As the economy continues to grow at 7–8%/y, energy security has become a core focus for the Indian government. The burgeoning economy requires increasing amounts of energy, necessary to fuel the rapid development taking place. India has large reserves of coal but is poorly endowed with oil and natural gas. This results in a high (and increasing) dependence on imports which impacts negatively on the country in terms of cost and security of supply. The government has made efforts to diversify the country’s energy mix. However, these have been hampered by the limited reserves of oil and gas, environmental issues associated with additional hydro projects, and reservations about nuclear power. Coal remains the only abundant energy source and most estimates suggest that the country has sufficient reserves to last for well over a century. For the foreseeable future, India will continue to depend on coal as the main energy provider for virtually all major energy consuming sectors. Despite its poor quality, the economic and strategic benefits of coal over other forms of energy will ensure a continuing central role in the Indian economy (particularly in the electricity generating sector) for many years to come. The amount consumed will increase significantly during the coming decades.

Hard coal consumption, 2000-25 (Mt)

The largest coal consuming sector is power generation. At the moment, all coal-fired plants rely on conventional pulverised coal combustion with sub-critical steam conditions. Although the efficiency of some stations remains poor, efforts have been made to improve the performance of others via renovation and life extension exercises. Replication of the successes achieved could have an important impact on a significant proportion of the existing fleet. Improving efficiency of existing plants and repowering with newer technology will help conserve coal supplies and reduce emissions on a local and global basis. Additional coal-fired generating capacity is being built, and more is planned in an effort to meet the increasing requirements and current electricity shortages. Alongside the power sector, many major industries rely heavily on coal as an energy source. Considerable tonnages of both coking and non-coking coals are used in the commercial and industrial sectors. In most cases, consumption is increasing.

In some parts of the country atmospheric pollution from coal-fired processes and the growing transport sector is a problem. Air pollution is generally greatest in heavily populated urban areas, having worsened as a result of the country’s rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. At present, air pollution control is focused mainly on limiting emissions of particulates. There are currently no limits for NOx emissions and SO2 abatement measures are generally limited to provision of stacks of sufficient height to ensure adequate local dispersion. There is a single FGD plant in operation.

There is a growing focus on the adoption of more advanced technologies and the deployment of clean coal technologies. India’s first supercritical PCC power plant is approaching completion and various other SC projects are being developed. These include a number of 4000 MW Ultra Mega Power Projects. Their success may provide an impetus for other similar developments. Several forms of fluidised bed combustion technology are well established within the country and their numbers are growing. These comprise a large number of bubbling FBC units plus a growing number of CFBCs. Coal-fuelled IGCC technology has been developed by BHEL and a large-scale demonstration has been proposed.

This report by Stephen Mills assesses India’s clean coal technology choices and suggests that in order to address the country’s future energy requirements in an environmentally acceptable manner, no single technology will meet all the challenges, and a portfolio of CCTs will be appropriate. CCT R&D efforts are under way for a number of technologies, some in collaboration with overseas organisations. Commercial links have also been established between several major Indian developers and manufacturers of power generation equipment with international technology vendors.

Despite various policy initiatives to diversify the country’s fuel mix, it is clear that coal will remain the backbone of the country’s energy sector for many years.

Prospects for coal and clean coal technologies in India
Steve Mills
CCC/129, ISBN 92-9029-448-5, December 2007
£255 non-member countries
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£42.50 educational price