A REVIEW OF THERMAL POWER GENERATION SCENARIO IN INDIA

摘要

Electricity is a vital input for development and social transformation for all developed and developing countries of the world. Today's Infrastructure requirement in the world, electricity is the most essential component. Without ready availability of cheaper energy, the great studies taken by the society, industry, transport and agriculture could have been unimaginable. Energy is at the root of civilization and technological upgradation. After the Independence, Government of India has recognized the importance of electricity and it receives much priority for its development. As a result, substantial sums of money were allocated and spent during the successive plan periods. The electricity industry has grown substantially to the country's energy requirements. The significant development of appropriate technology in respect of improved generation and distribution of electricity has helped electric power to become a key 'input in the national development process. In the initial years there was a considerable hydel-capacity, which provided cheaper source of hydel power. The total installed capacity of power plants in India was 2300 MW in 1951 comprising 1741 MW of thermal plants, and 559 MW of hydro capacity. Even in 1990 the thermal and hydel ratio continued 69:29. Since then, no major irrigation/ hydel power projects have come up. All the subsequent capacity additions have been in thermal. The installed generation capacity in India the ratio of hydel thermal energy mix stood at 24:74 by the end of 1998-99. This may take place 20 : 80 in the years ahead. Therefore, the uses of thermal power become higher as compared to hydel power in the recent era.