NTPC eyes 10GW coal-based brownfield expansion

Although setting an ambitious goal for producing a bigger share of renewable energy, India's largest power producer, NTPC Ltd, plans to increase the power output capabilities of eight of its coal-based power plants by more than 10 gigawatts (GW). An investment of between Rs 350,000 and 400,000 million will be needed for this. According to a source acquainted with the proposal, the brownfield expansions will take place at the following power plants: Singrauli (1,600 MW), Meja (1,320 MW), Talcher (1,320 MW), Darlipali (800 MW), and Lara (1,600 MW) in Uttar Pradesh. Two other plants are being built at various phases at Patratu in Jharkhand and Ramagundam in Telangana. Another official stated that they would add 2,400 MW and 800 MW, respectively, but noted that certain projects could take 8–10 years to complete due to delays in obtaining the necessary permissions and concerns voiced by various social groups. The nation has made a goal to lower its GDP's carbon intensity and achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2070. According to some estimates, coal-fired power will be more expensive overall, including environmental expenses, than renewable energy. The energy giant, which generates 25% of all the electricity used in India, has vowed to generate 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2032. Around 23% of India's total energy production is currently made up of renewable sources. The largest coal consumer in the nation, NTPC, has been sluggish in increasing the generation capacity of its coal-based facilities during the past few years as a result of heightened attention from important stakeholders to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations.