NTPC and GE Power sign MoU to reduce carbon intensity from NTPC’s coal-fired units

NTPC Limited and GE Power India Limited have signed an MoU for feasibility to demonstrate technologies to reduce the carbon footprint of NTPC’s existing coal-fired power plants. The MoU aims to collaborate on the research, development and engineering of technologies that will enable NTPC to reduce the amount of coal fired in its units and gradually replace it with co-firing of alternative fuel in boilers –both carbonous (methanol, carbon neutral fuel – agri-waste, bio mass, etc.) and non-carbonous (such as ammonia). This will make use of the huge existing infrastructure and less new invest ment will be required as compared to other decarbonisation options. The primary goal is to support NTPC in co-firing of biomass pellets beyond 20 per cent and up to 100 per cent, and enable the co-firing of methanol. It will also explore the possibility of introducing ammonia as a co-firing fuel, and develop, test and demonstrate technologies that allow co-firing with lower carbon fuels in coal-fired power plants.