Indian government has approved a proposal to invest Rs.15.54bn ($232m) in R&D to develop Advanced Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) technology for thermal power plant.
The proposal was submitted by three state owned entities, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Indira Gandhi Centre of Atomic Research (IGCAR) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).
The project proposes to develop the technology which will reduce coal consumption in thermal power plants and minimise CO2 emission.
AUSC technology will help Indian companies design and develop energy efficient coal plants with domestic technology without depending on outside technologies.
Indian companies can also manufacture advanced power plant equipments without any collaboration or licensing agreement indigenously.
Indian government said in a statement: “The proposed technology is still in research stage in all countries working on it. It is still not matured and demonstrated anywhere in the world.
“The consortium partners are working on the project from the basics of material development, characterisation of alloys for high temperature and high pressure applications, basic principles of thermal engineering useful in design from scratch for large equipment like boiler, valves and steam turbine suitable for the proposed operating parameters which are far elevated from the present day established parameters, as required for higher efficiency in energy conversion.”
According to data, 38% of the CO2 emission is contributed by coal power plants.
The technology is expected to reduce CO2 emission by 20% at the source and consume 20% less coal compared to sub-critical plant, 11% compared to a supercritical plant.
Use of the technology will not only reduce the environment impact of the thermal power plants but also ensure energy security of the country, the statement added.