Regulatory Study to Encourage Energy Efficiency through Investment in Rehabilitation of Coal-fired Generation Plant in India

Abstract

The Indian power sector suffers from considerable supply shortages. The Government of India (GoI) is addressing this problem both through a major new build program (including certain fiscal incentives for construction of larger and more efficient plant) and through rehabilitation (renovation and modernization or (R&M) as it is known in India) of existing coal fired plant. Around two-thirds of India's existing 65,000 MW of coal fired plant capacity is owned by State Government utilities, but much of this is reported to be in a poor condition, with low load factors and station heat rates of up to a 4,000 kcal/kWh. Current R&M activity is not keeping pace with the requirements. R&M implementation has lagged significantly behind the requirements over the 10th plan period (2002-07), and during the current 11th plan period nearly 13,000 MW of R&M is targeted. Specifically: section two sets out the context of the study; section three summarizes the constraints and barriers to energy efficient R&M in India, which are set out in further detail in annex four; section four provides a framework for the main options identified, given present state of the Indian power market and describes the key lessons from our review of international best practice, which are described in annex five; section five identifies the various options considered for this study; section six analyses the various options identified in terms of their effectiveness in addressing the barriers and constraints identified in section three; and section seven sets out our conclusions and recommendations for a regulatory framework that can more effectively support energy efficient R&M in India.