Flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems are air pollution control mechanisms for sulphur dioxide emissions
Only 5% of India's coal-fired power stations have installed flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems, which are air pollution control mechanisms for sulphur dioxide emissions, according to a recent report, even after numerous extensions.
The new FGD status, which was made public by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the technical division of the Ministry of Power, in April, served as the basis for the analysis conducted by the environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). In December 2015, the Union Environment Ministry set emission standards for coal-based power plants. However, due dates have been frequently pushed back due to a variety of circumstances.
The CSE investigation shows that 9,280 MW have been reported to have commissioned FGDs and another 1,430 MW claim to be SO2 compliant among the 5% of plants that have so far installed FGDs for regulating sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions. Anubha Aggarwal, programme officer for the CSE's industrial pollution branch, said there are concerns about the veracity of these statements because there is a paucity of information about on-the-ground inspections by regulatory organisations.
FGD system installation takes about two years, after which there are brief shutdowns to make the necessary arrangements. Based on the power plants' state of compliance and the amount of time left before the deadline, the CSE researchers calculated the likelihood that they would fulfill emission standards. The analysis showed that 43% of capacity within a 10 km radius of Delhi-NCR or cities with a population of one million or more (Category A), 11% of capacity within a 10 km radius of severely polluted areas (Category B), and 1% of the remaining capacity (Category C) are not likely to meet the standards by the most recent deadlines of 2024, 2025, and 2026, respectively.
Although there was a minor improvement over the initial evaluation, the study attributed it to deadline extensions and better reporting of capacity that the CEA had previously withheld. Only 0.81 GW of newly commissioned capacity met standards, around 13 GW were likely to comply because of deadline extensions, roughly 23 GW were examining the viability of FGD, and roughly 2.47 GW were identified for decommissioning, according to the researchers.
The National Electricity Plan's justifications for delays, such as reliance on the external market for FGD components, the novelty of the technology in the Indian market, and the COVID-19 pandemic's effects, were highlighted in the CSE report, which also criticised the power generation industry's lax approach. It stressed the requirement for compliance and drew attention to the fact that emissions from power plants might affect air quality outside of their immediate vicinity.