Lok Sabha Question No. 393 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Research and Development for replacement of Coal
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Smt. Malvika Devi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF  COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 393

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## Research and Development for replacement of Coal

## 393. SMT. MALVIKA DEVI:

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether  any  Research  and  Development  is  being  carried  out  for  finding  possible alternative replacement to coal in the long term and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the details of the efforts being made to check the adverse effect caused by coal being used as a source of energy to the environment?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a)    After studies, it has been established that 5% to 10% of biomass can be safely co-fired with coal in Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) without any adverse impact on the thermal power plant.

Ministry  of  New  and  Renewable  Energy  is  implementing  a  'Renewable  Energy Research and Technology Development Programme (RE-RTD)' through various research institutions and industry to develop indigenous technologies and manufacturing for widespread applications of new and renewable  energy  in efficient and cost-effective manner. It provides up to 100% financial support to government/non-profit research organizations and up to 70% to industry, startups, private institutes, entrepreneurs, and manufacturing units.

- (b)   The following efforts are being made to check the adverse effect caused by coal being used as a source of energy to the environment:

## Efforts being made by Coal Companies -

- (i) Coal companies are deploying modern equipment having environment friendly features, like  Surface  Miners,  Rippers  for  blast-less  overburden  removal,  Continuous  miner  in Underground mines, High Wall mining for blast less coal mining, etc.
- (ii) Coal companies have taken steps to upgrade the mechanized coal transportation and loading system under 'First Mile Connectivity' projects to minimize road transportation.
- (iii) The dust is controlled at source by installation of fixed sprinklers and plantation in the mine lease area.
- (iv) Controlled blasting techniques for reduction of  dust generation and  ground vibration during blasting operations.
- (v) Roads  are  concrete/  black-topped,  coal  carrying  trucks  are  optimally  loaded  and covered with tarpaulin. Dedicated coal corridors have been developed for coal transportation.

(vi) Solar and Wind Power plants are being established with a view to achieve Net  Zero target and replace use of coal for generating power.

## Efforts being made by Thermal Power Plants -

(vii) Biomass Co-firing - Ministry of Power has issued a policy on utilization of Biomass for Power generation through co-firing in coal based power plants. The policy mandates 57% co-firing of Biomass primarily of agro residue with coal, after assessing the technical feasibility. This has helped in reducing reliance of TPPs on coal and mitigate air pollution caused  due  to  stubble  burning,  to  some  extent.  As  of  June  2024,  8.14  lakh  tonnes  of cumulative Biomass have been co-fired pan India resulting in reduction of about 0.97 Million Tonnes of CO2 emissions from Thermal

Power Plants.

(viii) Reduction of Stack Emissions -  MoEF&CC vide notification dated 07.12.2015 and its subsequent amendments has notified norms in respect of reducing  stack  emissions such as Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), SOx &  NOx from coal based Thermal Power Plants.  To  meet  these  standards,  Thermal  Power  Plants  are  using  techniques  like  Electro Static Precipitator (ESP), Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD), NOx Combustion Modification etc.

(ix) Installation  of  efficient  Ultra  Supercritical/Supercritical  Units -  Promotion  of installation of efficient Ultra Supercritical/Supercritical units over Subcritical Thermal Units as these units are more efficient and their emission per unit of electricity generation is less than subcritical units. A total capacity of Supercritical/ Ultra-supercritical units of 65,290 MW  (94  Units)  and  4,240  MW  (06  units)  have  been  commissioned  respectively  till 30.06.2024.

(x) The inefficient and old thermal power plants having capacity of about 18,802.24 MW comprising 267 units have already been retired till 30.06.2024.

(xi) NTPC  Ltd.  has  commissioned  20  Tonnes  Per  Day  (TPD)  capacity  Pilot  Carbon Capture Project at Vindhyachal.

## Efforts being made by Department of Science and Technology (DST) -

(xii) To  reduce  the  emission  intensity  and  enhance  the  efficiency  of  the  coal  based thermal power plants, development of Advanced Ultra  Super  Critical (AUSC) Technology has  been  undertaken  and  its  development  is  underway.  Department  of  Science  and Technology  (DST)  has  established  two  National  Centres  for  Development  of  Advanced Materials  and  Manufacturing  Processes  for  Clean  Coal  Technologies  for  Thermal  Power Plant  applications  in  a  consortium  mode  involving  academic  and  research  institutes.  The main direction of research & development is to improve the life of critical components used in  thermal  power  plants  as  well  as  efficient  fabrication  methods  of  components  using advanced  coating and manufacturing technologies.

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