Environment: Issues and Challenges in Thermal Power Generation
Environment: Issues and Challenges in Thermal Power Generation
International Conference on Thermal Power Generation – Best Practices and Future Technologies
Organized by
National Thermal Power Corporation Limited
United States Agency for International Development
Environment: Issues and Challenges in Thermal Power Generation
P. R. Shukla, IIM Ahmedabad
1. Introduction Development of power sector has a direct correlation with economic development of the country (Ferguson, Ross et. al. 2000; Samouilidis, J.E. and Mitropoulos, C.S., 1984; Yang, 1998; Cheng, B.S. and Lai, T.W. 1997; Stern, D.I., 2000; Sajal Ghosh, 2000). Figure 1.1 shows in India with the growth of GDP, how the electricity consumption, energy consumption and carbon emission has grown. Figure 1.1: Energy, Electricity, Carbon and Economic Growth
From the figure, the positive correlation of the GDP growth and the electricity consumption can be observed. As seen in the figure, post 1990s the carbon emitted from the electricity sector has reduced. Also, the consumption of electricity has growth at the higher rate than that of GDP. In the next few sections we will try to synthesize what will be the relationship between GDP, Electricity consumption and environment in the future (Till year 2030). The focus will be on the power plants. After assessing the relationship between GDP, power sector and emissions we will enumerate the various instruments that the government of India can formulate to regulate the power sector and environment. 2. Power Sector of India Power is a critical infrastructure for economic development and improving the quality of life. For this reason, Power has been given due importance by the policy makers of India since independence. Since independence the generating capacity has increased from 1.362 GW to over 100GW in 2002. Over 500000 villages have been electrified. These are achievements in themselves. However, there have been certain problems. Some of the
International Conference on Thermal Power Generation – Best Practices and Future Technologies
Organized by
National Thermal Power Corporation Limited
United States Agency for International Development
Environment: Issues and Challenges in Thermal Power Generation
P. R. Shukla, IIM Ahmedabad
1. Introduction Development of power sector has a direct correlation with economic development of the country (Ferguson, Ross et. al. 2000; Samouilidis, J.E. and Mitropoulos, C.S., 1984; Yang, 1998; Cheng, B.S. and Lai, T.W. 1997; Stern, D.I., 2000; Sajal Ghosh, 2000). Figure 1.1 shows in India with the growth of GDP, how the electricity consumption, energy consumption and carbon emission has grown. Figure 1.1: Energy, Electricity, Carbon and Economic Growth
From the figure, the positive correlation of the GDP growth and the electricity consumption can be observed. As seen in the figure, post 1990s the carbon emitted from the electricity sector has reduced. Also, the consumption of electricity has growth at the higher rate than that of GDP. In the next few sections we will try to synthesize what will be the relationship between GDP, Electricity consumption and environment in the future (Till year 2030). The focus will be on the power plants. After assessing the relationship between GDP, power sector and emissions we will enumerate the various instruments that the government of India can formulate to regulate the power sector and environment. 2. Power Sector of India Power is a critical infrastructure for economic development and improving the quality of life. For this reason, Power has been given due importance by the policy makers of India since independence. Since independence the generating capacity has increased from 1.362 GW to over 100GW in 2002. Over 500000 villages have been electrified. These are achievements in themselves. However, there have been certain problems. Some of the
References: P. R. Shukla, IIM Ahmedabad IPCC, 1996