POLLUTION CAUSED BY COAL BASED POWER PLANTS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF POWER
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3678
ANSWERED ON 10.08.2023
POLLUTION CAUSED BY COAL BASED POWER PLANTS
†3678. SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has conducted any evaluation/assessment of pollution caused by coal based power plants in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with other related impact of the pollution assessed during the last two years;

(c) the details of effective steps being taken by the Government to control pollution caused by the coal based power plants;

(d) whether the Government has taken any steps to reduce or minimize dependence on coal by the power plants in the country; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) to (c) : The Coal based Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) are required to ensure compliance of the emission norms, as notified by Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and directions given by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), from time to time. MoEF&CC vide Notification dated 31.03.2021 has stipulated timelines for compliance to emission norms by TPPs. Compliance with these norms is regularly monitored by the CPCB and State agencies.

The TPPs are adopting supercritical and ultra-supercritical technologies in order to improve efficiency, thereby reducing coal consumption and emissions. A total capacity of Supercritical units of 63830 MW (92 Units) and Ultra-supercritical of 1320 MW (2 units) have been commissioned till 31.07.2023. Ministry of Power constituted the National Mission on Use of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants (SAMARTH) on 12th July 2021 and the revised biomass

policy was issued on 8th October 2021, mandating all TPPs in the country to use5% of biomass pellets in the co-firing with coal. This policy was further modified vide Ministry’s O.M dated 16.06.2023, which mandates 5% biomass co-firing inThermal Power Plants (TPPs) from 2024-25. This obligation shall increase to 7%

from 2025-26.

(d) & (e) : The Government of India has set a target to achieve 500 GW of cumulative Installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030. The Government is taking following measures to increase share of renewable energy and to promote energy efficiency in all spheres of life: –

(i) Ministry of Power issued scheme for “Flexibility in Generation and Scheduling of Thermal/ Hydro Power Stations through bundling with Renewable Energy and Storage Power” in April, 2022 providing for replacement of both thermal and hydropower with renewable energy. The scheme increases RE capacity addition, reduces thermal emissions, increases uptake of Renewable Energy by distribution licensees, and facilitates in fulfilling Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO).

(ii) Green Energy Open Access Rules 2022 for promotion of renewable energy.

(iii) Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) declaration up to the year 2029-30.

(iv) Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) to facilitate sale of Renewable Energy Power through exchanges.

(v) Waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for inter-State sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30 June

2025.

(vi) Setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks to provide land and transmission to RE developers for installation of RE projects at large scale.

(vii) Laying of new transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme for evacuation of renewable power.

(viii) Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), Solar Rooftop Phase II, 12000 Mega Watt (MW)Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Scheme Phase II, etc.