Conference on "Reducing Water Footprints of Thermal Power Plants in India"

TERI, in technical collaboration with NTPC Energy and Technological Research Alliance (NETRA) and with support from Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, is organizing a two-day conference on the theme 'Reducing Water Footprints of Thermal Power Plants in India' on December 5 and 6, 2016, at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

Thermal power plants are reported to consume a majority of the total industrial water consumption in India. This water consumed by thermal power plants has been assessed to be equal to per capita water requirement of around one fifth of the population of India. In recognition of this, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has stipulated rules for reduction of water consumption by thermal power plants, which require the power plants to reduce their specific water consumption by 2017.

Under the project supported by Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, TERI explored various available techno-process options for reducing the specific water consumption to the desired level. While these options have the potential to reduce water consumption for per unit of electricity production, benefits of water made available in the region are limited. Nevertheless, increase in the production of power along with an increase in water demand from other sectors is very likely to eventually negate the benefits accrued due to implementation of guidelines laid out by MoEF&CC. Hence, it is necessary to broaden the spectrum of water consumption by thermal power plants, and explore challenges and opportunities which may provide sustainable benefits while ensuring the co-existence of power plants with its neighbours. Through the conference, TERI aims to disseminate the project outputs and explore alternative options through deliberations among experts.