The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has issued a draft report of the committee constituted to examine wear and tear, operations and maintenance (O&M) and plant lifespan implications arising from flexible and two-shift operations in coal-based thermal power plants.
The committee analysed operational data submitted by NTPC Limited for select units and assessed the impact of low-load operations at 55 per cent minimum technical load (MTL), ramping patterns and start-up cycles. The committee has recommended implementation of retrofit and control modifications to enable safe operation at 40 per cent MTL, in line with CEA’s flexibilisation roadmap. It has also reiterated the need to undertake pilot studies for two-shift operations on older 210 MW units to assess life consumption, capex requirements and tariff implications, in view of increasing renewable energy integration and grid flexibility requirements.