International corner: India

Journal Article · · PETC Review (Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center); (United States)

OSTI ID:5310773

Economic growth in developing countries can have serious environmental impacts. In such countries as India, the development and commercialization of clean coal technologies for fossil-fuel utilities that generate electric power present a major opportunity to sustain and enhance regional and global development in an environmentally acceptable manner. The major source of power generation in India - into the 21st century - will be coal-fired boilers. Annual power growth is targeted at about 12% every year through the year 2000. This makes the growth of a reliable, economical, and environmentally sound electricity supply a formidable challenge. To meet this anticipated demand, the Indian power sector plans to install more than 100,000 MWe in additional capacity over the next decade. About 65% of these additions will be coal-fired plants, making the potential environmental impact very significant, particularly because the coals used for thermal power in India have an ash content ranging from 40 to 50% - compared with less than 20% ash in US coals. As India increases its mining operations (projected to be 400 millions tons by the year 2000) to meet increasing power-generation demands, the heating value (4,500 to 5,000 kcal/kg) will be even lower than it is today. India uses open-cast mining to access deep coal seams. Typically, there are mineral matter bands between seams. This method produces coals with decreasing calorific value and a higher proportion of dirt and shale. Run-of-mine coal is now used in utility boilers - meaning that coal is not cleaned before it is burned. India will improve its power-generation capacity by using more efficient ways to grade, clean, and burn this abundant resource. Installing and utilizing advanced coal beneficiation and other clean coal technologies will promote large-scale, efficient use of India's indigenous coals.

• OSTI ID: 5310773
• Journal Information: PETC Review (Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center); (United States), Vol. 9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
COAL
COMBUSTION CONTROL
PROCESSING
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
INDIA
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
ORNL
PITTSBURGH ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CENTER
US DOE
AGREEMENTS
ASIA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CONTROL
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POLLUTION CONTROL
POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
US AEC
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
294001* - Energy Planning & Policy- Coal