Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently said that the future of the growth of energy demand will come from India, and oil and coal will continue to make up a significant portion of the country’s energy basket.
He added that with the adoption of new technology, India will gradually phase out of the existing energy consumption patterns and move towards a cleaner path.
Recent endeavours by private firms such as Adani Group in Goa and Jhajjar Power in NCR, have proven that this is indeed possible. Furthermore, the government has also mandated plants with almost 50 GW thermal power capacity to install emission control systems such as FGD (Flue Gas Desulfurization) by 2022. FGD technology removes gaseous sulphur dioxide released from coal burning.
The initiative by Jhajjar Power Limited, a subsidiary of CLP India, is a clear example of the positive impact of such clean technology. The company was the first in the NCR region to install an FGD and since then, it has reduced its emission of sulphur dioxide by a whopping 85 per cent, approximately. Other technologies that the company adopted reduces Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM).
Adani Group’s efforts
When it comes to responsible coal handling, leading port operator Adani Group — which boasts of an extensive port portfolio across Goa, Gujarat and other coastal regions — has also been among the frontrunners.
For instance, it uses recycled and reused water at its plants in Mundra and Udupi for the suppression of coal dust and removal of bottom ash generated in the boilers.
Similarly, the Adani Group’s Goa project in the Mormugao Terminal, where it holds a minor 10 per cent stake at the coal handling facility, uses spray that has proven to control coal dust emission by around a whopping 80 per cent.
States and companies such as the NTPC, Tata Power, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra that contribute to around 50 per cent of the existing power generation capacity of India, have also commendably committed to not building new coal power plants.
Many of them have even been transitioning to solar energy. Such unparalleled strides coupled with sustainability measures taken by companies like Jhajjar Power Limited in NCR and Adani Group in Goa, will undoubtedly reduce the dependence on coal, and if not, at least curb the environmental impact.
(ThePrint ValueAd Initiative content is a paid for, sponsored article. Journalists of ThePrint are not involved in reporting or writing it.)