Standards for power equipment likely soon
The government is planning to lay down standards for power equipment sets in an effort to facilitate faster execution of projects by equipment vendors and generation companies.
By Subhash Narayan, TNN |
NEW DELHI: The government is planning to lay down standards for power equipment sets in an effort to facilitate faster execution of projects by equipment vendors and generation companies.
The power ministry has instructed the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to recommend standard designs and references for main power equipment — boiler, generator and turbine — of all configurations, including yet-to-be-operational units of 660 MW and above.
Standards would help companies like BHEL execute their supply orders quickly and give more clarity to financial institutions about viability of a power project.
At present, power equipment vendors — mainly BHEL — manufacture customised equipment for generation companies by factoring in specifications such as coal quality, water quality, plant area and the like. Customisation often delays supplies, leading to disruption of commissioning schedule of power projects. China recently standardised main power equipment sets and was able to deliver 1,00,000 MW worth of equipment sets in a single year.
“In the Eleventh Plan, we are looking at adding over 78,500 MW of generation capacity. This would not be possible unless we provide some alternative to equipment manufactures by way of standardised units. Every mature power market globally has some form of standards and we would soon have it here too,” a power ministry official said.
The issue on standardisation has already been discussed at the highest level and received support from the prime minister’s office, the finance ministry and the Planning Commission.
It will be implemented once the CEA completes its study on design specification of equipment of different configurations, including both sub-500 MW and over 600-MW units. The CEA has already framed technical standards for 500-MW units, with a variation of 20% over and below. It would now recommend design/reference practice for 500 MW units.
subhash.narayan@timesgroup.com
The power ministry has instructed the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to recommend standard designs and references for main power equipment — boiler, generator and turbine — of all configurations, including yet-to-be-operational units of 660 MW and above.
Standards would help companies like BHEL execute their supply orders quickly and give more clarity to financial institutions about viability of a power project.
At present, power equipment vendors — mainly BHEL — manufacture customised equipment for generation companies by factoring in specifications such as coal quality, water quality, plant area and the like. Customisation often delays supplies, leading to disruption of commissioning schedule of power projects. China recently standardised main power equipment sets and was able to deliver 1,00,000 MW worth of equipment sets in a single year.
“In the Eleventh Plan, we are looking at adding over 78,500 MW of generation capacity. This would not be possible unless we provide some alternative to equipment manufactures by way of standardised units. Every mature power market globally has some form of standards and we would soon have it here too,” a power ministry official said.
The issue on standardisation has already been discussed at the highest level and received support from the prime minister’s office, the finance ministry and the Planning Commission.
ADVERTISEMENT
It will be implemented once the CEA completes its study on design specification of equipment of different configurations, including both sub-500 MW and over 600-MW units. The CEA has already framed technical standards for 500-MW units, with a variation of 20% over and below. It would now recommend design/reference practice for 500 MW units.
subhash.narayan@timesgroup.com
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
