Revised Emission Norms for Indian Thermal Power Plants

The Union Ministry of Environment has revised its notification on SO? emission norms by easing the mandatory installation of Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems across thermal power plants, following expert recommendations and scientific assessments of India’s low-sulphur coal profile.

Background of the Original Mandate and Challenges

• 2015 Notification and Blanket FGD Mandate: In 2015, the Ministry mandated FGD systems for all 600+ thermal power plants to control SO? emissions, without distinguishing between low- and high-emission regions or the sulphur content of coal used.
• High Cost and Technical Burden: Power sector experts flagged serious concerns about the capital expenditure, impact on electricity tariffs (estimated hike of ?0.25–?0.30 per kWh), and the questionable technical necessity for low-sulphur Indian coal plants.
• Need for Scientific Evaluation: Concerns prompted studies by the Ministry of Power, IIT Delhi, and NITI Aayog, concluding that FGD is not uniformly required and that emission regulation must be based on contextual parameters, not a one-size-fits-all mandate.

Scientific Findings and Regional Variation

• IIT Delhi & Ministry of Power Study: The joint study found significant regional variation in SO? levels, showing that many Indian plants do not require FGD installation due to low ambient concentrations and naturally low sulphur content in Indian coal.
• NITI Aayog & NEERI’s Recommendations: NEERI suggested zoning India’s coal-based power plants into three categories based on emission intensity and regional population vulnerability—recommending targeted rather than blanket FGD implementation.
• Latitudinal and Meteorological Considerations: India's geographical location, lower emission dispersion due to tropical wind patterns, and already low background SO? levels make uniform FGD requirements both economically inefficient and environmentally redundant.

Policy Revision and Broader Implications

• Revised Notification and Rationalised Standards: The government’s revised policy allows flexibility by categorising power plants and exempting low-emission units, while maintaining strict controls for plants in high-density and ecologically sensitive regions.
• Impact on Energy Security and Affordability: By easing FGD obligations for many plants, the revised norms are expected to contain electricity generation costs, enhance grid reliability, and avoid power shortages amidst rising energy demand.
• Climate and Emissions Trade-Off: While FGDs reduce SO?, they increase CO? footprint and water consumption; the revision thus also reflects an attempt to balance climate objectives with the pragmatic realities of India's power and resource needs.

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