Page 6 - Water Neutral Electricity Production in India: Avoiding the Unmanageable
P. 6
TERI Policy Brief
Environmental and thus it becomes more challenging to maintain the
standard norm of 2.5 Cum/MWh.
For getting environment clearance, upcoming power
plants have to submit hydro-geological impact study Policy Recommendations
along with mitigation measures. The objective of this
study is to assess the impact of upcoming power plant Recent regulatory steps by the Government clearly
on the local hydro-geology. There is uncertainty with mark the embarking of power sector on water efficient
respect to time frame of this impact. Operations of plant path, but these are not sufficient to solve the regional
over the years along with increasing water demand from water imbalance created due to operation of power
other sectors would alter the hydro-geological regime plants in an area. A more holistic approach dealing with
of the region. This could be a challenge for sustainable the reduction and offsetting the impacts of direct water
operations of the plant. As it has been witnessed some footprints of thermal power plants is required.
power plants were shut down after years of operation
due to unavailability of water. Therefore assessment of Reducing water footprints of power plants:
impact of power plant operations on hydro-geology and Considering the future water demand from both
source of water for short and long-term is of importance upcoming thermal power plants and sectors like
and should find a clear mention in regulatory guidelines. agriculture and domestic, reducing specific water
consumption will have only a short term effect in
Technological improving overall water balance of the country.
Adopting a more comprehensive approach, thermal
The policy directive of having supercritical plants from power plants must be asked to reduce the water
the year 2017 onwards would mean that the upcoming footprints of their operations. The concept of
power plants would be more efficient and would require water neutrality must be made mandatory for
less amount of water. But supercritical technology power plants, which require them to return back
requires better quality of coal for operation, which is an equivalent amount of water to the hydrological
not available in India. In absence of good quality coal, system as consumed by them.
available alternative is to thoroughly wash coal. This
would impact the overall water footprint of coal based This will require them to take measures for water
power generation. Extensively washed coal will increase conservation and demand management both within
the overall water footprint. Thus supercritical technology and outside their boundary. Measures for promotion
would reduce the water consumption at plant level but and implementation of micro-irrigation systems
would increase the water consumption at washery level, in agriculture sector, installation of water efficient
thereby increasing the overall water footprint of coal fixtures in domestic sector, constructing structures
based power generation. for rain water harvesting, etc. will help to reduce
the stress on available water resources within
Several technological development efforts are focused the watershed and augment water availability in
on increasing Cycle of Concentration (COC) which the region.
may reduce the requirement of make up water. Several
methods have been developed with this perspective Watershed management as CSR activity:
like, sulphuric acid treatment to inhibit corrosion, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is referred as
ozone treatment to control organic contaminants and corporate initiative to assess and take responsibility
side stream filtration to remove airborne particulates. for the company’s effects on the environment
However, increasing COC beyond a certain limit and impact on social welfare. Thus, the concept
(generally 6 times) has very limited improvement in of CSR and reducing water footprints of business
reducing specific water consumption (generally 3-7% activities are in consonance with each other. Hence,
if COC is increased from 6 to 10). But it significantly integrated watershed management having the
reduces the reusability of reject water, increasing the potential to reduce water footprints of power plants
water footprints of power plants. shall be included within the scope of CSR activities.
Interventions improving the water use efficiency
Additionally, because of the amendment in Tariff in agricultural farms and domestic sector, leading
Policy to use treated sewage waters, efficiency of power to reduction in overall water demand within the
plants will get affected. Treated sewage, increases the watershed, shall be included within the ambit of CSR
blowdown requirement as compared to fresh water activities.
6 DECEMBER 2016
Environmental and thus it becomes more challenging to maintain the
standard norm of 2.5 Cum/MWh.
For getting environment clearance, upcoming power
plants have to submit hydro-geological impact study Policy Recommendations
along with mitigation measures. The objective of this
study is to assess the impact of upcoming power plant Recent regulatory steps by the Government clearly
on the local hydro-geology. There is uncertainty with mark the embarking of power sector on water efficient
respect to time frame of this impact. Operations of plant path, but these are not sufficient to solve the regional
over the years along with increasing water demand from water imbalance created due to operation of power
other sectors would alter the hydro-geological regime plants in an area. A more holistic approach dealing with
of the region. This could be a challenge for sustainable the reduction and offsetting the impacts of direct water
operations of the plant. As it has been witnessed some footprints of thermal power plants is required.
power plants were shut down after years of operation
due to unavailability of water. Therefore assessment of Reducing water footprints of power plants:
impact of power plant operations on hydro-geology and Considering the future water demand from both
source of water for short and long-term is of importance upcoming thermal power plants and sectors like
and should find a clear mention in regulatory guidelines. agriculture and domestic, reducing specific water
consumption will have only a short term effect in
Technological improving overall water balance of the country.
Adopting a more comprehensive approach, thermal
The policy directive of having supercritical plants from power plants must be asked to reduce the water
the year 2017 onwards would mean that the upcoming footprints of their operations. The concept of
power plants would be more efficient and would require water neutrality must be made mandatory for
less amount of water. But supercritical technology power plants, which require them to return back
requires better quality of coal for operation, which is an equivalent amount of water to the hydrological
not available in India. In absence of good quality coal, system as consumed by them.
available alternative is to thoroughly wash coal. This
would impact the overall water footprint of coal based This will require them to take measures for water
power generation. Extensively washed coal will increase conservation and demand management both within
the overall water footprint. Thus supercritical technology and outside their boundary. Measures for promotion
would reduce the water consumption at plant level but and implementation of micro-irrigation systems
would increase the water consumption at washery level, in agriculture sector, installation of water efficient
thereby increasing the overall water footprint of coal fixtures in domestic sector, constructing structures
based power generation. for rain water harvesting, etc. will help to reduce
the stress on available water resources within
Several technological development efforts are focused the watershed and augment water availability in
on increasing Cycle of Concentration (COC) which the region.
may reduce the requirement of make up water. Several
methods have been developed with this perspective Watershed management as CSR activity:
like, sulphuric acid treatment to inhibit corrosion, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is referred as
ozone treatment to control organic contaminants and corporate initiative to assess and take responsibility
side stream filtration to remove airborne particulates. for the company’s effects on the environment
However, increasing COC beyond a certain limit and impact on social welfare. Thus, the concept
(generally 6 times) has very limited improvement in of CSR and reducing water footprints of business
reducing specific water consumption (generally 3-7% activities are in consonance with each other. Hence,
if COC is increased from 6 to 10). But it significantly integrated watershed management having the
reduces the reusability of reject water, increasing the potential to reduce water footprints of power plants
water footprints of power plants. shall be included within the scope of CSR activities.
Interventions improving the water use efficiency
Additionally, because of the amendment in Tariff in agricultural farms and domestic sector, leading
Policy to use treated sewage waters, efficiency of power to reduction in overall water demand within the
plants will get affected. Treated sewage, increases the watershed, shall be included within the ambit of CSR
blowdown requirement as compared to fresh water activities.
6 DECEMBER 2016
