India faces serious energy security challenges due to shortfalls in peak power and energy supply as well as domestic production of crude oil and natural gas. Thermal power plants fueled by coal are a major source of commercial energy to meet future demand. Optimizing the performance and utilization of existing power resources, including improving plant availability through condition-based maintenance, is important alongside growing the power sector. The paper focuses on energy resources, demand, supply, optimization of power plant performance, and approaches to achieving energy security in India.
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Role of power sector abstract
1. ROLE OF POWER SECTOR (POWER PLANT PERFORMANCE
OPTIMIZATION IN PARTICULAR) IN ACHIEVING ENERGY SECURITY
FOR INDIA
* Shri C. D. Goswami, FIE
** Shri K. Sarkar, FIE
*** Shri Rana Subhasis Chakravarty, FIE
**** Shri A. K. Saxena, FIE
Synopsis: Energy is one of the major inputs for economic development of any country. In
the case of the developing countries like India the energy sector assumes a critical
importance in view of the ever-increasing energy needs requiring huge investments to
meet them. Indias per capita electrical energy consumption is targeted for 50% growth
in the Eleventh five year plan from present level of 704 units per year. Electricity is one
of the convenient, efficient, versatile forms of commercial energy and is therefore
considered as backbone of industrial & agricultural growth. Presently India is facing
serious challenges of energy security threat due to short fall of peak power supply by
16.6% & energy supply by 9.6%, Crude oil domestic source meets only 23% of demand,
whereas shortfall in gas supply is up to 43%. Under the above scenario, coal based
thermal power plant is being focused as major source of commercial energy. To meet the
demand of future energy requirement, not only growth of power sector is required but
optimum utilization of existing resources in the energy sector is more important. In
power basket, hydel sector is considered for serving peak load only, causing decreasing
trend of specific generation per unit of installed capacity. Renewable energy growth are
given due importance with special emphasis given on wind power generation. Nuclear
power though occupies only about three percent of energy basket, but it is targeted as
one of the important source of power in the years to come.
In this paper an effort has been made to focus on energy resources, demand, supply,
future growth plan, and present status on performance of power plant & optimization
tools applied for improvement of power plant availability. Special focus is given on
optimization approach of power plant unit performance and power sector as a whole to
achieve energy security. Some of the key suggestion for implementation are like specific
generation per unit installed capacity, for performance rating evaluation, implementation
of condition based maintenance for ensuring availability, increasing share of higher size
unit for improving national average of PLF, efficiency. Energy conservation approach is
also focused as one of the powerful tool for achieving energy security.
* Dy. General Manager (FSPD) MECON; Certified Energy Auditor (BEE)
** Dy. General Manager (FSPD) MECON
*** Asst. General Manager (Marketing Services) & Chief of Corporate Communications MECON; Council
Member (IEI)
**** General Manager (Marketing); Chairman IEI, Jharkhand State Centre