NTPC joins the global league thanks to hydel power

PSU power major NTPC has joined a select group of global biggies who span the entire fuel chain — coal, gas, hydro power and renewables — for generating greener electricity.

This was made possible with the commissioning of the first hydel project of the PSU in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh.

The country's largest...

fossil fuel-based generation utility quietly switched on the last of the four 200 MW units of its first hydel project.

The hydel foray is part of NTPC's diversification plan to widen fuel base.

The Koldam project on Sutlej will provide peaking capacity to the northern grid and annually generate 3,054 GWh electricity at 90% capacity.

The project is likely to expected to enhance the life of Bhakra reservoir considerably by trapping the sediments of Sutlej in Koldam.

The project encountered several challenges during its construction due to geological surprises and environmental obstacles. But present chairman Arup Roy Choudhury held his team steady on course and NTPC finally managed to start filling up the reservoir in December 2013.

NTPC is the largest power utility in India with an installed power capacity of 43,143 MW and an additional 23839 MW capacity under construction. To realize the vision of becoming a world class power major, NTPC plans to become a 1,28,000 MW company by 2032. NTPC plans to add 14,038 MW during the 12th Plan period (2012-17) and the Maharatna PSU has cash reserves of Rs.16,867.7 crore as on 31 March this year.

In a bid to reducing dependency on fossil fuels, NTPC has chalked out a road map that envisages an installed capacity of 128 GW by the year 2032 with a well diversified fuel mix comprising 56% coal, 16% gas, 11% nuclear energy, 9% renewable energy and 8% hydro power based capacity.

As such, by the year 2032, 28% of NTPC’s installed generating capacity will be based on carbon free energy sources. Further, the coal based capacity will increasingly be based on high-efficient-low-emission technologies such as Super-critical and Ultra-Super-critical. Along with this growth, NTPC will utilize a strategic mix of options to ensure fuel security for its fleet of power stations.