FGD retrofitting in thermal power plants reaches 11% of total capacity

The retrofitting of thermal power plants with flue-gas desulphurization (FGD) units has reached only 11.1% of the total installed capacity, according to a report presented in Parliament.

Union Power Minister Manohar Lal informed the Rajya Sabha on December 16, 2024, that FGD units have been commissioned in 44 thermal power plants, representing a combined capacity of 22,590 MW out of the total target of 2,04,160 MW across 537 units.

Work on FGD retrofitting is underway for 233 units with a capacity of 1,02,040 MW, accounting for 50% of the total. Contracts have been awarded for these units, while 138 units with a capacity of 43,987 MW are still under tendering, and 122 units totalling 35,543 MW are in the pre-tendering stage.

Thermal plants are required to comply with emission norms set by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), and failure to meet FGD installation deadlines will result in “environment compensation” fees, ranging from Rs 0.20 to Rs 0.40 per kWh depending on the delay.

Uttar Pradesh leads with 10 units totalling 4,300 MW in FGD installation, followed by Maharashtra (3,770 MW) and Madhya Pradesh (3,570 MW).