Pit Head based and Load centre based thermal power plants
Q. In India how many types of coal based Thermal power plants are there?- Published on 05 May 16a. Just 1
b. 2
c. 4
d. 3
ANSWER: 2
- The Coal is the main source of power generation in the country.
- There are broadly two categories of coal based Thermal power plants: (i) Pit Head based plants, which are situated near coal Mines and (ii) Load centre based plants situated near load centres.
- Power Plants are having different efficiency levels for conversion of coal to electricity depending upon their technology, unit capacity etc.
- At present, there are situations where efficient power plants have shortage of coal while some other Power Stations have adequate coal available with them because of less capacity utilization.
- The Union Cabinet has given its approval for allowing flexibility in utilisation of domestic coal for reducing the cost of power generation.
- The objective of the proposal is to allow flexibility in optimal use of domestic coal in efficient Generating Stations resulting in reduction in the cost of electricity generation and reduce the power purchase cost of State Distribution companies. Such flexibility will be able to leverage coal to electricity conversion, efficiency of equipment as well as transportation cost optimization.
- This would create new thrust in promoting efficiency, optimum utilization of natural resources as well as overall economic benefit in the power sector in the country.
- This will result in coal transportation cost reduction as well as savings in energy used for transportation and may also result in removal of congestion of Railways network.
- This will also be a more environment friendly arrangement as less coal will be used to produce more power and also the distance for transportation of coal would be optimized.
