CEA uprates NTPC Dadri units, adds 20 MW to capacity

NTPC Limited has informed stock exchanges that the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has uprated two units at its Dadri Thermal Power Station in Uttar Pradesh from 490 MW each to 500 MW each, effective April 7, 2026. The revision adds a combined 20 MW to the company’s installed capacity.

Following the uprating, NTPC group’s total installed capacity stands at 89,128 MW, with commercial capacity at 88,048 MW.

The units, numbered 5 and 6, were built by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and commissioned in 2010 under the National Capital Thermal Power Project Stage-II. They were among the first indigenous subcritical units in India designed with a reheat steam temperature of 565°C, which improved heat rate and reduced coal consumption compared to earlier configurations.

Uprating refers to the formal recognition by regulators that a unit can sustain output above its original nameplate capacity based on operational performance over time. The process is common for thermal plants that demonstrate stable and consistent output.

For NTPC, which has set a target of 60 GW of renewable capacity by 2032, the incremental addition from the uprating remains limited relative to its broader capacity expansion plans.

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