State-owned NTPC plans to begin feasibility studies in more States, including Uttar Pradesh, for proposed nuclear power projects as it seeks to expand non-fossil fuel capacity to at least 2 GW by 2032. The company is targeting 30 GW of nuclear capacity in India to support the government’s goal of reaching 100 GW by 2047.

NTPC has completed feasibility studies in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha. Banka in Bihar, Basai in Madhya Pradesh and Nabarangpur in Odisha have been identified as potential sites, while Uttar Pradesh and other States are expected to be assessed soon. The company intends to develop projects averaging 1,400 MW, comprising two 700 MW units.

The feasibility study for each nuclear project will be submitted to the Department of Atomic Energy. The Standing Site Selection Committee will review the proposal and, if it is found technically feasible, forward it to the Atomic Energy Commission for further processing.

Industry estimates indicate that developing 1 GW of nuclear capacity typically requires an investment of Rs. 150-200 bn and may take at least 3 years from the planning stage to commissioning. A project also requires a continuous water supply, with 5 litres of water needed to produce one unit of nuclear power. Land requirements vary by project size and include a 1-square-kilometre exclusion zone.

For technology partnerships, NTPC is exploring collaboration with US-based Westinghouse, Russia’s Rosatom and France’s EDF on large pressurised water reactor projects in India. The Central Electricity Authority estimates that Rs. 15 tn will be needed to expand the country’s nuclear capacity to 100 GW, including the addition of about 91 GW to the existing 8.8 GW.

NTPC began with thermal power generation and has diversified into coal, gas and liquid fuel, hydro and solar power. With more than 91,000 MW of installed capacity, it is India’s largest power generation company and meets about one-fourth of the country’s electricity demand.