Latest news with #CSIR-NEERI
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
FGD norms eased to balance costs, climate and compliance
MUMBAI: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change ( MoEF&CC ) has revised India's 2015 emission norms, dropping the blanket requirement for coal-fired power plants to install Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems in a move that will save Indian households and industries some 25 to 30 paise per unit of electricity. FGDs will now be mandatory only for coal-fired power plants within 10 km of cities with population of over 1 million, plants in critically polluted or non-attainment areas and those using high-sulphur imported coal. All other plants, especially those using low-sulphur Indian coal, are exempt. FGD is a system that removes sulphur dioxide (SO₂) from the smoke released by coal-fired power plants. While effective in high-sulphur conditions, it is expensive, water-intensive and adds carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions during installation and operation. FGDs are useful in places with high sulphur coal (like in China or the US), high ambient SO₂ levels and dense urban proximity. The decision follows a series of studies by IIT Delhi, CSIR-NEERI and the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), which found that ambient sulphur dioxide (SO₂) levels in most parts of India are well within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Measurements across multiple cities showed SO₂ levels ranging between 3 and 20 µg/m³, significantly below the NAAQS threshold of 80 µg/m³. The studies also questioned the environmental and economic efficacy of a universal FGD mandate in the Indian context. Indian coal typically has a sulphur content of less than 0.5%, and due to high stack heights and favourable meteorological conditions, dispersion of SO₂ is efficient. The NIAS study warned that retrofitting FGDs nationwide would add an estimated 69 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions between 2025 and 2030 due to increased limestone mining, transportation, and power consumption. Globally, carbon markets aim to incentivise generators that are reducing their carbon footprint and penalize those who are emitting carbon. With the installation of FGD, India may be increasing its carbon footprint with a reduction in SO2 emission, which is not advisable as per the present ambient air quality levels, according to a report written by CSIR-NEERI with financial support from NITI Aayog. Besides, SO₂ and CO₂ have different atmospheric lifetimes - SO₂ has a short atmospheric lifetime of several hours to about 15 days, while CO₂ persists for over 100 years. The current cost of FGD systems is approximately Rs1.40 crore per MW. As per recent Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimate, around Rs1,47,000 crores capital investment will be required for the installation of the remaining 105 GW coal-based power plants. 'Now, it becomes imperative that the country make timely decisions so that consumers can be prevented from additional financial burdens. An appropriate decision may be taken by the concerned authority regarding the installation of FGDs in Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) considering that the ambient SO2 concentration is well below the prescribed limit,' the CSIR-NEERI report said. 'If FGD retrofits raise CO₂ emissions, are we not choosing the lesser evil here by avoiding them where they are not needed,' said a power industry source. 'Do we need to burden consumers with ₹2.5 lakh crore in unnecessary infrastructure when SO₂ levels are already well within limits,' he asked. 'This is a smarter use of resources, focusing on particulate matter and grid upgrades instead of chasing a global fad,' he said, noting that Indian consumers are better off without the one-size-fits-all FGD mandates. The Ministry's move is seen as a smart, science-led decision based on Indian coal chemistry and local air data. It avoids unnecessary CO₂ emissions from limestone use and auxiliary power. It aligns with global best practices - even the US, EU and China have moved to targeted FGD deployment, not blanket mandates. 'This is not a rollback. FGDs remain mandatory where necessary - near large urban populations or in heavily polluted areas,' the industry source said. 'This is a good example of India taking sovereign control of environmental policy, instead of blindly following Western rules,' he added.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
India Eases FGD Norms for Coal Power Plants to Cut Costs and Emissions, ET Infra
Advt Advt By , ETInfra The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change MoEF&CC ) has revised India's 2015 emission norms, dropping the blanket requirement for coal-fired power plants to install Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems in a move that will save Indian households and industries some 25 to 30 paise per unit of will now be mandatory only for coal-fired power plants within 10 km of cities with population of over 1 million, plants in critically polluted or non-attainment areas and those using high-sulphur imported coal. All other plants, especially those using low-sulphur Indian coal, are is a system that removes sulphur dioxide (SO₂) from the smoke released by coal-fired power plants. While effective in high-sulphur conditions, it is expensive, water-intensive and adds carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions during installation and are useful in places with high sulphur coal (like in China or the US), high ambient SO₂ levels and dense urban decision follows a series of studies by IIT Delhi, CSIR-NEERI and the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), which found that ambient sulphur dioxide (SO₂) levels in most parts of India are well within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Measurements across multiple cities showed SO₂ levels ranging between 3 and 20 µg/m³, significantly below the NAAQS threshold of 80 µg/m³.The studies also questioned the environmental and economic efficacy of a universal FGD mandate in the Indian context. Indian coal typically has a sulphur content of less than 0.5 per cent , and due to high stack heights and favourable meteorological conditions, dispersion of SO₂ is NIAS study warned that retrofitting FGDs nationwide would add an estimated 69 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions between 2025 and 2030 due to increased limestone mining, transportation, and power carbon markets aim to incentivise generators that are reducing their carbon footprint and penalise those who are emitting the installation of FGD, India may be increasing its carbon footprint with a reduction in SO2 emission, which is not advisable as per the present ambient air quality levels, according to a report written by CSIR-NEERI with financial support from NITI SO₂ and CO₂ have different atmospheric lifetimes - SO₂ has a short atmospheric lifetime of several hours to about 15 days, while CO₂ persists for over 100 current cost of FGD systems is approximately Rs1.40 crore per MW. As per recent Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimate, around Rs1,47,000 crores capital investment will be required for the installation of the remaining 105 GW coal-based power plants.'Now, it becomes imperative that the country make timely decisions so that consumers can be prevented from additional financial burdens. An appropriate decision may be taken by the concerned authority regarding the installation of FGDs in Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) considering that the ambient SO2 concentration is well below the prescribed limit,' the CSIR-NEERI report said.'If FGD retrofits raise CO₂ emissions, are we not choosing the lesser evil here by avoiding them where they are not needed,' said a power industry source.'Do we need to burden consumers with ₹2.5 lakh crore in unnecessary infrastructure when SO₂ levels are already well within limits,' he asked.'This is a smarter use of resources, focusing on particulate matter and grid upgrades instead of chasing a global fad,' he said, noting that Indian consumers are better off without the one-size-fits-all FGD Ministry's move is seen as a smart, science-led decision based on Indian coal chemistry and local air data. It avoids unnecessary CO₂ emissions from limestone use and auxiliary aligns with global best practices - even the US, EU and China have moved to targeted FGD deployment, not blanket mandates.'This is not a rollback. FGDs remain mandatory where necessary - near large urban populations or in heavily polluted areas,' the industry source said.'This is a good example of India taking sovereign control of environmental policy, instead of blindly following Western rules,' he added.
New Indian Express
15-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
‘Drop WTE plant, go for zero-waste initiatives'
CHENNAI: The Federation of North Chennai Residents Welfare Association (FNCRWA) submitted a petition to Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Mayor R Priya on Friday demanding the withdrawal of the proposed Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant in Kodungaiyur. FNCRWA noted that Kerala's model of decentralised waste management offers a safer alternative and urged GCC to move towards zero-waste initiatives instead of WTE plants. The association has instead proposed an ecological park, research libraries, and other public infrastructure on 350 acres, which includes the 75-acre site proposed for WTE plant and 275 acres of Kodungaiyur dumpyard to be reclaimed through biomining. The petition follows a human chain protest held by FNCRWA on May 25. In response to the protest, the GCC assured that the WTE plant would only proceed after public consultation and environmental clearance, claiming it would adopt scientific methods to avoid groundwater infiltration. However, it is also cited that WTE plants in India, including in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Pimpri Chinchwad, are running successfully. While the petition acknowledged GCC's assurance on monitoring, it stated that similar promises were made elsewhere, only to be broken after operations. Plants in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Pimpri-Chinchwad have proven to be bitter lessons. FNCRWA pointed to an NGT report that highlighted leachate from the Jawahar Nagar WTE plant contaminating 18 lakes in Hyderabad and polluting the groundwater. Quoting CSIR-NEERI findings, the petition warned of cancer risks from incinerator emissions. They also criticised comparisons to Tokyo and Paris, noting that North Chennai's population density is four times that of Tokyo, and the area is already burdened with industrial pollution. They also highlighted that the proposed site for WTE is a wetland and vital flood catchment zone, home to 54 bird species, making it unsuitable for a WTE plant under environmental law. 'We seek development, not destruction,' the petition read. 'We are not against development projects by the GCC, but projects that destroy natural resources and public health should not be implemented,' it added.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Neeri's giant leap with Global South Network for eco sustainability
Nagpur: The CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) is set to establish a Global South Network to collaborate with institutes across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Middle East on environmental sustainability. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A key focus of this initiative is to address critical challenges affecting these regions. In an exclusive interview with TOI on Wednesday, CSIR-NEERI director Dr S Venkata Mohan, an Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellow, emphasized the network's goal of tackling region-specific environmental issues. "The Global South faces unique challenges, and this platform will amplify our voice to address them collaboratively," he said. The network aims to create a charter, facilitating annual engagements across member countries to develop tailored solutions. "India represents a significant population, and our contributions will carry substantial weight globally," Dr Venkata Mohan added. NEERI also hosts a regional centre for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), in partnership with the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC). The Stockholm Convention targets chemicals that persist in the environment, spread globally, and accumulate in fatty tissues, posing risks to human health and ecosystems. "We are developing methods to monitor and phase out particulate organic carbon (POC) and other POPs," Dr Venkata Mohan said, highlighting NEERI's role as a recognized regional centre. The Global South Network, an independent initiative, will strengthen NEERI's leadership in environmental research, fostering sustainable development across member nations. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Also, CSIR-NEERI is in discussion to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in collaboration with IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute to advance water and wastewater treatment and energy recovery technologies. "A recent Sweden delegation formalized to drive Indo-Swedish sustainability goals," he said. The CoE, to be established at NEERI's Nagpur campus, will serve as a hub for innovative water management solutions, aligning with global circular economy practices. Last year, the Swedish Innovation Agency Vinnova commissioned IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute to conduct a pre-feasibility study for establishing a Sweden-India Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Sustainable Cities. The study was led by Rupali Deshmukh (Karangale), a native of Nagpur now based in Sweden, who serves as Country Manager for India and CEO of IVL India. IVL has now been tasked with hammering out a detailed feasibility study focusing on water, wastewater, sludge, and energy.
