Hi-tech power plant shelved

A powerful lobby has forced the State Government to shelve adoption of supercritical technology which is not only cost-effective but also needs far less maintenance cost than existing sub-critical technology-drive power stations. Vested interests don?t want the government to go in for supercritical technology because that would minimize cost on power station maintenance, which in turn would affect supply business of several ancillary units.

A powerful lobby has forced the State Government to shelve adoption of supercritical technology which is not only cost-effective but also needs far less maintenance cost than existing sub-critical technology-drive power stations. Vested interests don’t want the government to go in for supercritical technology because that would minimize cost on power station maintenance, which in turn would affect supply business of several ancillary units.

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The MP Government had planned to install a new thermal power plant in Khandwa district on supercritical technology but backtracked on the crucial moment after some rounds of discussions. The Government had decided in principle to give the project to the BHEL.

The issue was also discussed in the Board of Directors meeting of Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Company (MPGENCO) last week but no final decision was taken. The company’s consultant-L&T- had made an elaborate presentation on advantages and disadvantages of both the technologies.

Supercritical plant
These power plants operate at higher temperatures and pressures than traditional coal-fired plant resulting in higher efficiencies, lower emissions, including CO2. Above 400 supercritical plants are in operation worldwide and China is installing supercritical plant as standard.