Lok Sabha Question No. 2068 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Efficiency of Thermal and Hydro Power Plants
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Chinta Anuradha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2068 ANSWERED ON 14.12.2023

## EFFICIENCY OF THERMAL AND HYDRO POWER PLANTS 2068. SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA:

Will the Minister of POWER

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the efficiency of the Government controlled thermal and hydro power plants has reduced substantially because of lack of proper maintenance and timely upgradation of machines and tools resulting in static or reduced power generation;
- (b) if  so,  the  reasons  therefor  with  respect  to  each  of  the  power  plants under the control of the Government, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  programme  to  upgrade such thermal and hydro power plants and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## A N S W E R

## THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

- (a) & (b) : No,  Sir.    Power  plants  including  thermal  and  hydro  carryout annual maintenance and periodic maintenance of various plant items/machinery  to  prevent  breakdown,  loss  of  generation  and  loss  of efficiency  etc.  As  per  Central  Electricity  Authority's  (CEA)  General  Review 2022, the efficiency of coal and lignite based plants increased from 34.68% in 2014-15 to 35.88% in 2021-22.
- (c) & (d) : With  regards  to  Renovation  &  Modernisation  (R&M)  and  Life Extension (LE), CEA has prepared a report after studying various aspects of R&M and LE of coal  based  thermal  power  plants  in  August,  2023  and  the same has been circulated by Ministry of Power (MoP) to all power utilities wherein CEA had identified 148 thermal units with a total capacity of ~38150 MW  as  potential  candidates  for  R&M/LE  works.  The  phasing  plan  for implementation for R&M/LE at 148 units was also prepared in consultation with central,  state  and  private  power  utilities.    Generation  is  a  delicensed activity,  therefore,  it  is  for  the  utilities  to  decide  whether  to  carry  out R&M/LE activities or not with the approval of state ERCs after cost benefit analysis.

With regards to Renovation and Modernisation (R&M)/ Upgradation  of  hydro  power  plants,  it  is  mentioned  that  the  normative operating  life  of  hydroelectric  power  plant  is  40  years.    The  decision  to undertake Renovation and Modernisation (R&M) of existing old hydro power plants is taken by the concerned State and Central Power  Utilities considering  the  condition  of  machine  through  Residual  Life  Assessment (RLA) studies and cost effectiveness. Renovation & Modernisation (R&M)/Upgradation works is a continuous  exercise,  as  a  cost  effective  option  for  optimization  of  energy resources  through  improvement  in  efficiency,  better  availability  and  also augmentation  of  capacity.  For  this  purpose,  the  Government  formulates  5 year  plans  for  continuous  monitoring  of  Hydro  Power  Projects  which  are undergoing  Renovation,  Modernization,  Uprating &  Life Extension.  The Renovation,  Modernization, Uprating and Life Extension works at 64 Hydro Electric Plants (HEPs) with an aggregate installed capacity of ~11718 MW is programmed for completion during the year 2022-27. Further, The Renovation,  Modernization,  Uprating  and  Life  Extension  works  at  21  Hydro Electric Plants (HEPs) with an aggregate installed capacity of ~2879 MW is programmed  for  completion  during  2027-32  through  Life  Extension  and Uprating.

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