Lok Sabha Question No. 3728 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-09
Subject: Environment Norms
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: RITA TARAI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3728 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2018

## ENVIRONMENT NORMS

## 3728.  SHRIMATI RITA TARAI:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Ministry  of  Power  is  aware  about  the  revised  environment norms introduced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether meeting with/ implementing the revised modified norms including the  need  based  retro  fitting  will  be  time  consuming  and  will  have  significant impact on the power tariff, if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate  Change  are  considering  to  allow  exemption  from  environment  upgradation, if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI  R. K. SINGH )

(a) : Yes,  Madam.  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change (MoEF&CC) notified following new environmental norms for Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) on 7 th  December 2015:

| Emission parameter       | TPPs (units) installed before 31 st December, 2003                                            | TPPs (units) installed after 31 st December 2003 and upto 31 st December 2016                 | TPPs (units) to be installed from 1 st January 2017   |
|--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| Particulate Matter       | 100 mg/Nm 3                                                                                   | 50 mg/Nm 3                                                                                    | 30 mg/Nm 3                                            |
| Sulphur Dioxide (SO 2 )  | 600 mg/Nm 3 for units less than 500MW capacity 200 mg/Nm 3 for units 500MW and above capacity | 600 mg/Nm 3 for units less than 500MW capacity 200 mg/Nm 3 for units 500MW and above capacity | 100 mg/Nm 3                                           |
| Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) | 600 mg/Nm 3                                                                                   | 300 mg/Nm 3                                                                                   | 100 mg/Nm 3                                           |

...........2.

| Mercury     | 0.03 mg/Nm3 (for unit size 500 MW and above)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 0.03 mg/Nm 3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 0.03 mg/Nm 3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| WATER NORMS | a. All plants with Once Through Cooling (OTC) shall install Cooling Tower (CT) and achieve specific water consumption of 3.5 m3/MWh within 2 years of notification. b. All existing CT based plants shall reduce specific water consumption up-to maximum of3.5 m3/MWh within a period of 2 years of notification. c. New plants to be installed after 1st January 2017 shall have to meet specific water consumption of 2.5 | a. All plants with Once Through Cooling (OTC) shall install Cooling Tower (CT) and achieve specific water consumption of 3.5 m3/MWh within 2 years of notification. b. All existing CT based plants shall reduce specific water consumption up-to maximum of3.5 m3/MWh within a period of 2 years of notification. c. New plants to be installed after 1st January 2017 shall have to meet specific water consumption of 2.5 | a. All plants with Once Through Cooling (OTC) shall install Cooling Tower (CT) and achieve specific water consumption of 3.5 m3/MWh within 2 years of notification. b. All existing CT based plants shall reduce specific water consumption up-to maximum of3.5 m3/MWh within a period of 2 years of notification. c. New plants to be installed after 1st January 2017 shall have to meet specific water consumption of 2.5 |

Later,  MoEF&CC  vide  Notification  dated  28.06.2018  notified  following revision in the environment norms:

- I. Specific water consumption shall not exceed maximum of 3.0 m3 /MWh for new plants installed after the 1st January, 2017 and these plants shall also achieve zero waste water discharge.
- II. Water Consumption Limit shall not be applicable for Thermal Power plants using sea water.
- III. Stack Height/Limit in Meters for Thermal Power Plants with wet Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) is revised as under:
- a. 100  MW  and  above  -      6.902  X  (Emission  rate  of  SO 2   in  kg/hr X0.277) 0.555  or 100 m minimum
- b. Less  than  100  MW  -    6.902  X  (Emission  rate  of  SO 2   in  kg/hr  X 0.277) 0.555  or 30 m whichever is more';

(b) : Yes, Madam.  Installation of Flue gas Desulphurization (FGD) in a unit takes about 3 years' time from the date of order placement followed by shut down of  the  unit  for  a  period  ranging  from  2  to  6  months  for  making  necessary connections depending upon the technology adopted (for e.g. construction of low height chimney / lining of existing chimney etc.) by the TPPs. Further, minimum time of about 6 months is required for bidding and finalization of a tender.

Upgradation/augmentation  of  Electrostatic  Precipitator  (ESP)  also requires  shutdown  of  the  unit  ranging  from  4  to  6  months.  Accordingly,  the phasing plan  for  FGD  and  ESP  in  the  units  where  both  are  required  is  kept  the same,  as  this  will  avoid  the  shutdown  of  the  units  twice.  This  would  also  help maintain uninterrupted power supply in the country. FGD system can also reduce the PM levels of the flue gas substantially, the requirement of upgradation/augmentation  of ESP may  not  be required in many  units subject to the  conditions  of  certain  PM  level  at  FGD  inlet.  This  would  result  in  lower expenditure  by  the  utilities  and  hence  will  also  lower  the  tariff  burden  on  the consumers.

.........3.

NOx  control  measures  like  combustion  optimization,  installation  of low NOx burners etc. are envisaged to be undertaken during the shutdown to be taken for FGD in order to avoid multiple shut down of the units and to maintain the un-interrupted supply of power in the country.

On  the  tariff  side,  meeting  with  implementing  the  revised  emission norms would have the following impacts:

- I. Additional capital expenditure because of installations to meet the revised norms
- II. Increase in Operation & Maintenance expenses.
- III. Increase in Auxiliary Power Consumption of power stations
- IV. Disruption in power generation during installation phase.
- V. Fixed cost during shut down period for installation.

Impact  in  tariff  would  depend  upon  the  technology  adopted  for meeting the norms.

(c) : To  comply  with  the  new  norms  without  disrupting  power  supply situation  in  the  country,  a  phased  implementation  plan  from  2018  to  2022  for installation  of  FGD  in  plants  for  a  capacity  of  1,61,402  MW  (414  Units)  and upgradation of ESP in plants for a capacity of 64,525 MW (222 units) was prepared by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) in consultation with the stakeholders and this  plan  was  submitted  to  MoEF&CC  on  13.10.2017.  Based  on  the  directions received from MoEF&CC, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued directions to Thermal Power Plants to ensure compliance.

Government  is  committed  for  implementation  of  new  environment norms  by  Thermal  power  plants  in  a  phased  manner.  MOP  has  recommended MOEF&CC that Units having completed 25 years of operational life and where FGD and emission control is not possible may be allowed to operate for limited number of hours, subject to meeting the efficiency norms to be prescribed by Government, to meet the balancing/peaking requirement to maintain continuous power supply in the grid.

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