COAL EMISSIONS AND THERMAL POWER PLANTS – ENVIRONMENT

News: Global coal demand set to remain at record levels in 2023

 

What's in the news?

       Global coal consumption climbed to a new all-time high in 2022 and will stay near that record level this year as strong growth in Asia for both power generation and industrial applications outpaces declines in the United States and Europe, according to the IEA’s latest market update.

 

Key takeaways:

       Coal consumption in 2022 rose by 3.3% to 8.3 billion tonnes, setting a new record, according to the IEA’s mid-year 'Coal Market Update'.

 

Thermal power plants:

       India has around 20 coal-fired thermal plants with capacities of 2000 MW or above while the average energy efficiency of these plants is a mere 32.8 percent.

       Thermal utilities, which produce 75% of the country's power, account for some 80% of industrial emissions of sulphur and nitrous-oxides, much of the coal produced in the country is of a relatively inferior grade. Only a small part of India's coal reserves is of the anthracite variety, with the rest being of the bituminous, lignite or peat genres

 

Emission from coal burning:

       India is the world's second largest producer of coal and ranks third in global emissions from coal mining. Emissions are estimated to be 22 MtCO2e in 2020 and are expected to reach 45 MtCO2e in 2050.

       Coal-based thermal power stations with no pollution control technology are responsible for over half sulphur dioxide (SO2), 30 percent oxides of nitrogen (NOx), about 20 per cent particulate matter (PM), among other man-made emissions in the country.

       Only 40 per cent of India's total coal power capacity of 211.6 GW have been awarded bids for installing FGD while another 4 per cent have already installed it, according to government data.

 

Why is decarbonising the power sector important?

       Decarbonizing the power sector will help India achieve its net-zero emissions since it is the single largest source (about 40%) of India’s greenhouse gas emissions.

       Till now, India has focused only on expanding renewable electricity capacity. For instance, 175 GW of renewable capacity by 2022 and 450 GW of renewable capacity by 2030.

       But India should also aim at limiting the expansion of coal-based electricity capacity. Coal accounts for roughly 75% of the electricity today.

 

Initiatives to cut emissions:

1. Installation of emission capture technologies:

       India had initially set a 2017 deadline for thermal power plants to install flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) units to cut sulphur emissions.

2. Commitment in Glasgow summit:

       India is now committing itself to at least 45% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP (emissions per unit of GDP) from 2005 levels.

       The existing target was a 33% - 35% reduction.

       India is also promising to ensure that at least 50% of installed electricity generation capacity in 2030 would be based on non-fossil fuel-based sources.

       This is an increase from the existing 40% target.

3. Propagate biomass co-firing:

       The Ministry of Power (MOP) set up a National Mission on the use of Biomass in thermal power plants in July last year named as SAMARTH Mission.

       In September 2019, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had clarified that power generated from co-firing of biomass in thermal power plants is renewable energy and is eligible for meeting non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO).

       Substituting 5-7 percent of coal with biomass in coal-based power plants can save 38 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions

       About 80525 MT of biomass has been co-fired in 35 Thermal power plants in the country with a cumulative capacity of 55335 MW till 24th July 2022.

4. Conversion of coal to methanol:

       NITI Aayog's 'Methanol Economy' programme is aimed at reducing India's oil import bill, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and converting coal reserves and municipal solid waste into methanol.

       Methanol is a low carbon, hydrogen carrier fuel produced from high ash coal, agricultural residue, CO2 from thermal power plants and natural gas.

5. Greening initiatives:

       The Ministry of Coal seeks to bring more than 2400 hectare of area in and around coalfields under green cover.

       It has been aimed to plant more than 50 lakh saplings for the year 2022-23.

 

Concerns:

1. Slow pace of adoption of pollution control technologies:

       Seven years after the first notification for thermal power plants to control the emission level of S02 within prescribed standards, the percentage of plants that have installed FGDs remains negligible.

2. Extension of deadlines even availability of technology:

       The process of eliminating sulphur compounds from the exhaust emissions of fossil-fuelled (coal-fired) power plants is known as flue gas desulphurisation (FGD).

       This is accomplished by including absorbent materials, which can eliminate up to 95% of the sulphur from the flue gas by scrubbing.

3. Extension leads to delay the achievement of emission targets:

       It could potentially dent India’s emission targets. The deadlines needed to be met earlier as the further increase in SO2 emissions will further dampen the current air pollution scenario, resulting in a double whammy with current climate catastrophes being witnessed across our cities at the moment.

4. The extension will lead to health impacts:

       As per the Lancet report, so much of pre- matured deaths in India are due to Air pollution.

 

Challenges in adoption of technologies:

1. The minimum time period required for FGD commissioning of 36-42 months.

2. There is limited availability of vendors and that there is a price escalation factor too due to the limited supply of components.

3. According to the Ministry, the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the supply chain and manpower availability. Two years ago, an association of power producers had written a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking more time for the installation of FGDs and raised the issue of supply disruptions in China, pointing out that only 20-30% of emissions-reducing components are manufactured in India and the country is dependent on China.

4. Despite the push for alternative sources of power, major production of electricity in India is achieved through coal-based thermal power plants which account for 75% of the country’s total power generation. Hence, The Strict norms will hamper the energy security of India.

 

WAY FORWARD:

1. Install carbon capture utilization and storage:

       As the only means of imposing deep cuts on fossil fuel CO2 emissions, carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) should represent the ultimate goal for India’s coal fleet.

       CCUS is the process of capturing waste carbon dioxide, transporting it to a storage site and depositing it where it will not enter the atmosphere.

2. Phase out old power plants:

       The IEACCC study recommended retirement of old coal-fired power stations to limit pollution and improve fleet efficiency.

3. Improve fleet technology and efficiency, renovate and modernize:

       India has one of the youngest coal fleets in the world, with around 64 per cent of the capacity (132 GW) less than a decade old.

       Maintaining efficiency of this large fleet will be crucial as it is going to be operational for at least the next 15-20 years.

       The government’s renovation and modernization policies need to play a key role in maintaining the efficiency of this fleet.

4. Increase renewable energy capacity:

       Increasing India’s renewable electricity generation can help further the cause to accelerate the retirement of old and inefficient plants.

5. Regulatory mechanism:

       Independent and statutory power regulatory Commission is a need of the system to enable the thermal power plants to strictly adhere to the emission standards.