Lok Sabha Question No. 2800 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-08
Subject: Power from Non-Fossil Fuels
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Shri K Gopinath, Dr. M K Vishnu Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2800

## ANSWERED ON 08.08.2024

## POWER FROM NON-FOSSIL FUELS

## 2800  DR. M K VISHNU PRASAD: SHRI K GOPINATH:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  committed  to  provide  50  per  cent  power from non-fossil fuels by the year 2030 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  reasons  for  new  fossil  fuel-based  power  plants  being  approved  and expansion projects taken up on priority;
- (c) the details of expansion of fossil fuel-based plants functional on supply of imported coal;
- (d) the manner in which the Government proposes to tackle pollution and the problems of stranded assets, including investments, infrastructure and human resources as the country plans to cross over to renewable sources of energy during the next 5-6 years; and
- (e) the details of the plan adopted to meet high and peak demands during the current year?

## A N S W E R

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

(a) & (b) : 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. A plan has  been  prepared  according  to  which,  India  will  not only meet  its commitment of 50% non-fossil fuel-based generation capacity but will surpass the same.

.........2.

The peak and electrical energy requirement of the country is increasing over the years. In the last three years (i.e., from 2021-22 to 2023-24) the growth in peak and energy requirement is 9.5 % and 8.6% respectively. Due to measures taken to shift  the  demand  during  solar  hours,  the  peak  demand  is  now  being  observed during solar hours. During the solar hours along with various generation resources such as coal, gas, hydro, nuclear and wind, solar generation is available to meet the peak demand. The demand during the non-solar hours even though less than the solar hours is also increasing year on year. The benefit of solar generation is not available during the non-solar hours; accordingly, the demand is required to be met  from  the  generation  resources  that  are  from  coal,  gas,  hydro,  nuclear  and wind.  Thus,  in  order  to  mitigate  the  seasonal  behavior  of  hydro,  wind  and  nonavailability of domestic gas for gas-based power plants, the coal based generation capacity is required to meet the demand during non-solar hours.

(c) :   No capacity expansion of fossil fuel-based plants functional on the supply of imported coal has been planned.

(d) : (i) Environment Clearance (EC) is the foremost requirement for establishment of new as well as expansion of thermal power capacity. All other clearances & permissions are processed only on the basis of grant of Environment Clearance; which is based on an elaborate and rigorous process.

- (ii)  Further,  the  thermal  power  plants  are  within  the  ambit  of  MoEF&CC's prescribed:
-  Emission norms with respect to: Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM); Oxides of Sulphur; Oxides of Nitrogen and Mercury (Hg);
-  Effluent  Parameters  viz  -  pH,  Total  Suspended  Solids  (TSS),  Oil&  Grease, Heavy Metals etc; and
-  Specific Water Consumption Limits.

(iii)  To improve efficiency, all the under-construction/ planned TPPs are based on supercritical and ultra-supercritical technology, thereby reducing coal consumption and emissions.

(iv)  The  entire  planning  of  future  capacity  additions,  including  that  of  thermal capacity addition, are based on Central Electricity Authority's (CEAs) 20 th  Electric Power Survey (EPS) projections of; All India Peak Electricity Demand and Electrical Energy Requirement, for the years 2026-27 and 2031-32. Considering the projected demand,  no  power  assets  are  expected  to  be  stranded.  Further,  The  Central Electricity  Authority  (CEA)  has  issued  an  advisory  to  all  the  Thermal  Power Utilities not to retire or repurpose their coal-based power stations in next 5-6 years and  ensure  the  availability  of  thermal  units  after  carrying  out  Renovation  & Modernization  (R&M)  activities,  if  required,  considering  the  expected  energy demand scenario and availability of capacity in future.

........3.

(e) :   With the following in place measures, the highest ever peak demand of 250 GW has been successfully met in Q1 of FY 2024-25:

(i) Directions have been issued by the Ministry of Power, under Section 11 of the  Electricity  Act,  2003,  for  Imported  Coal  Based  (ICB)  Plants  to  continue generation  support during  high-demand  period.  These  directions  have  been extended  till  15.10.2024,  keeping  in  view  the  shortages  during  evening  peak periods.

(ii) Similar  to  the  directions  issued  for  ICB  Plants,  Section  11  directions  were also issued to gas-based power plants.

(iii) Planned Maintenance of generating units were reduced to a minimum level, during the summer high-demand period. Partial and forced outages of generating units  are  also  minimized  to  maximize  the  availability  of  generation  capacity. Moreover, plants under long outage were sensitized to revive their units to ensure maximum power generation during the high demand period.

(iv) All  GENCOs  were  advised  to  keep  their  generating  plants  under  healthy condition  to  ensure  full  capacity  availability  for  optimal  operation  of  various generation sources to meet the power demand.

(v) Adequate  coal  stock  was  maintained  at  Coal-Based  Thermal  stations. Further, Ministry of Power vide order dated 27.06.2024 has advised Central/ State GENCOs and IPPs to take necessary actions to import coal for blending at the rate of 4%  by weight, till 15 th October'24, through a transparent competitive procurement  so  as  to  have  sufficient  stock  at  their  power  plants  for  smooth operations.

(vi) Optimization of Hydro Power generation was done. All hydro stations were advised to conserve water during solar hours and dispatch maximum generation during non-solar hours to ensure adequacy of power at all times.

(vii) Any un-requisitioned /surplus power available with the generating stations is to  be  offered  in  the  market  as  per  provisions  of  Electricity  (Late  Payment Surcharge and Related Matters) Rules, 2022 and amendment thereof. This power will be utilized by any other buyer from the power market.

(viii)  States were advised to utilize the PUShP portal to tie up power with other states with surplus capacity.

In  addition  to  the  measures  mentioned  at  paras:  e(i),  e(iv),  e(v),e(vii)  and e(viii), which are still in place, the likely capacity addition from following sources: 15,360 MW from Thermal; 3,200 MW from Hydro and; 28,900 MW from Renewable Energy, in FY 2024-25, would further improve the availability of power and provide support in meeting the peak demand and energy requirements of the country.

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