8 new ultra supercritical power plants on anvil

After deciding to set up ultra mega power projects to improve power supply across the country, the government's next big step would be to set up eight ultra supercritical power plants.

At the same time, the government plans to mandate equipment manufacturers to set up shops in the country to cater to these projects.

"Our next step would be setting up USCPPs. The government is planning to set up eight plants across the country with 800 Mw each. We are planning to start the initiative by next year," S Seshadri, member of the Central Electricity Authority, said on the sidelines of a CII-organised conference on power.

USCPPs operate at temperatures and pressures above the critical point of water, that is above the temperature and pressure at which the liquid and gas phases of water coexist in equilibrium, at which point there is no difference between water gas and liquid water. This results in higher efficiencies -- above 45 per cent.

These power plants are fast becoming the system of choice across China, Europe and the US, which operate at higher temperatures and pressures and, therefore, achieve higher efficiencies than conventional boiler units, resulting in less coal use per megawatt-hour.

According to Seshadri, the government is currently helping set up 12 UMPPs across the country. The first one, commissioned by Tata Power, is expected to go onstream by September 2011. "The government is also planning to set up another two UMPPs," he said.

Currently, specifications are under preparation, one of which would compel  equipment suppliers to set up shop in India. According to Seshadri, one of the major factors would be availability of materials and equipment; there are only two or three manufacturers in the world catering to USCPPs.