The NTPC’s Thermal Power Station here has stock of 43.19 metric tonnes (MT) of fly ash at its ash pond available for sale to the end users as on May 31, 2016, officials informed. Pond ash has a varying use like filling in low lying areas, abandoned mines, road construction etc, officials stated.
The Fly Ash and the coal fuel is made available to the pilot plant from the thermal power station in its vicinity, officials said. Fly ash is a by-product of power generation with coal. Sustainable ash utilisation is one of the key concerns at NTPC, they stated.
It may be mentioned here that NTPC’s Ash Utilisation Division (AUD), set up in 1991, is striving to derive maximum usage from the vast quantities of ash produced at its various power stations. The ash is now being looked at as a commodity that could generate wealth for the company in the long run, officials stated. The AUD proactively formulates policies, plans and programmes for ash utilisation.
It further monitors the progress in these activities and works for developing new segments of ash usage. Ash Utilisation Cell at each station handles ash utilisation activities, they stated.
The fly ash generated at NTPC stations is ideal for use in the manufacture of cement, concrete, concrete products, cellular concrete products, bricks/blocks/ tiles etc, officials stated.
Significantly, NTPC the largest power utility of the country recorded highest single day generation of 733.12 MUs, the highest so far in this Financial Year from its 18 coal based, 7 gas based, 8 solar and Hydro power stations on August 27, 2015.
The Declared Cumulative Capability of the stations was 91.10 % and Plant load factor ( PlF) of 86.34 % on the day. During financial year 2014-15, NTPC Group contributed 25% of total electricity generated in India with 16% share of Country’s total installed capacity as on 31.03.2015.
NTPC recorded Gross generation of 241.261 BUs (stand-alone) in FY 2014-15 registering a growth of 3.42%.
Plant load Factor (PlF) of NTPC’s coal stations was 80.23% against national average of 64.46%.
Two stations recorded more than 90% PlF.
All NTPC stations achieved Plant Availability of or above 83%. Four coal stations of NTPC featured among the top 10 stations of the Country in terms of PlF in FY 2014-15.