Reduce Emissions by Small Power Plants





In the run-up to the Paris summit on climate change, India has rightly volunteered to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35% by 2030, from the 2005 level. The thrust would be on stepping up renewable energy , promoting clean energy and enhancing energy efficiency . In parallel, stepped up resource allocation for upgraded pollution control equipment in thermal power plants can substantially reduce emissions of gases causing the greenhouse effect (read, global warming).The short point is that relatively modest amounts invested in state-of-the-art emissions control systems can result in disproportionate reduction in pollution from thermal plants.The emissions, including of particulate matter and various oxides, have adverse affect on health and well-being and do need to be proactively reduced even as we boost energy availabi lity and address widespread energy pov erty nationally . Coal-based thermal pow er plants are the single-biggest source of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The poor qual ity fuel and lack of beneficiation make matters worse. Note also that about 70% of the operational units across the country are of sizes less than or equal to 210 MW, and these smaller units emit disproportionately more atmospheric emissions. True, emission standards have recently been tightened for power plants going forward. But in tandem, we need to retrofit latest-vintage emission equipment like wet electrostatic precipitators, bag filters and flu gas conditioning systems, and duly ramp-up coal beneficiation to purposefully arrest emissions.
The fact of the matter is that even as we overhaul our energy system to transcend environmentally damaging fossil fuels, we ought to be much more focused on emissions control now and here. Especially when it is easily doable at little cost.
Source: Economic Times, 16-11-2015