Coal-based thermal plants play an important role in meeting the energy requirements of our country. But plants aged 25 and above deliver a massive blow to health and environment. Old coal fired power plants have higher consumption, meaning higher emission of pollutants. The pollutants are Particulate Matter – hi-grade and noxious SO2 and NOX. This is over and above dense CO2 emissions. Older plants emit more. Those aged 20 and above with a capacity of less than 500 MW emit 333 per cent more than 5-year olds. Another polluting statistic: 6-19 year old plants emit 200 per cent more than 5-year olds. The severity of lignite-based plants is more. About 29 per cent of NTPC’s coal based plants fall in the 25-plus category. Plants which are old and of lower capacities are doubly polluting. Mostly they belong to central and state governments.
Infusion of Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) dosages does not solve the problem because the pollutants mutate as acid rain which in turn harms soil, ground water, forests, lakes, streams and fragile ecosystems. The thermal plant pollutants are also one of the sources for degrading the air quality. The Supreme Court order of December 16, 2021 in a PIL matter, directed the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas to frame a long-term policy rather than resorting to piecemeal measures.
For the aging thermal plants, the retirement roadmap is clearly provided by the five-year National Electricity Plans (NEP) and 15-year perspective plans prepared by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). There are also emission norm notifications by the union environment ministry (MoEFCC). It notified strict emission norms for power plants based on their age. Thereafter, a plan for phased implementation of FGD equipment by 2022 was drawn up the CEA.
The gencos had two demands from the central government: support for FGD expenses & merit order dispatch. Both were agreed to. However, Gencos have not complied with timelines for FGD implementation. An example: 29 out 31 of thermal polluting units around a 300 km radius of Delhi did not comply. Gencos have been busy lobbying for extensions, first on account of pandemic and then on the ground of import bans from China. They got an extension of upto five years from MoEFCC with effect from March 31, 2021. Support for 25 year old plants is a bad idea and involves wastage of money.
There is no denying the fact that the coal based power plants will continue to play a significant role in meeting future requirements. But it is equally important to retire all old plants. There are enough spare capacities to take care of such replacements.
