This reduces the plant load factor considerably and also raises the cost of electricity generation. Attempts are being made to improve the load management so as to increase the plant load factor. Another step being considered for improving the plant load factor is the charging of electric lanterns. Water pumping is another possibility for improving the load factor. Improvement in plant management Operational experience at Orchha has indicated that the management of spare parts and consumables needs to be improved.
Spare parts have to be stocked at the plant so as to reduce the plant down time.
This will reduce the outage time and hence contribute to the improvement in the plant utilisation and a reduction of diesel consumption. The plant has been planned to be a cogeneration unit but till now only the electric energy from the gasifier system has been utilised. However, utilisation of thermal energy, available as waste heat in the cooling water and in the exhaust gas from the engine has been planned. This heat can be used for drying paper which can, then, solve the problem of low production of paper in the rainy season and thus increase the annual plant load factor. Cold storage units based on waste heat are planned to be included in the other IRPPs.