Delhi will use less coal power this winter

NEW DELHI: After the

closure

of the polluting

Badarpur power plant

due to

environmental concerns

, the Delhi government is looking to

cut down

on

more coal-based electricity

to combat air pollution this winter.


The power department has informed National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) that the city will not need power from the Dadri-I thermal power station for the winter power load as the Bawana plant is now equipped to generate 800-900 MW. Now, Delhi will source power from only two coal-based plants, Dadri-II and Aravalli super thermal stations. The rest of Delhi’s need is met by environment-friendly, gas-based stations.

The decision to skip the Dadri-I plant was taken in a high-level meeting held this month with senior officials of the power ministry, NTPC, Environment Pollution (prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) and Delhi government officials. “Unless there is some contingency, Delhi will not require power from Dadri-I for the winter months of November to February. Adequate arrangements have been made to meet the winter load, and we do not anticipate any problem,” said secretary (power) Varsha Joshi.

Delhi gets about 600MW from the Dadri-I station, a shortfall that officials say will be met by the enhanced generation from the Bawana plant. “Now that the Bawana plant has a gas tie-up, it can generate more than enough to make up for Dadri-I. The power demand in winter is also less,” said an official.

The Aravalli and Dadri-II plants together produce up to 2,000MW. The rest of Delhi’s power comes from its own generating stations — Pragati, Bawana and GT — and its shares in various other central sector plants. With the commencement of the 400kV Tughlaqabad substation this month, Delhi has got a much needed boost in infrastructure connectivity as the power produced in the Bawana station can now flow to all parts of the city.

While most of the blame for Delhi’s poor air quality is put on stubble burning in nearby states, a lot of blame has also been placed on coal-based power plants with the Supreme Court-appointed EPCA ensuring the closure of the Badarpur station.

“We have tried to cut back on coal-fired power for Delhi as much as possible this season. The city, however, still needs power from the Dadri II and Aravalli stations, which are critical for the islanding scheme,” said Joshi.