Lok Sabha Question No. 688 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-25
Subject: Coal-Fired Electricity output and Emissions
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Shri Arun Bharti

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.688

## ANSWERED ON 25.07.2024

## COAL-FIRED ELECTRICITY OUTPUT AND EMISSIONS

## 688 SHRI ARUN BHARTI:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) the details regarding the data on India's coal-fired electricity output and emissions during each of the past five years highlighting the factors contributing to record highs;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  data  on  the  effectiveness  of  current technologies and practices in reducing emissions from coal-fired power plants including  any  recent  advancements  or  pilot  projects  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (c) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  abide  by  the  international conventions during the process of coal-fired electricity output?

## A N S W E R

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

- (a) :   The details regarding the data on India's coal-fired electricity output and emissions during each of the past five years are given below:

| Year    |   Electricity Generation from Coal (in Billion Units) |   CO 2 Emission (in Million Metric Tonnes) |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| 2018-19 |                                                987.68 |                                     897.28 |
| 2019-20 |                                                988.72 |                                     897.28 |
| 2020-21 |                                                959.72 |                                     867.92 |
| 2021-22 |                                                951.88 |                                     853.82 |
| 2022-23 |                                               1043.83 |                                     943.04 |

With  the  rapid  expansion  &  growth  of  the  Indian  economy,  the  demand  of electricity  is  also  witnessing  an  unprecedented  growth.    The  electricity demand in India has witnessed a growth of around 9% for the years 2021-22 and  2022-23.The  total  emissions  have  increased  commensurate  with  the increase in generation of the electricity.

However, due to increasing share of  Renewable Energy in the Grid, the carbon intensity of the grid is reducing. There is significant decrease of about 9% in average carbon emission factor of the grid electricity in India from 201314 to 2022-23.

- (b) & (c) : For  reduction  of  emission  levels  of  Thermal  Power  Plants  (TPPs), following measures have been taken by the Government:
-  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.
-  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  5-7%  co-firing  of  Biomass  primarily  of  agro residue  with  coal,  after  assessing  the  technical  feasibility.  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.
-  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.
-  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.
-  NTPC Ltd. has commissioned a 20 Tonnes Per Day (TPD) capacity Pilot Carbon Capture Project at Vindhyachal Thermal Power Station.

India in  its  Intended  Nationally  Determined  Contributions  (INDCs)  stands committed  to  achieve  about  50  percent  cumulative  electric  power  installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. At present India has  already  achieved  45.5%  Installed  Capacity  from  non-fossil  fuel-based resources.

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