The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has released a report on wear and tear, operations and maintenance (O&M), and plant lifespan implications due to flexible operation and analysis of two-shift operational data.
The analysis of operational data from NTPC’s Farakka Unit-2 and Jhajjar Unit-3 found that no significant damage was observed that could be attributed directly to operation at 55 per cent minimum technical load with conservative ramp rates. The committee concluded that frequent, high-magnitude ramping, rather than minimum load levels, causes severe wear and tear. Frequent start-ups or shutdowns, human and procedural errors, poor combustion management and coal quality are also important contributors. The committee considered two-shift operation and operation at lower technical minimum loads below 55 per cent crucial to avoid renewable curtailment and ensure secure grid management. It recommended pilot studies to assess wear and tear, determine appropriate compensation mechanisms and address operational concerns. Further, the CEA identified 151 coal-based generating units with 34.5 GW capacity for two-shift operation by 2030, which could provide about 24 GW of flexible power and equivalent to about 27 GW of storage.