Carbon Footprint Estimation of an Indian Thermal Power Plant …
107
• Under PAT
1 Cycle-II, the unit achieved Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) and
has earned 21,333 Energy Saving Certificates (ESCert) during the year 2016–
2017 (one ESCert is issued for saving one ton of oil equivalent saved by the unit
in the process). The price of each ESCert is equal to 10,498 INR.
Ash Handling/Utilization and Environmental Management: the plant operation
results in two types of ash; Dry and Wet
• The company was found continuously making efforts to use fly or dry ash. The fly
ash generated (18,06,973 MT in 2016–17) was sold off to various organizations
and industrial houses for recycling purposes through MOU. These organizations
recycle the dry ash into environment friendly ash slabs, ash tiles and for construction or erection of roads. This whole process of recycling contributes towards
generation of revenue as well. The Company was observed taking initiatives to
start its own brick making unit from 2017 to 2018 and had already purchased
machine for brick making.
• The wet ash generated during the production process are dumped into ash pond
created for the purpose such disposal so as to reduce environmental pollution.
However, it was necessary to initiate dialogues with Commerce & Industries
Department, Government of West Bengal for introducing incentives schemes for
setting up of new brick manufacturing and ash-based industries utilizing the said
ash.
• Silencers for start-up vents and ejectors were installed to eliminate sound
pollution.
• Installation of Scrubbers was found resulting in reduction of Sulphur Oxides
(Sox), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emission rate from 100 to 30 over a period of last
5 years.
The adoption of energy conservation measures, ash handling and environmental
management initiatives have helped the power plant to achieve the environmental
SDGs namely SDG 3—Good Health and Well Being, SDG 7—Affordable and
Clean Energy, SDG 9—Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 12—Responsible Production & Consumption, SDG 13—Climate Action. The adoption of green
1 National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) introduced the scheme of Perform
Achieve and Trade (PAT) for attaining reduction in energy consumed by industries in which demand
for energy is very high. However this reduction has to be achieved by such industries through certain
market based mechanism that would improve the cost efficiency by trading of certificates received
by industries for saving excess energy.
The first cycle of Perform Achieve and Trade (2012–13 to 2014–15) was framed with the intention of
reducing specific energy consumption (SEC) in energy intensive sectors. There are 478 Designated
Consumers (DCs) from eight sectors namely, Aluminum, Cement, Chlor Alkali, Fertilizer, Iron &
Steel, Paper & Pulp, Thermal Power Plant and Textile. However PAT Cycle –II was formed for a
duration of three years commencing from 2016–17 to 2018–19. In this second cycle of PAT, three new
industrial sectors namely Railways, Refineries and Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOMs)
were incorporated. This inclusion was made for the purpose of accomplishing a reduction in total
energy consumption of 8.869 Million Tonnes of Oil Equivalent (MTOE) (http://www.beeindia.gov.
in) [27].
107
• Under PAT
1 Cycle-II, the unit achieved Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) and
has earned 21,333 Energy Saving Certificates (ESCert) during the year 2016–
2017 (one ESCert is issued for saving one ton of oil equivalent saved by the unit
in the process). The price of each ESCert is equal to 10,498 INR.
Ash Handling/Utilization and Environmental Management: the plant operation
results in two types of ash; Dry and Wet
• The company was found continuously making efforts to use fly or dry ash. The fly
ash generated (18,06,973 MT in 2016–17) was sold off to various organizations
and industrial houses for recycling purposes through MOU. These organizations
recycle the dry ash into environment friendly ash slabs, ash tiles and for construction or erection of roads. This whole process of recycling contributes towards
generation of revenue as well. The Company was observed taking initiatives to
start its own brick making unit from 2017 to 2018 and had already purchased
machine for brick making.
• The wet ash generated during the production process are dumped into ash pond
created for the purpose such disposal so as to reduce environmental pollution.
However, it was necessary to initiate dialogues with Commerce & Industries
Department, Government of West Bengal for introducing incentives schemes for
setting up of new brick manufacturing and ash-based industries utilizing the said
ash.
• Silencers for start-up vents and ejectors were installed to eliminate sound
pollution.
• Installation of Scrubbers was found resulting in reduction of Sulphur Oxides
(Sox), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emission rate from 100 to 30 over a period of last
5 years.
The adoption of energy conservation measures, ash handling and environmental
management initiatives have helped the power plant to achieve the environmental
SDGs namely SDG 3—Good Health and Well Being, SDG 7—Affordable and
Clean Energy, SDG 9—Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 12—Responsible Production & Consumption, SDG 13—Climate Action. The adoption of green
1 National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) introduced the scheme of Perform
Achieve and Trade (PAT) for attaining reduction in energy consumed by industries in which demand
for energy is very high. However this reduction has to be achieved by such industries through certain
market based mechanism that would improve the cost efficiency by trading of certificates received
by industries for saving excess energy.
The first cycle of Perform Achieve and Trade (2012–13 to 2014–15) was framed with the intention of
reducing specific energy consumption (SEC) in energy intensive sectors. There are 478 Designated
Consumers (DCs) from eight sectors namely, Aluminum, Cement, Chlor Alkali, Fertilizer, Iron &
Steel, Paper & Pulp, Thermal Power Plant and Textile. However PAT Cycle –II was formed for a
duration of three years commencing from 2016–17 to 2018–19. In this second cycle of PAT, three new
industrial sectors namely Railways, Refineries and Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOMs)
were incorporated. This inclusion was made for the purpose of accomplishing a reduction in total
energy consumption of 8.869 Million Tonnes of Oil Equivalent (MTOE) (http://www.beeindia.gov.
in) [27].