THDC India to Switch-On One of Its 1.2 GW Coal-based Thermal Power Plant by September This Year

THDC India Ltd is on track to make its Rs 12,000-crore coal-based thermal power project operational by September 2024. This project marks the company's entry into the domestic thermal energy sector. The project involves setting up 1.32 GW i.e. Two 1,320 megawatt (2 x 660 MW) Super Thermal Power Project (STPP) in Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh.

As of January 2024, about Rs 9,428.30 crore has been spent on the Khurja Super Thermal Power Plant (KSTPP), and approximately 85% of the construction work has been completed. The first unit of 660 MW is expected to be operational by September this year, with the second unit projected to be operational by March 2025.

The project also includes an environment-friendly carbon capture technique to capture CO2 emissions. Once completed, the plant is expected to generate 9,264 million units (MUs) of power annually, which corresponds to an 85% plant load factor (PLF)¹. A significant portion of the power generated, about 64.7% (854 MW), will be supplied to Uttar Pradesh, with the remaining distributed to other beneficiaries.

The foundation stone for the project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 9, 2019, and the project spans over an area of 1,200.843 acres. It is linked to the operational Amelia coal mine located in Singrauli district, Madhya Pradesh. This initiative is a significant step towards enhancing India's power generation capacity.

THDC India Ltd, formerly known as Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd, is a leading public sector enterprise in the power sector. It was incorporated in July 1988 and is under the ownership of the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC), Ministry of Power, Government of India. The company has been involved in various hydroelectric projects and has recently ventured into thermal power with the development of the Khurja Super Thermal Power Project (KSTPP) in Uttar Pradesh.

The KSTPP is a significant project for THDC India as it marks its entry into the domestic thermal energy sector. With an investment of Rs 12,000 crore, the project aims to set up two 660 MW super thermal power plant, which is expected to be operational by September 2024 for its first unit.

THDC India's initiatives extend beyond power generation. They have been involved in community development activities such as computer distribution campaigns in government schools and organizing awareness programs on World Water Day. These activities demonstrate THDC India's commitment to corporate social responsibility and its efforts to contribute positively to the communities around its projects.

THDC plans to increase its installed capacity to 4,351 MW by 2026. This includes the commissioning of projects such as Tehri PSP, VPHEP, and Khurja STPP.

THDC has dedicated India's largest electrolyser end fuel cell-based Green Hydrogen Pilot Project at Rishikesh. This project is aligned with the National Green Hydrogen Mission and aims to produce 50KG of Green Hydrogen daily using input energy from a 1MW Rooftop Solar Plant.

IIT Roorkee and Power Firm THDC Collaborate for R&D in Energy, Green Hydrogen and Climate Change among Others

THDC India Limited and IIT Roorkee inks MoU for Collaborative Translational Research and Development

In a significant milestone, THDC India Limited (THDCIL), a renowned power generation company, and the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee have come together to embark on a collaborative journey in advancing research and development endeavors in the realms of Science, Engineering, and Technology.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on October 2023 outlines the commitment of both institutions to engage in a wide array of research activities, encompassing domains such as Energy Conservation, Alternatives to Li-Ion Storage Batteries, Nano Technology for Electric Vehicle Battery, Green Hydrogen, Geo-Thermal Technology, Climate Change, waste management and recycling, water management and conservation, Vortex induced vibrations, Tunnelling techniques, Bio Fuels, Grid Stability Improvements, and various other pertinent fields, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mr. R. K. Vishnoi, Chairman and Managing Director of THDCIL, expressed that this collaboration is geared towards both fundamental and translational research, with the overarching goal of bridging the gap between industry and academia, in alignment with the vision of 'Viksit Bharat' - a developed India.

Sh. Vishnoi added that this engagement is aimed at both basic and translational research solutions and bridging the gap between industry and academia to support the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.

Talking on the pivotal areas of collaboration envisioned in this MoU, Sh. R. K. Vishnoi, further stated, “This collaborative venture between THDC India Limited and IIT Roorkee represents a significant step forward in the fields of research, innovation, and technological advancement, with the potential to yield groundbreaking solutions for various industries and domains.”

Prof. K. K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee highlighted, “IIT Roorkee is proud to collaborate with THDC India Limited in a transformative partnership that signifies a major leap forward in research, innovation, and technological advancement. This MoU reflects our commitment to fostering groundbreaking solutions for various industries and domains. Through this collaboration, we aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry, facilitating both basic and translational research, and contributing to our shared vision of 'Viksit Bharat' – a developed India."

Prof. Akshay Dwivedi, Dean Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy, IIT Roorkee said, “Joining hands with THDC India Limited for collaborative research and development is a testament to IIT Roorkee's enduring commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation. This partnership will allow us to leverage our technical expertise and research facilities to drive progress in vital fields of study. We are excited to recognize and build on each other's strengths, facilitating pioneering solutions in research and development."

The MoU was signed by Sh. S. K. Chauhan, HoD(R&D) from THDCIL and Professor Akshay Dwivedi, Dean Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy, IIT, Roorkee.

THDCIL is one of the premier power generators in the country with installed capacity of 1587 MW with commissioning of Tehri Dam & HPP (1000MW), Koteshwar HEP (400MW) in Uttarakhand, Wind Power Projects of 50MW at Patan & 63MW at Dwarka in Gujarat, 24MW Dhukwan Small Hydro Project, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh and 50 MW Solar Power Project at Kasaragod, Kerala to its credit. And IIT Roorkee, a leading institute in technological education and research, is renowned for its contributions to academia and industry alike. This collaboration reflects IIT Roorkee's commitment to advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and bridging the gap between academia and industry to contribute to India's development vision of 'Viksit Bharat.'

During the event, Mr. Sunil Chandra, Mr. Bubai Ghosh, Mr. Shekhar Chauhan from THDC and Prof. Vivek Kumar Malik, Associate Dean (Innovation and Incubation), Prof. Pravindra Kumar, Head, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Prof. Manish Shrikhande, Head, Department of Earthquake Engineering, Prof. Prakash Biswas, Head, Department of Chemical Engineering, Prof. Ramesh Chandra, Head, Institute Instrumentation Centre, Prof. Shailly Tomar, Prof. Ashwini Kumar Sharma, Prof. Prince Tiwari, Prof. Ashish Yadav, Prof. Hari Prakash Velluswamy, Prof. Sushil Kumar, Prof. N. Siva Mohanreddy, Prof. Deepak Ojha, Prof. Ashwini Kumar, Prof. Sohom Ray, Prof. Varun Kumar Singla and Mr. Vishal Tiwari were also present during the collaboration event.

IIT Roorkee is an institute of national importance imparting higher education in engineering, sciences, management, architecture and planning, and humanities and social sciences. Since its establishment in 1847, the Institute has played a vital role in providing technical human resources and know-how to the country.