Over 83.50 GW thermal power capacity worth ₹6.96 lakh crore under planning

The Power Ministry has more than 83.50 gigawatts (GW) of thermal power capacity worth around ₹6.96 lakh crore is under various stages of planning and implementation at present, which is critical for meeting the country’s base load requirements by 2032.
In order to meet the estimated electricity demand by FY32, generation planning studies were carried out by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) considering the stressed scenario. As per the study results, it is envisaged that to meet the base load requirement of the country in 2032, the required coal & lignite based installed capacity is 283 GW.
Considering this, the Ministry has planned to set up an additional minimum 80 GW coal-based capacity by FY32.
At present, 26.38 GW of thermal capacity is under construction, 11.96 GW has been bid out and 19.05 GW is under clearance, Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik said in a written response in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
- Read also: India’s power consumption growth subdued at 3% to 137.49 billion units in Jan
This would require around ₹6.96 lakh crore considering that the estimated capital cost for setting up a coal-based thermal power plant, as per the National Electricity Plan, is ₹8.34 crore per megawatt (MW) (at 2021-22 prices).
The government is also working on policies to reduce the carbon emission by coal-based power plants. All such plants are required to comply with the emission norms as notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and directions given by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from time to time.
In order to meet the sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission norms and timelines notified by MoEF&CC, Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) systems are being installed in coal based TPPs.
A total of 537 units with more than 204 GW capacity have been identified for installation of FGDs. Out of these, FGD installation has been completed in 49 Units (25,590 MW).
Besides, contracts awarded and/ or under implementation are going on in 211 units, with 91,880 MW capacity, and in another 180 units (58,997 MW capacity) under various stages of the tendering process. Around 97 units (27,693 MW) are under pre-tendering process.
Renewables push
Besides thermal, around 14 GW of Hydro Electric projects and 8 GW Pumped Storage Projects (PSP) are under construction. Around 24.23 GW of hydro electric projects and 50.76 GW of PSP are under various stages of planning and targeted to be completed by FY32.
About 7.3 GW of nuclear power capacity is under construction and targeted to be completed by FY30. Another 7 GW is under various stages of planning and approval.
Furthermore, around 147.16 GW renewable energy (RE) capacity including 84.19 GW of Solar, 26.20 GW of Wind and 36.33 GW Hybrid power is under construction. W
That apart, 79.27 GW of RE capacity including 50.83 GW of Solar, 600 megawatt (MW) of Wind and 27.84 GW Hybrid Power is at various stages of planning and targeted to be completed by FY30.
- Read also: Karnataka government plans for 19,000 MW power demand, ensures no load-shedding this summer
The Ministry is also expanding the transmission capacity in line with generation to meet the project power demand by FY32.
Inter and Intra-state transmission system has been planned. As per the National Electricity Plan, about 1,91,474 ckm (circuit km) of transmission lines and 1,274 GVA of transformation capacity is planned to be added (at 220 kV and above voltage level) during the ten year period from FY23 to FY32.