Thermal Power Sector Research Articles

Supplier selection criteria for sustainable supply chain management in thermal power plant

Supplies are always in great demand when it comes to industrial operations. The quality of raw material their price accompanied by sustainability and environmental effects are a major concern for industrial operators these days. Supply Chain Management is the subject which is focused on how the supply of different products is carried out. The motive is that each operation performed can be optimized and inherently the efficiency of the whole chain is integrated. In this paper we will be dealing with all the criteria that are required to be evaluated before selecting a supplier, in particular, focusing on Thermal Power Plant. The most suppliers of the thermal power plant are the coal suppliers. The quality of coal directly determines the efficiency of the whole plant. And when there are matters concerning coal environmental pollution plays a very crucial role. ANP method has been used here to select suppliers of thermal power sectors in Indian context. After applying ANP to prioritize the sustainable supplier selection criteria, it is found that for thermal power industries best suppliers are Nationalized/State owned suppliers then 2nd ranked suppliers are imported supplier. Private owned suppliers are ranked least. So private owned suppliers must be more concerned about their performance. Among these suppliers it is found that to compete in the global market privatized suppliers have to give more emphasize on most important criteria like sustainability, then fuel cost and quality. Still some sub-criteria like a clean program, environmental issues, quality, reliability, service rate, investment in high technology, green transportation channel, waste management etc needs for continuous improvement as per their priority.

A framework for assessment of SSCM strategies with respect to sustainability performance: an Indian thermal power sector perspective

The explosion of the population in India has put a tremendous pressure to generate huge amount of energy, particularly electrical energy. Indeed, more than 50% of the total electrical energy produced in the country is generated by the coal based thermal power plants and is expected to be continued for another 2-3 decades. Growing concern over the environmental effects caused by the supply chain activities of the power industries that affects ecosystems and quality of life adversely as well natural resource depletion has been drawing attention of organisations to focus on sustainability practices. Realising the importance of sustainable practices in traditional supply chain management, an effort has been made to develop a framework by using AHP TOPSIS to study SSCM strategies. The findings of the research will facilitate the analysis and assessment of managerial approaches for SSCM in power generation facilities with its differing aspects rather than few limited aspects.

The Use of Wastes of Thermal Power Sector in Production of Reinforced Concrete Products for Solving Ecological Problems

The Use of Wastes of Thermal Power Sector in Production of Reinforced Concrete Products for Solving Ecological Problems

A framework for assessment of SSCM strategies with respect to sustainability performance: an Indian thermal power sector perspective

A framework for assessment of SSCM strategies with respect to sustainability performance: an Indian thermal power sector perspective

The role of coal technology in redefining India’s climate change agents and other pollutants

It is well established that carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most prominent agent of climate change. The level of CO2 in the atmosphere has been increasing persistently over the last few decades due to rising dependence on fossil fuels for energy production. India is facing a potential energy crisis. India has large coal reserves and coal is currently the linchpin of the Indian power sector, making Indian coal-derived emissions a focus of global attention. Further, India’s journey from a challenging energy security situation to the ‘Make in India’ initiative is expected to drive energy needs exponentially. Thus, in the context of a rapidly changing climate, it has become imperative to quantify the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from emerging coal-based energy plants in India. The present work attempts not only to do this, with the intention of highlighting India’s commitment to reducing CO2 emissions, but also to redefine India’s future emissions. We draw attention to India’s attempt to transform the coal technology used in coal-based thermal power plants. We have tried to adopt a holistic approach to quantify the past (2010), present (2015) and future (2025) emission trends for important GHGs like CO2 and other critical air pollutants from rapidly penetrating low-emission advanced coal technology. Our estimation shows that CO2 emissions will increase from 1065 Tg yr−1 (2015) to 2634 Tg yr−1 (2025), which is approximately 147% of the current value. This rapid increase is largely attributed to rising energy demand due to industrial development, followed by demand from the domestic and agricultural sectors. The present trend of CO2 emissions is sure to propel India to become world’s second largest emitter of GHGs in 2025, dislodging the United States. We have also estimated the emission of other pollutants like NOx, SO2, black carbon, organic carbon, particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), volatile organic compounds and CO. Our findings seem to suggest that India will able to cut CO2 emission from the traditionally dominant thermal power sector by at least 19% in 2025. Present attempts at emission reduction, along with the government’s massive initiatives towards building renewable energy infrastructure, could be well aligned to India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution submission to COP21 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. With such a rapid expansion of energy production it can be assumed that cost-effective and uninterrupted power (i.e. 24/7) can be provided to all citizens of the country well before 2025.

Marginal abatement costs of CO2 emissions in the thermal power sector: A regional empirical analysis from China

Quantifying marginal abatement costs of CO2 emissions are beneficial to estimate mitigation potentials and costs of China's regional thermal power sector. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces from 2004 to 2013, this study estimates the technical efficiency, reduction potential, and marginal abatement costs of CO2 emissions from the thermal power sector in China using a parametric quadratic directional output distance function. A regression analysis is undertaken to identify the factors that drive marginal abatement costs. The main results are: (1)The mean value of directional output distance function in China's thermal power sector is 0.0449, indicating that inefficient production of Chinese thermal power sector accounts for 4.49%. CO2 emissions could be mitigated by accumulated 1.22 billion ton in the past ten year, which is approximate 4.49% of total CO2 emissions; (2)The national weighted average marginal abatement costs of CO2 emissions are 316.51 Yuan/ton which is far higher than carbon price in the current ETS (emission trading system) pilots in China, implying that carbon price does not inflect supply and demand of carbon allowance; (3)The regression results show that the marginal abatement costs positively connect with regional power scale, namely a 1% increase in power scale will result in a 13.8% increase. Technology level, coal supply and power structure are negatively correlated with marginal abatement costs, namely a 1% increase in technology level, coal supply and power structure will result respectively in a 30.41%, 4.38% and 77.7% decrease.

Evaluation of Integrated Air Pollution and Climate Change Policies: Case Study in the Thermal Power Sector in Chongqing City, China

The cost of environmental degradation has already had a dramatic impact on the Chinese economy. In order to curb these trends, the government of China has introduced stricter regulations. With this in mind, it is important to quantify the potential co-benefits of introducing air pollution and climate change mitigation policies. This study proposes relevant scenarios ranging from the current trends (baseline) to the introduction of different policies in the thermal power sector, including different carbon tax rates, technology innovation promotion, and technology cost reduction methods. We aim to comparatively evaluate the impact of the proposed policies within the thermal sector and within the entire socio-economic system. To this end, we used a dynamic input–output (I-O) model, into which high-efficiency technologies were incorporated as new thermal power industries in order to estimate policy impact during the time period 2010–2025. The results of this study demonstrated that the introduction of one or more of the following policies: carbon taxes, subsidies, technology innovation, and technology cost reduction, has no notable impact on the environment or the economy without the implementation of environment regulations. In contrast, the strong support of a government subsidy coupled with strict environmental regulations will promote technological innovation, for example through the natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) and the integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC). Our study also showed that the reduction of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions as well as energy consumption would curb economic development to a certain extent. Taking this into consideration, innovation must also be promoted in other economic sectors. This research provides a strong reference for policy-makers to identify effective polices under different types of environmental regulations.

Compliance choice analysis for India's thermal power sector in the market-based energy efficiency regime

India has recently introduced a market-based scheme―Perform, Achieve, and Trade―to realize emission reduction by enhancing energy efficiency. In the case of thermal power plants, investment in energy efficiency projects, using clean coal and buying energy saving certificates are the available compliance options for complying with the scheme. These options are associated with specific forms of cash flows that depend on the uncertain price of energy saving certificates and clean coal premium. This paper uses a Monte Carlo-based decision tree approach to find the optimal compliance options for an efficient and a less efficient thermal power plant. The decision tree evaluates different sequences of compliance options in three consecutive PAT cycles by using the discounted cash flows and their associated probabilities. The study shows that investment in energy efficiency is optimal in the first PAT cycle for the inefficient plant only. The threshold certificate price for the efficient plant is substantially higher than the inefficient plant, implying that the real efficiency improvement is likely to take place in the low-efficiency plants. The study also indicates that the investment in high-efficiency plants is not optimal over a wide range of certificate prices and the incremental cost of clean coal.

Rationality of energy efficiency improvement targets under the PAT scheme in India – A case of thermal power plants

The market-based Perform Achieve and Trade scheme was introduced in India to enhance the energy efficiency of energy-intensive sectors, and for thermal power plants by reducing their specific energy consumption within the framework of a tradable certificate scheme. International experience suggests that effectiveness of such schemes is greatly influenced by the assigned targets of the obligated units. Setting rational targets is thus, a key aspect of successful implementation of the scheme. In the present study, we examine the rationality of the targets set for the power sector of India, based on comparing it with energy saving potential of the plants, and the targets assigned to the respective plants. Data envelopment analysis models are used to determine relative efficiency and energy saving potential. The study results indicate that in most cases, (i) The targets are much less than the actual potentials of the thermal power sector, (ii) There exist substantial inefficiencies within the system in both energy use and managerial dexterity; and (iii) If the sector realizes its full potential, then the Energy Saving Certificate market may witness a surplus of 4.7 million certificates on account of thermal power sector alone.

Global financial crisis making a V-shaped fluctuation in NO2 pollution over the Yangtze River Delta

The Yangtze River Delta (YRD), China’s main cultural and economic center, has become one of the most seriously polluted areas in the world with respect to nitrogen oxides (NOx), owing to its rapid industrialization and urbanization, as well as substantial coal consumption. On the basis of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) density data from ozone monitoring instrument (OMI) and ground-based observations, the effects of industrial fluctuations due to the financial crisis on local NO2 pollution were quantitatively assessed. The results were as follows. (1) A distinct V-shaped fluctuation of major industrial products, thermal generating capacity, electricity consumption, and tropospheric NO2 densities was associated with the global financial crisis from May 2007 to December 2009, with the largest anomalies 1.5 times more than standard deviations at the height of the crisis period from November 2008 to February 2009. (2) Among all industrial sectors, thermal power plants were mainly responsible for fluctuations in local NO2 pollution during the crisis period. Thermal generating capacity had its greatest decrease of 12.10% at the height of the crisis compared with that during November 2007–February 2008, leading to local tropospheric NO2 density decreasing by 16.97%. As the crisis appeased, thermal generating capacity increased by 29.63% from November 2009 to February 2010, and tropospheric NO2 densities correspondingly increased by 30.07%. (3) Among all industrial sectors in the YRD, the thermal power sector has the greatest coal consumption of about 65.96%. A decline in thermal power of about 10% can induce a decrease of about 30% in NOx emissions and NO2 densities, meaning that a relative small fluctuation in industrial production can lead to a large decrease in tropospheric NO2 densities over industrially developed areas like the YRD region. Since electricity is mainly obtained from local coal-burning thermal plants without NOx-processing equipment, installing NOx-removal devices for all thermal power plants is an important and feasible way of controlling local NOx pollution at present.

Technology choice for reducing [formula omitted] emissions: An empirical study of Chinese power plants

This study investigates the choices of denitration technology in the Chinese thermal power sector. Using a multinomial logit model of the choices among 1135 boilers in thermal power plants operating in China in 2013, we analyze how the choices were influenced by government policies, the stringency of national standards, and subsidies for using specific technology. The results are as follows. First, China's 12th Five-year Plan might make it more attractive for plants to choose the cheapest denitration technology among the three options examined in this study. Second, technology choices differed significantly by region before the 12th Five-year Plan period. These differences have disappeared, perhaps due to the economic development across all regions of China. Third, electricity price subsidies offered to plants that use denitration equipment might affect their technology choice. These results suggests that plants might choose the cheapest technology available, in order to lower investment costs.

Would Private Sector be Inclined to Take up Initiatives to Address Water Crisis in India?

Executive Summary In the years to come, India will be highly vulnerable to the impacts of rising sea level, floods and droughts, water pollution, and the associated health hazards. In addition to the severe effect of water-related concerns on health and heat stress, water scarcity problems would also impact generation of electricity, both in hydel and thermal power sectors, industrial production, which often requires large volumes of water, and irrigation, which again is highly water-based. To address such severe concerns in the realm of unavailability of water in desired quantity and quality, many industry initiatives have been implemented. However, the challenge is huge and full industry participation in this endeavour is still awaited in India. Private sector participation would be a relevant and much-needed initiative to the cause of water management in the country. However, the inclination of private sector in taking up such initiatives has not been ascertained yet. Therefore, an empirical academic research was undertaken to determine (a) if there is an awareness in private sector in India with regard to existence and impacts of water crisis and (b) if such awareness would lead to voluntary participation on the part of private sector. A research instrument in the form of survey questionnaire was administered on a population of practising managers across the country. Thereafter, structural equation modelling was carried out to analyse the data, thus, obtained. The research concludes that there is significant awareness that (a) water crisis does exist in India, (b) there is a possibility of spread of disease due to water stress, and that (c) private sector could help in recycling, treatment of wastewater, and conservation initiatives. Further, the research also shows a significant link between awareness about disease impacts due to water stress and propensity to support individual initiatives. The awareness that private sector could help in recycling and treatment of wastewater and in conservation initiatives would lead to voluntary participation of private sector both in the organizational capacity as well as in managers taking up individual initiatives.

New provincial CO2 emission inventories in China based on apparent energy consumption data and updated emission factors

This study employs “apparent energy consumption” approach and updated emissions factors to re-calculate Chinese provincial CO2 emissions during 2000–2012 to reduce the uncertainty in Chinese CO2 emission estimates for the first time. The study presents the changing emission-socioeconomic features of each provinces as well. The results indicate that Chinese provincial aggregated CO2 emissions calculated by the apparent energy consumption and updated emissions factors are coincident with the national emissions estimated by the same approach, which are 12.69% smaller than the one calculated by the traditional approach and IPCC default emission factors. The provincial aggregated CO2 emissions increased from 3160 million tonnes in 2000 to 8583 million tonnes in 2012. During the period, Shandong province contributed most to national emissions accumulatively (with an average percentage of 10.35%), followed by Liaoning (6.69%), Hebei (6.69%) and Shanxi provinces (6.25%). Most of the CO2 emissions were from raw coal, which is primarily burned in the thermal power sector. The analyses of per capita emissions and emission intensity in 2012 indicates that provinces located in the northwest and north had higher per capita CO2 emissions and emission intensities than the central and southeast coastal regions. Understanding the emissions and emission-socioeconomic characteristics of different provinces is critical for developing mitigation strategies.

Materials Research and Opportunities in Thermal (Coal-based) Power Sector Including Advanced Ultra Super Critical Power Plants

Materials Research and Opportunities in Thermal (Coal-based) Power Sector Including Advanced Ultra Super Critical Power Plants

Економіко-математична модель паливозабезпечення теплової енергетики із врахуванням заміни штатного палива та обмежень на викиди

Економіко-математична модель паливозабезпечення теплової енергетики із врахуванням заміни штатного палива та обмежень на викиди

Research on Synergic Governance for Air Pollutants Emission of Thermal Power Sector in China

The current governance for air pollutants presents problems, such as the singleness of administration body，slack law enforcement of the environment protection departments and the ineffective coordination among the different departments. The synergy governance can mobilize the plural stakeholders to participate in a joint effort to improve the air quality. The paper analyzes the status of governance for air pollutants in China. Also, based on flue gas desulphurization (FGD) franchise pilot project in the thermal power plant, the paper summarizes the connotation of franchise and progresses made in flue gas desulphurization. Finally, the mode of synergic governance for air pollutants emission is presented.

English

Availability of, and access to, coal is a crucial element of modern economies and it helps pave the way for human development. Accordingly, the thermal power sector and steel industries have been given a high priority in the national planning processes in India and a concerted focus on enhancing these sectors have resulted in significant gain in generation and availability of electricity and steel in the years since independence. To meet the need of huge demand of power coal is excavated. The process of excavation to the use of coal is potential enough to degrade the environment. Coal Mining is a development activity, which is bound to damage the natural ecosystem by all its activities directly and ancillary, starting from land acquisition to coal beneficiation and use of the products. Huge areas in the Raniganj and Jharia coal field in India have become derelict due to abandoned and active opencast and underground mines. The study is pursued to illustrate the facts which show the urgent need to clean coal mining in India.

Effects of Regulatory Governance on Indian Thermal Power Efficiency: Results from a Stochastic Frontier Modeling

This paper tests the impact of institutional quality on the performance of thermal power sector in India. We estimate a translog inefficiency effects stochastic frontier model using plant age, plant capacity and an index of regulatory governance as determinants of inefficiency. The dataset comprises a panel of 77 coal-based thermal power plants during the period 1994-95 to 2010-11. The mean technical efficiency is 76.7% which means there is wide scope for efficiency improvement in the sector. However, this is 4% points higher than previous estimates which measured productivity up to the year 2001-02. Results are robust to various model specifications and regulatory governance positively impacts plant performance. While technical efficiency is highly sensitive to unbundling of state electricity boards, it is not impacted significantly by the experience of regulators. The policy implication is that the quality of regulatory capacity and experience need to be enhanced for the desired sectoral performance.

Decoupling Effects and Decomposition Analysis of CO2 Emissions from Thailand’s Thermal Power Sector

Electricity is the basic need of most economic sectors within a national economy. Electricity generation not only directly affects the amount of CO2 emissions, but it also indirectly affects a country’s economic system. For Thailand, the electricity generation sector represents the largest source of CO2 emissions, so it is necessary to investigate the potential factors contributing to the changes in CO2 emissions from this power sector. Here, a decoupling method was used to evaluate the relationships between energy consumption and the CO2 emissions from Thailand’s thermal power generation that were caused by economic developments during 2000–2011. Key factors affecting the evolution of CO2 emissions from Thailand’s thermal power sector were analyzed by Divisia index decomposition. Changes in the emission coefficient, heat rate, fuel intensity, electricity intensity and economic growth were investigated. The results reveal that energy consumption and CO2 emissions were coupled during 2000–2005, whereas a relative decoupling appeared for 2006–2011. Moreover, the economic effect was the critical factor for increased CO2 emissions from Thailand’s thermal power generation, while electricity intensity played a dominant role in decreased CO2 emissions. Since the CO2 emissions released from Thailand’s electricity generation are rapidly increasing, the Thai government will be required to reduce CO2 emissions in the future by enhancing energy conservation, reconstructing the fuel mix in power generation, promoting a shift in the economic structure toward less energy-intensive services, and orienting Thailand’s power industry towards low carbon electricity generation.

Thermal Power Industry NOX Emissions Forecast Based on Improved Tandem Gray BP Neural Network

In this study, we build a new thermal power sector NOx emissions prediction model of tandem gray BP neural network. Firstly we use 1994-2010 years NOx emissions data to establish three gray prediction models: GM (1,1), WPGM (1,1) and pGM (1,1); Secondly, by comparison, we select the best prediction model pGM (1,1) and at the same time take NOx emissions factors as the BP neural network input, 1994-2010 year of NOx emissions data for training and testing. Lastly we proceed to predict thermal power industry NOx emissions in China in 2013 and 2020. Prediction result is: mean relative error of the improved tandem gray BP neural network prediction results is 1.92%, which is lower 0.158% than pGM (1,1) model and 0.28% than BP neural network model respectively.