It is important to understand that the coal-based thermal power sector is the single large source of industrial pollution in India. It accounts for 60% of particulate emissions, 45-50% of SOx emissions, 30% of NOx emissions, more than 80% of toxic mercury emissions and 70% of freshwater withdrawal from the entire industrial sector. Cleaning up the coal power sector will, therefore, have massive environmental and health benefits.

The standards that were notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in December 2015, according to our estimates, would reduce freshwater withdrawal from coal power sector by 85%, particulate emissions by 65%, and SOx emissions by over 85% and NOx by almost 70%. These are massive cuts and they will be achieved by implementing a set of standards that are no more stringent than what other countries across the world have imposed on their coal power sectors. In fact, China today implements far more stringent standards than those that have been notified by the MoEF&CC.

The MoEF&CC has set a deadline of December 2017 for the coal power sector to meet these standards. But the industry has so far dragged its feet. Most companies have not even started initial work. The industry is demanding at least five more years to implement these standards. 

Thermal power generation process will become more complex owing to the need of addressing climate change issues and mitigating stricter emission norms in future, at the same time tremendous pressure is on the generator to make the electricity affordable to all and to also remain competitive in the market.

In this new emerging scenario, there is a bigger responsibility to be shared by all those involved in the power plant design & engineering, operation & maintenance, renovation & modernization, erection & commissioning, environment management, commercial management, technology provider, product and solution providers, policy maker, regulators and others. These professionals have to work with new set of different challenges and constraints which are known or lesser known at this stage.

Faced with the fact that almost none of the over 400 thermal power plants across the country has complied with new emission norms notified more than a year ago, the Government is learnt to have decided to relax the December 2017 deadline — and even dilute the standards it had set.

The non-compliance shouldn’t come as a surprise. For, right from the draft stage to the post-notification phase, the move to raise the bar faced stiff resistance from within the government and the industry.

Mission Energy Foundation will address the various issues and challenges and gather industry stakeholders during SOx NOx 2017 the 2nd annual Conference – Expo – Awards to be held on 21-22 September 2017, New Delhi.

This non-compliance, however, is not entirely surprising since there was a stiff resistance from within the industry to this decision to raise the bar. The below table explains it better...

“Completely meeting requirements of revised environmental norms by December 2017 may not be feasible”

“Is this tussle a between energy and environment or do we need energy in an affordable and environmentally-sound manner by implementing the norms”

“Are there any discussions existing to increase implementation deadline (beyond December 2017)”

“Is the approach of cleaning up coal plants and promoting renewable energy together meets this objective?”

“Will the old polluting plants be replaced with supercritical super efficient plants to reduce the current pollution level?”

“Has the government has identified 7,738 mw inefficient thermal plants, which would be replaced with supercritical units, to conserve scarce natural resources like land, water and coal”

The Environment Excellence Awards - 2017 will be presented to power producing units demonstrating highest level of commitment to Environment Management covering Thermal Power Plants and services sector who demonstrate highest level of commitment and best practice. The awards aim to recognize exemplary operations, systems and the evidence of their impact to business vitality. Mission Energy Foundation awards serve as a catalyst to understanding the intrinsic value of Environment Management in business excellence and sustainability. Mission Energy Foundation invites nominations from companies and their units having strong concern and commitment for Environment Management and is willing to improve their own performance.