NTPC Gears Up To Complete Work On FGD Plant By Aug

Visakhapatnam: NTPC Super Thermal Power Station, India's first shore-based coal-fired power plant using seawater for condenser cooling and ash disposal will be commissioning all the four units of flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) plant by August.

During an interaction with the media, NTPC Simhadri Head of Project (HoP) and Executive Director Sameer Sharma said on Thursday that due to Covid and blower problems, the project's completion has been slightly delayed. The project's original cost was estimated at Rs891 ccore. NTPC Simhadri, which has four units each of 500 MW is located at Parawada near here. The project supplies power to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and other Southern States.

FGD is considered an eco-friendly measure in the power plants.FGD materials are solids produced when SO2 in exhaust gases is separated from the gases that are being released into the atmosphere. It will bring down sulphur dioxide levels by 90 to 95%.

Stating that they are successfully generating and using 25 MW being generated from a 25 MW floating solar PV project developed in the raw water reservoir at a cost of Rs100 crore and hinted at further expansion of the capacity.

He said various works are now going on the Green Hydrogen Project at Pudimadaka by NTPC Green Energy Ltd (NGEL), for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid the foundation stone in Visakhapatnam on January 8. The project envisages a total investment of Rs.1.85 lakh crore in phases.

Asked to comment on the progress of the project, Sharma said 1200 acres have already been acquired for the project. Keeping the future requirement, the State Government has been asked to allot another 400 acres. NGEL has signed an agreement with New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation (NREDCAP) for production of 20 GW renewable energy projects, 1500 TPD green hydrogen derivatives including green methanol, green urea and sustainable aviation fuel.

The project is expected to contribute immensely to India's non-fossil energy target of 500 GW by 2030. This will also solidify India's position as a world leader in generating clean energy. The Green Hydrogen Hub near Visakhapatnam will be India's first major project under the Green Hydrogen Project.

Sharma said besides being India's No. 1 thermal power producer, they are holding talks to set up 23 nuclear power plants at multiple locations and play a big role in solar and wind power generation.