Vindhyachal Thermal Power Station
The Vindhyachal Thermal Power Station in
the Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh, with an installed capacity of
4,760MW, is currently the biggest thermal power plant in India. It is a
coal-based power plant owned and operated by NTPC.
Construction of the plant, which comprised 12
generating units (six 210MW units and six 500MW units), had begun in
1982. The first unit was commissioned in 1987 while the sixth 500MW was
commissioned in April 2013. An additional 500MW unit was commissioned in August
2015, increasing the plant’s gross capacity from 4,260MW to 4,760MW.
The plant uses coal from the NCL-operated Nigahi mine and water from the discharge canal of Singrauli Super Thermal Power Station. The turbine manufacturers for the Vindhyachal Thermal Power Station include Russian companies LMZ, Electrosila and the Indian BHEL. The 500MW units were supplied by BHEL.
plant make-up
Construction on the Vindhyachal pithead
coal-fired power station was started in 1982. The stage one development
comprised the commissioning of six 210MW units between 1987 and 1991. The
boilers and turbine generators for all the six units under stage one were
supplied by the Russian companies LMZ and Electrosila.
The stages two, three, and four involved
the commissioning of two 500MW coal-fired units each, while a single 500MW unit
was added in the stage five development.
The units under stage two were commissioned
between 1999 and 2000, followed by the commissioning of the units under stage
three between 2006 and 2007.
The fifth and sixth 500MW units of the
power station were commissioned under stage four, between 2012 and 2013, while
the seventh and the last 500MW unit was commissioned under the stage five
development in August 2015.
The boilers and steam turbine generators
for all seven 500MW units of the plant were provided by Bharat Heavy
Electricals (BHEL).
All units of the Vindhyachal STPS have
been equipped with flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems to control
atmospheric pollution.
The last 500MW unit of the plant was
installed with a limestone-based wet flue gas desulphurisation (WFGD) unit in
2018.
The Vindhyachal super thermal power
station (STPS) is a 4,760MW coal-fired power station located in the Singrauli
district, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Owned and operated by state-run National
Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), the Vindhyachal STPS is currently the biggest
thermal power plant in India. It was developed in five stages and comprises 13
generating units.
The plant commenced operations with the
commissioning of its first unit in 1987, while the last unit was commissioned
in 2015.
The Vindhyachal STPS supplies power to
the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Daman
and Diu, as well as Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
PROJECT GALLERY
Vindhyachal thermal power station location and site details
The Vindhyachal super thermal power
station is situated in Vindhyanagar, adjacent to NTPC’s existing Singrauli
STPS, on the north-western bank of the Rihand Reservoir.
The power station site is located
approximately 50km away from Renukoot and 220km away from Varanasi.
Vindhyachal STPS development stages and plant make-up
Construction on the Vindhyachal pithead
coal-fired power station was started in 1982. The stage one development
comprised the commissioning of six 210MW units between 1987 and 1991. The
boilers and turbine generators for all the six units under stage one were
supplied by the Russian companies LMZ and Electrosila.
The stages two, three, and four involved
the commissioning of two 500MW coal-fired units each, while a single 500MW unit
was added in the stage five development.
The units under stage two were
commissioned between 1999 and 2000, followed by the commissioning of the units
under stage three between 2006 and 2007.
The fifth and sixth 500MW units of the
power station were commissioned under stage four, between 2012 and 2013, while
the seventh and the last 500MW unit was commissioned under the stage five
development in August 2015.
The boilers and steam turbine generators
for all seven 500MW units of the plant were provided by Bharat Heavy
Electricals (BHEL).
All units of the Vindhyachal STPS have
been equipped with flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems to control
atmospheric pollution.
The last 500MW unit of the plant was
installed with a limestone-based wet flue gas desulphurisation (WFGD) unit in
2018.
Land
The area of land measuring about 1000 hectares consisting of waste land with shrubs mixed with agricultural land (single crop) is available for the power plant. The terrain is undulating and the elevation ranges from 300 metre to 310 metre above mean sea level. This land is not considered sufficient for 2000 MW capacity. At least 1300 acres of land will be required for this purpose. In addition to this, about 375 hectare of land for ash pond and about 150 hectares of land for township is also available.
water
Water source for the site is Gobind Vallabh Pant Sagar (Reservoir) and the proposed off-take point for water is 1.5 Kms away. MPSEB has approached Water Resources Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh for confirming availability of about 87 million cubic metres per annum of water for the project. (b) Concurrence of CWC shall be obtained as the water is proposed to be drawn from an inter state river basin.
Coal Source and Transportation
Coal source is about 22 Kms from the
site i.e. Bundela, Mahrauli, Mohar, Nigahi and Ruhalla blocks of Singrauli Coal
Fields. Merry Go Round (MGR) of Rihand Super Thermal Power Station passes from
near this site. MPSEB expressed the view to approach NTPC for sharing their MGR
system for transportation of 10 million tonnes per annum of coal by augmenting
the same or else separate MGR tracks would be required for the proposed power
plant. As per MPSEB documents handed over during site visit, Gorbi ‘B’ block mine
is proposed to be linked with the project. M/s NCL has indicated 5 mtpa coal
from Gorbi ‘B’ for 1000 MW in the first phase which will be around 35 kms from
the project site near Sasan. However, Mohar coal block is very suitable and
nearer to the site. But as per NCL, 10 mtpa coal from Mohar coal block has
already been allocated to M/s ISN International – an IPP company hence linkage
to the proposed project may not be possible. MPSEB has requested NCL to explore
the possibility of coal from Mohar Block as it is technically and economically
viable due to shorter distance.
Ash Disposal Area
MPSEB suggested a plot of land measuring
about 375 hectares at a distance of 2.5 Kms from the power plant site. Site
Selection Committee observed that the proposed ash dump area is about 20 meters
to 25 meters higher than the proposed power plant site. Further, the area has
undulating terrain with a large rain water drain (natural) passing through the
area.
Resettlement & Rehabilitation
As part of the proposed land is private
land and has cultivation on it, resettlement & rehabilitation will be
required for this site. However, for detailed assessment of R&R, further,
study is required during feasibility studies.
Power Evacuation
400 kV transmission system of Power Grid
Corporation/Madhya Pradesh Transco will need to be provided for power
evacuation from the power plant.
Environmental Aspect
There is no eco-sensitive spot like
Natural Park, Wild Life Century, Bio-Sphere Reservation, Historical or Cultural
Site in the vicinity of the proposed site. However, Madhya Pradesh Pollution
Control Board official accompanying the Site Selection Committee
observed/suggested that the impact of additional air pollution due to the
proposed plant will have to be studied keeping in view that there are five
super thermal power stations in the surrounding area. The detailed air quality
modeling is required to be done to assess the carrying capacity of the region
during further feasibility studies. The Pollution Control Board official also
expressed his reservations about suitability of ash disposal area because of
large natural drain flowing through it and its elevation being about 20 meters
higher than the proposed site.
NOC from Airports Authority of India
shall be obtained as there is a proposed air strip site about 9.5 km away
Site Features
The details of site features are enclosed at Annexure-II.
Observations & Action Plan
The Committee Members discussed the
various issues pertaining to the above site with the officials of MPSEB. It was
observed that alternative site for ash disposal area has to be identified. The
Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board’s clearance considering the quality of
air in the region needs to be obtained. The Committee suggested to MPSEB that
the proposed site can be considered for installation of 2x500 MW units instead
of 4x500 MW units in view of the fact that suitable ash disposal land is
presently not available for 2000 MW capacity and the land identified for the
power plant is also not adequate for 2000 MW. However, in case additional land
of about 300 acres for power plant and alternate ash disposal area is
available, the site can be considered for installation of 2000 MW capacity power
plant. MPSEB was requested to take action regarding the following issues:
-
- To identify and locate alternate land for
ash disposal area
- MPSEB to take up with Madhya Pradesh
Pollution Control Board for obtaining their permission for installation of
the power plant.
- To identify the potential users of
ash.
- MPSEB to tie-up coal linkage and mode of
transportation i.e. by sharing existing MGR with NTPC or to lay separate
MGR system.
- CWC clearance to be obtained as water is
proposed to be drawn from inter state river basin.
- NOC from Airports Authority of India to be
obtained.
| Unit | Installed Capacity (MW) | Date of Commissioning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 210 | October 1987 |
| 2 | 210 | July 1988 |
| 3 | 210 | February 1989 |
| 4 | 210 | December 1989 |
| 5 | 210 | March 1990 |
| 6 | 210 | February 1991 |
| 7 | 500 | March 1999 |
| 8 | 500 | February 2000 |
| 9 | 500 | July 2006 |
| 10 | 500 | March 2007 |
| 11 | 500 | June 2012 |
| 12 | 500 | |
| 13 | 500 | |
| Total | 4760 MW |
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