NTPC is in Process of Installing Integrated Solar Thermal Hybrid Plant at its Dadri Unit

Not only NTPC will install Solar Thermal Hybrid Plant, but the Dadri unit in association with NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance uses robotic dry cleaning of solar panels.

National Thermal Power Corporation unit at Dadri is under process for the installation of Integrated Solar Thermal Hybrid Plant (ISTHP).

As reported to TOI, the plant will make use of solar thermal energy to heat feed water to enhance the efficiency of the thermal power plant.

S K Sinha, Group General Manager, NTPC Dadri told the publication that the robotic dry cleaning of solar panels (modules) has been implemented at Dadri in association with NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA), the R & D centre. With robotic cleaning, we aim to save on water and manpower.

Sinha further stated that the ISTHP is under process for installation at Dadri. “This hybrid plant is again an R and D project developed by NETRA and first of its kind in India in which solar thermal energy is utilized to heat feed water so as to increase efficiency of the thermal power plant,” Sinha further mentioned.

As regards Dadri Gas Power Station (DGPS), Sinha added that while its declared capacity is 91 %, the DGPS generated 2152.94 MU of electricity. Also, the 5MWp Dadri Solar PV plant generated 6.54 MU of green power up to March 20, 2017. “We are committed towards using multi fuel options including renewable sources such as solar light,” said Sinha.

Highlighting efforts towards environment protection Sinha added that the ash discharged from the Dadri power station is being utilized in various activities such as manufacture of ash bricks, tarring of roads, filling of land and also to create the Ash Mound (Eco Park), developed by using fly ash discharged from the power station. “The greenery and medicinal plants around the plant have been developed on this ash mound with ash utilization being around 205 % during FY 2016-17 up to March 20, 2017,” said Sinha.

Presently, the total installed capacity of NTPC (this is all India) is 48143 MW with the addition of 115 MW of Bhadla Solar Power Project commissioned on Feb 22, 2017 taking up NTPC’s solar capacity to 475 MW. NTPC contributes nearly 24 % of country’s generation and is expected to set up 10000 MW of renewable energy projects by year 2022.