The challenges of fuel options for the new generation of Indian thermal power plants

Conference · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1999

OSTI ID:696710

Roy, C; Pande, S ^[1]; Sanyal, A ^[2]

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1. National Thermal Power Corp., New Delhi (India)
2. International Environmental and Energy Consultants, Lisle, IL (United States)

The selection of fuel supply is probably the most important challenge a potential power project developer for a new Indian thermal power plant has to face when considering the overall project economics. The paper reviews the essential issues and the effect of fuel selection on project costs of the new generation of thermal power plants of India. The electric power sector has taken great strides since the beginning of the planning process, over 45 years ago. It has been unable to keep pace with the rapid growth of demand, primarily due to resource constraints. Changes in the Government policy in 1991 brought fundamental changes to the power sector. The opening up of the sector and the consequent changes in the power policy, evoked great interest from private local and foreign-investors. However, mainly dud to the poor financial position of the State Electricity Boards (SEBs), few proposals settled. Uncertainty relating to fuel, multiple negotiating agencies and financing posed great challenges for developers. As of March 1997, the installed capacity of Indian utilities was 85,266 MW. Power generation in 1996--97 was 394 billion units with a plant load factor of a more 64.5%.

• Research Organization: Illinois Inst. of Tech., Chicago, IL (United States)
• OSTI ID: 696710
• Report Number(s): CONF-990410--PROC.-Vol.1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
03 NATURAL GAS
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
COAL
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
INDIA
NATURAL GAS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS