PSPCL nod to 3 new-age units at Ropar plant

SUPERCRITICAL UNITS CONSUME LESS FUEL, PRODUCE LESS CARBON GASES, AND ARE MORE EFFICIENT POWER GENERATORS

RUPNAGAR: Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has given administrative approval for three supercritical units of 800 megawatts (MW) each at Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Power Plant to replace six units of 210-MW each.

Unlike a conventional coalfired thermal plant, a supercritical plant consumes less fuel, produces less carbon gases, and is more efficient in power generation. The PSPCL management approved these units in its 48th meeting and gave the chief engineer (thermal design) three months to submit a preliminary report after a feasibility study of supercritical units in consultation with Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and other agencies.

In a meeting with chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on May 27, members of the PSEB (erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board) Engineers Association had proposed supercritical at Rupnagar to bring down the cost of electricity generation. The CM told his officers to work on the idea. The 1,260- MW Rupnagar thermal-energy plant has its first unit commissioned in September 1984, second in March 1985, third and fourth in the year 1988-89, and the last two in the year 1992-93.

PSEB Engineers Association president Baldev Singh said the existing units were past their 25-year life and had no major overhauling of the kind done in Bathinda. Moreover, supercritical units are more efficient and less polluting.