Green energy targets in mind, but is India tech- ready?
Tech innovation remains critical for both cleaner coal and energy storage systems
India’s green energy targets for the next few years may be clear and crisp, but the country needs to focus more on related technologies to achieve its environment-friendly goals.
While it is investing in the research and development (R&D) of a superior technology for coal-based power generation, major policies for battery charging and energy storage are still lacking.
In 2011, the government shared plans to invest in the Advanced Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) Technology for Thermal Power and the expectation was to have its first plant ready in 2017.
However, it was only in August 2016 that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved an R&D proposal for developing Advanced Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) Technology for Thermal Power Plants at an estimated cost of ~15.54 billion and a time cycle of two and a half years. State-run BHEL and NTPC are working on this project. According to industry sources, most other countries seem to have given up on the technology due to various reasons such as a bleak future for coal-based power generation and high costs involved in generating electricity using such technology. This also means India will have to develop this technology indigenously.
As of December last year, India had an installed capacity of 192.97 gigawatt of thermal power. It is committed to make coal-based generation energy efficient under the Paris Climate agreement. AUSC technology involves bringing steam temperatures up to 700°C, while Ultra Super Critical Technology involves a temperature of 600°C.
“The US has given up on this thermal power technology, because there is hardly any use of this any more. India will need to use coal as a power generation source at least for the next two to three decades. The difficulty India would face is not on boiler technology, but that on the steam turbine as the companies India sources the technology from for turbines are not working at AUSC level. Japan was earlier looking at it, but not anymore,” said M S Unnikrishnan, managing director and chief executive officer, Thermax. In addition, Unnikrishnan points out, India may benefit from this investment in research “if we are able to achieve results in the next two to three years”.
The Central Electricity Authority has estimated that the country may not need any new thermal power capacity in the next 10 years. “For the next 10 years, we have said we will not invest in a new coal plant. If within that period energy storage technologies are put in place, we may not need more coal. I am not sure of the relevance of a conversation on AUSC, we will have to wait and watch,” said Amarthaluru Subba Rao, executive director (finance and strategy), CLP India. Rao says India’s current thermal capacity faces a modernisation challenge. “Meeting the new emissions norms and managing costs are going to be a phenomenal journey. Perhaps investments in AUSC R&D are a back-up plan if energy storage is not developed 10 years from now,” he added.