Abstract: Thermal Power Plants has been the backbone of energy generation in India for several decades. With borrowed technology and indigenous development, the country has moved from Plant capacity of 30 MW to 800 MW in the past six decades. Thermal Power Plants form the base load to meet the day to day electricity demand as well as the peak demand. Since abundant coal is available in the country for more than 75 years, the thermal power plants promote energy security for the country. This talk will take you through the phases of development in the Thermal Power Plants with specific focus on Coal based plants. The developments were aimed at improving the efficiency of the power plant as well as enhancing the environmental performance. India today has established itself as a Global player in the design and manufacturing of thermal power plants. With the announcement of the Net Zero by 2070, India has to play low on coal fired thermal power plants and there is a need to develop technologies for more responsible use of coal. The talk would throw light on the future technologies that would be needed to continue the use of coal fired power plants balancing between energy security and climate change goals.
About the speaker: A.V. Krishnan is a graduate in mechanical engineering from the Bangalore University and worked with BHEL for four decades in the area of Engineering and R&D, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Welding Research as well as Corporate Strategy Management. He retired in 2015 as the Executive Director (CEO) of the BHEL, Tiruchirappalli Complex. Joined NIAS in May 2019 as Principal Scientist for the DST project on Transition Plan for Clean Coal technologies. Currently he is Dr Raja Ramanna Chair Professor spearheading the BRNS project for identification of potential for Small and Modular Reactors (SMR) and other Nuclear related projects. He was the member of the National Project Review & Monitoring Committee for Advanced Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) Power Plants which was a Mission project implemented by consortium of BHEL, NTPC and IGCAR under the Principal Scientific Advisor Office of GoI. He was the National President of the Indian Welding Society (IWS) and Life member of the Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ISNT).