List of Thermal Power Plants in India

In India, the thermal power plants provide most of the power consumed by the nation every year. The main reason behind this is that the hydroelectric and wind power plants can’t be set up in all places, and the cost involved is quite high. Thus, these plants cannot be set up as a major source of power all across the country. Over the years, several plants have been set up to meet the growing demand for energy without causing a power outage. In the last few decades, there has been a constant effort to provide electricity to rural areas. This has increased the demand forcing the government to increase the number of such power plants (which is currently at 399) or increase the power generation capacity of the existing ones.

What is a Thermal Power Plant?

To generate electricity, a thermal power plant burns fossil fuels, like coal, diesel, natural gas, and more. The heat generated from burning these fuels is used for heating water. The steam thus generated is used to rotate a turbine, which further helps a transformer convert the turbines’ mechanical energy to electrical energy.

The main components of the thermal power plant are as follows:

1. Fuel inlet: one needs to add the fuel to the generators using the pipe or the reservoirs
2. Gas turbines: the gas generated from the fuel is used to turn the gas turbines
3. Exhaust heat recovery boiler: the balance gas is used for heating water and creating vapours
4. Steam turbines: steam is used to rotate the turbines and generate mechanical energy
5. Transformers: the mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy with high output

 voltage

Advantages of a Thermal Power Plant 

1. Energy generation from the thermal power plants is super easy, and no additional labour is 

needed. This is one of the main reasons for its becoming India’s primary energy source.

2. The thermal power plants can be established anywhere without worrying about the coastal

 winds, high-speed water, etc.

3. Setting up the thermal power plants doesn’t need too much space. This is one of the main 

reasons the Indian government is trying to make these plants more sustainable.

4. A considerable amount of power can be generated by a thermal power plant. Thus, a single power plant can supply energy to more than one or two states.

List of Major Thermal Power Plants in India

1. Vindhyachal Thermal Power Plant

It is a coal-based power generation plant with a total capacity of 4760 Megawatt . Here, 12 generation units are present, out of which six units can generate 210 Megawatt power while the rest six can produce 500 Megawatt power. Coal is supplied to this plant from the Nigahi mine, while water is taken from all the discharging canals coming out of the Singrauli Thermal Power Station.

2. Sasan Ultra Mega Power Plant

With a power generation capacity of more than 2370 Megawatt, this plant is located in Madhya Pradesh. It has an integrated coal mine, and both units are operated with the help of Reliance Power. There are six generating units of 660 Megawatt power capacity. Coal is supplied from Moher, while water is taken from the Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar Reservoir.

3. Talcher Super Thermal Power Plant

Located in Orissa, this power generation plant can produce energy of 3000 megawatt. It utilises coal from the Lingaraj block of the Talcher coalfield, while the water is drawn from the Samal Barrage Reservoir. This thermal power plant includes six units with a power generation capacity of 500 megawatt.

4. Sipat Thermal Power Plant

Sipat TPP produces thermal power of about 2980 Megawatt and is considered the eighth largest plant in India. It is located in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. Dipika Mines, South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL), supplies the coal required for this plant, while water is drawn from the Hasdeo Barrage. It has six power generating units – three 660 Megawatt supercritical generators, and the other three can produce 500 Megawatt power.

5. Rihand Thermal Power Plant

This power plant is operated by National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) and can produce 3000 Megawatt of power. It has six power generating units, each having the capacity of 500 Megawatt. It obtains coal from Dudhichua mines, located in Andhra Pradesh and water from the Rihand reservoir built on the Son river.

Conclusion

With 399 such plants based on thermal power, India is one of the biggest coal consumers. The thermal power plants are scattered in huge numbers throughout the nation, starting from the Sipat TPP to the Vindhyachal TPP. Since the country is yet to implement wide scale usage of renewable energies for the generation of power, the dependence on these power plants for electricity is quite high. It has raised concerns in the UN due to the lack of sustainability of this approach as well as environmental pollution-related issues. The government officials are planning to shift from non-renewable resources to renewable sources for the generation of power.