Time for Indian Thermal Utilities to Pitch-in for Nuclear
With NITI Aayog of India and DAE recommending for increased private participation in SMR program and decentralization of nuclear power, perhaps it is right opportunity for private thermal power companies (Thermal GenCos) to start pitching for their entry into the nuclear sector. It will help these companies sustain their business growth in long terms as well as provide them diversification opportunity to meet burgeoning demand for clean and reliable electricity in the country. Nuclear applications for meeting the huge demand coming for clean hydrogen, water desalination, process heat, district cooling etc. could help them develop additional revenue streams for their business scale-up.
India’s largest power utility NTPC with over 72 GW of total installed capacity, has already come with bold plans for deployment of nuclear in the country. The company has signed contract of 4200 MW nuclear projects with NPCIL for 6 large nuclear reactors (700 MW each). NTPC is also extensively involved in development and deployment of SMR program, particularly to repurpose its retiring coal based plants with new innovative small modular reactors.
However, there are hardly any publically talked statements of any other thermal GenCos in regard to their energy transition planning or repurposing of their retiring sites.
Currently, India has over 236 GW of fossil based power capacity with 353 power units spread over 170 sites. These plants are owned and operated by over 75 odd companies also known as Thermal GenCos (Thermal generating companies) or simply Thermal utilities. Based on their ownership structure, they come under Central, State and private sector. There are over 40 private thermal GenCos in addition to over central and state thermal utilities.
In due course of time, the fossil fuel based plants at these sites will be progressively retiring, and would require suitable replacement for their best economic utilization.
NITI Aayog of India and different other organizations such as International Energy Agency (IEA), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), US Department of Energy(DOE) etc. have published in their various reports that nuclear reactors, and in particular Small modular reactors (SMRs), are well suited for retrofitting at most of these sites. These new reactors are inherently safe, passively cooled, remotely operated, highly efficient and come with long fuel loading cycle (even upto 20-23 years)
It will help in repurposing these sites by utilizing the existing site infrastructure, turbine island, BoP systems, switchyards, transmission corridors, residential colonies etc for a new power generating system that will go on providing reliable and clean energy for the next 80-100 years in operation. For green field sites, secondary side will also need installation of entire new systems.
