The power sector being the largest emitter of CO2 has a key role to play if India wants to achieve its target of going net-zero by 2070. This will mean that we would need to move away from coal-based
NTPC Ltd plans to spend about Rs 7,341 crore for setting up the second phase of Barh super thermal power project in Bihar. "The company has accorded the investment approval for Barh Super Thermal Power Project, Stage-II (2 X 660 MW) in Bihar at an appraised estimated current cost of Rs 7,341 crore,' it said in a filing to Bombay Stock Exchange. The first stage consisting of three units of 660 MW each is under implementation.
The Union Budget proposal for re-imposition of five per cent import duty on naphtha for petrochemical production seems to have found its single largest casualty in West Bengal government-promoted Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL). HPL is reportedly the only major standalone petrochemical facility using naphtha as feedstock. The showpiece industrial project of the State Government estimates a Rs 300-crore hit on bottomline
Emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) from electric power generation sources within the US Acid Rain Programme fell sharply in 2006, with reductions of 830,000 tonnes from 2005 levels and an overall reduction of 40 per cent from 1990 levels, reports the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA). March 2008
SILCHAR, Feb 20
Leading power companies, including Larsen & Turbo, Reliance Energy, Tata Power, Nagarjuna Construction, GVK Infrastructure and Sterlite Industries have expressed interest in taking up the construction of Rajpura thermal and Talwandi Sabo mega power projects in Punjab. The projects are proposed to be awarded to developers on build, own and operate (BOO) basis, through tariff-based international competitive bidding (ICB). For both the projects, Power Finance Corporation has been appointed as the consultant resulting in such a tremendous response.
The best way to cut down on the greenhouse gases produced by power generation is to reduce America's appetite for electricity. Renewable energy sources like wind power and biomass have a helpful role to play. Yet, dependable base sources will remain necessary, and coal-fired plants will probably be part of the mix for a long time. Minimizing the impact of such plants is vital. That is why it is so discouraging that the Bush administration pulled the plug on a project for using coal to produce power without carbon dioxide emissions. For five years, the Department of Energy, coal and power companies, and several countries, including China, have been partners in developing a plant in Mattoon, Illinois, that would convert coal to gas, allowing its carbon dioxide to be captured and stored underground. The Department of Energy said it withdrew its 75 percent support from FutureGen last month because its cost had almost doubled, from $1 billion to $1.8 billion. Some have suggested the real motive might have been lingering opposition to the choice of Mattoon by administration officials from Texas, which lost out in the selection process. Congress should call on the Government Accountability Office to investigate how the department made its decision to pull out. Five years of work have come to a dead end, and the country and the world are not much closer to knowing if coal can be part of the climate change solution and not just the climate change problem.
GUWAHATI, Feb 17
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the National Thermal Power Corporation (NPTC) are exploring the possibility of expediting the construction of 500 MW coal fired power plant in Trincomalee, Power and Energy Ministry official said. Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Senevirathne held discussions with Indian Commerce Minister Jairam Ramesh in this regard in Colombo recently. CEB and NTPC officials will visit the proposed site at Nilaveli, Trincomalee in the coming weeks, the official said. Senevirathne said a new jetty would be constructed close to the site and the Trincomalee Town would also be developed under the project. Indian Minister Ramesh had assured that India would provide assistance to develop the energy sector. He said India would expedite construction of the India-Lanka inter-transmission line through which India hopes to export electricity to Sri Lanka at cheaper rates. The minister said India would assist in the development of renewable of energy such as wind and solar power. Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Alok Prasad expressed willingness to assist in the rural village electrifying project in the Eastern Province.
Efforts are being made to set up another thermal power station with a capacity of 500 mw called Pithead Thermal Power Project (PTPP) in Sattupalli by APGenco. The officials of APGenco started clearing the bottlenecks in setting up the power project there such as finding water, land and coal linkage.
Maharashtra has reasons to push for the power projects. Its electricity demand is estimated to have touched 13,500 mw by October 2007, while the supply is about 10,500 mw. JSW Energy is one of the eight companies that signed agreements with the state government in 2005 to set up power plants. As per the MoEF website, 11 thermal power projects are awaiting environmental clearance. "Almost the whole of coastline of Maharashtra is industrialized and some parts of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg are left intact.
