peak demand registered a growth of 2.6% against the projected growth of 6.5%, though the total ex-bus energy availability increased by 5.6% over the

previous year and the peak met increased by 6.0%, the shortage conditions prevailed in the Country both in terms of energy and peaking availability. Base load requirement was 861,591 (MU) against availability of 788,355 MU which is a shortage is 73,236 MU i.e. 8.5% deficit. During peak load the demand was for 122,287 MW against availability of 110,256 MW which is a shortage of 12,031 MW i.e. 9.8%. Electricity losses in India during transmission and distribution are high. Due to shortage of electricity, power cuts are common throughout India and this has adversely affected the country's economic growth.

Current power scenario in India is as follows:

Total Installed Capacity:(As on 31.07.2015):

Sector MW %age

State Sector 96,015 34.8

Central Sector 73,671 26.7

Private Sector 1,06,226 38.5

Total 2,75,912

Total state wise production of electricity through power plants is as follows:

Capacity Addtion Targets and Achievements in the 12th Plan:

Achievement of Capacity Addition during the Current Plan upto Jan '2015

Growth of Installed Capacity Since 6th Plan

All India yearly Coal Consumption for Power Generation (Utilities)

Advantages of steam power plant :

1. Initial investment is low

2. Power plant can be located near load center, so transmission cost and

losses are considerably reduced.

3. Commissioning of thermal power plant requires less period of time

4. Feed water heaters are provided to heat the feed water supplied to

boiler by which overall efficiency of plant can be increased.

Disadvantages of steam power plant:

1. Life and efficiency of steam power plant is less when compared to Hydel

power plant

2. Transportation of fuel is major problem

3. Cost of power generation is more than hydro power

4. Air pollution is major problem

5. Coal may be exhausted by gradual use.

6. The heated water that comes from thermal power plant has an adverse

effect on the lives in the water and disturbs the ecology

7. Overall efficiency of thermal power plant is low like less 30%.

Future aspects of thermal power plants:

Increasing industrial growth throughout the world largely depends on

availability of electricity. The overall situation in the power sector provides an

optimistic view. However, insight into the thermal power industry provides a

bleak picture. Thermal power stations mostly depend upon coal as a basic raw

material. Economists project that India has a little over 250 billion metric tons

of coal reserve to sustain continued and progressive demand for thermal

power generation in the next 40-50 years. Indian thermal stations have started

importing expensive coal from other countries to maintain generation and

supply. Every thermal power station emits CO2. Suspended Particulate Matter

(SPM), fly ash and effluents create health hazards and contribute to global

warming.

According to Report of the Expert Committee on Integrated Energy Policy,

Aug’06, Planning Commission, Govt. of India “Coal shall remain India’s most

important energy source till 2031-32 and possibly beyond”

As per the Integrated Energy Policy (IEP) Report, Indian Coal

Requirement in 2031 - 32 is projected to be between 1580 – 2555

Million Tons.

But CIL has set a target of domestic coal production to 839 Million Tons

(maximum) by 2025.

CIL target is therefore way below the annual coal requirement.

India coal demand as forcasted by Forbes:

Indigenous coal resources enable economic development and can be transformed to guard against import dependence and price shocks.

India is the 5th largest proven coal reserve in the world and contributes to around 6% of global coal production.

But, there still exists a supply – demand gap. Supply demand Gap has increased at a CAGR of 38.47%from 2008 – 09

to 2011 – 12. Under New Coal Distribution Policy (NCDP) framework, CIL would only

commit up to 50% of TPPs Annual Coal Quantity (ACQ) from domestic sources only.

Therefore the TPPs are left with no other option but to realize the remaining coal requirement through imports.

Importing thermal coal seems imperative if a +8% of GDP growth is to be sustained.

USA: World’s largest coal reserve US leads the pack with 237.3 billion tons, i.e. 22.6% of Global proven

coal reserve. The Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming is the single largest

source of coal in the US. Montana has 74.81 billion tons of estimated recoverable reserves, the

most in the US, and Wyoming has 39.19 billion tons of estimated recoverable reserves, second highest reserves in the U.S .

Peabody Energy & Arch Coal are eyeing the Chinese & Indian markets. Peabody has stated that global coal shipments to the Asia-Pacific region

could reach 140 million metric tons per year, by 2015 india can therefore have a sizeable chunk of its annual coal requirement

from the US

Kazakhstan: Central Asia’s largest coal reserve Survey of Energy Resources by World Energy Council in 2010 revealed

Kazakhstan to have 33.6 billion tons of recoverable coal reserves, 3rd in Asia after China & India.

By 2014 Kazakhstan plans to boost its annual coal exports to 32 Million tons from present 20 – 22 million tons.

Evident from the geographical proximity, India can surely exercise the option of importing coal from Kazakhstan