CSIR-India Suggests to Abjure FGD-MDWIX Review-Thermal Power Plant SO2 Emission impacts on Environment.

Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD)-Installation of SO2 Emission Control in WBPDCL Thermal Power Plants.

              India power industry is mainly constituted with more than 80% of coal fired thermal power plant. Thermal power plant produces electricity by burning fossil fuels mainly coal. Coal is a mixture of fixed carbon, sulfur, ash, volatile matter & moisture. While burning the sulfur combines with oxygen & forms Sulfur-Di-Oxide (SO2). It is then released to environment through the chimney installed at exit of power plant. This emitted SO2 is transformed into sulphates in the atmosphere. SO2 mixes with water droplet in the atmosphere & forms Sulphuric Acid. When the droplets accumulate & drop down as rain. This is called acid rain. It damages the monuments, plants & herbs. It corrodes the nostril & lungs. It increases also the particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere.

Power Plant FGD

Why it is important to control SO2 emission?

                 As per Statics of 2019, India surpassed China, the highest SO2 emitter. Even it was emitting higher than the Russia. It impacts on severe health issues. It increases heart disease, lung cancer & premature death. So it was highly concerned to install some system to arrest the SO2 emission. Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) was conceptualized to retract SO2 emission to environment. Early to 2000's it was assessed the environmental impacts of thermal power plant. Finally in the year 2015, mandatorily FGD installation was directed by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change( MOEF&CC). They instructed to complete the compliance deadline within 2017. After different revision of deadline, finally in the year 2022, the farthest deadline for low populated region as category C must be completed within 31st December, 2026.

How does FGD Work?

            Very simply it places a chemical reaction between either lime (Calcium Oxide) or limestone (Calcium Carbonate) & Sulfur Di Oxide. This chemical reaction convert s SO2 to calcium sulphite or calcium sulphate. This by product, Gypsum is further used in cement manufacturing.

FGD installation at different Thermal Power Plant of West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL).

                    WBPDCL is the State Power Generating Company, a  Government of West Bengal undertaking public Sector unit having five Plants in West Bengal with a total Generating Capacity of 4740 MW. All these units were commercially declared before December, 2016. So it was under the obligation to maintain environment norms of MOEF & CC guideline. Accordingly WBPDCL had floated tender for installation of FGD in it's Plants as Sagardighi Thermal Power Plant (SgTPP), Bakreswar Thermal Power Plant (BkTPP), Kolaghat Thermal Power Station (KTPS) and Santaldihi Thermal Power Station (STPS). At it's Sagardighi Thermal Power  Plant with a total capacity of 2260MW in three Phase installation of 2X300MW, 2X500MW & 1X660MW. wet limestone based scrubbing FGD units are planned to install. The turnkey project is already awarded to M/S Larsen & Toubro Limited, one of the premier FGD manufacturer globally. Total investment of 1600 Crore. The installation is in nearly 60% completion. Two number units of 500MW capacity at Santaldihi Thermal Power Station will be also equipped with limestone based FGD System. For five units of 210MW capacity of each unit at Bakreswar Thermal Power Plant & one number unit of 210MW capacity at Bandel Thermal Power Station Dry Sorbent Injection (DSI) type FGDs are  planned to be installed. Sodium Bi Carbonate injected Dry System FGD is under construction at it's Kolaghat Thermal Power station for four units of capacity 210MW each. To execute all the FGD installation it had allotted total budget of 3000 Crore. Hence WBPDCL is committed to strive the environmental norms within the stipulate time deadline. But recent observation of SO2 emission impact to environment is pushing to a ambiguity for utilization of it's massive investment. Though it is a matter of negotiation between MOEF & CEA.  

   

Recent finding of CSIR-NEERI & Delhi-IIT on necessity of FGD installation.

           NITI Aayog's, a public think tank of India Government, policy maker recent office memorandum has put a question mark on necessity of the FGD installation in Indian Thermal Power Plant. As Indian coal is composed with only 0.3% to 0.4% Sulphur content. It is not contributing much impact of SO2 on environment as per the data collection at 467 Central control room for Air Quality Management System operated by central pollution control board (CPCB). So the Indian power plants are not significantly affecting ambient air quality. Most of the standards are being met. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Environmental Engineering & Research Institute (NEERI) recommended that new FGD installation may be paused. The chairperson of CEA also applaud the similar study by the IIT-Delhi. 

                 However, Centre of Science & Environment programme director, Nivit Kumar Yadav criticized that, " A systematic set up is being created to undermine the push for a SO2 control mechanism,"

     Shobhit Srivastava, programme manager of CSE expressed himself that How some policymakers of the country suddenly thought the non utility of FGD when 60% thermal power plant installed FGD & rest 40% installation is in various process such as tendering or finalization of placing orders. NITI Aayog think on the tariff hike of electricity as 1 to 2 crore rupees will be expended for each MW Capacity installation. It subsequently increases tariff 0.5 rupees per KWHR. Since already FGD installation is in the final lap. So this type of ideology can't be fruitful as expenditure already done. Thus it is now better to reinstate FGD as it protects environment & human beings.

Author: Md Kamaluddin.

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