Cement Energy and Environment

EXISTING EMISSION NORMS FOR TPS Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) less than 21 0 MW (1989) : 350 mg/N:f'3 210 MW or more(1989) : 150mg/Nm The aboye limits were further reduced to 1 00 mg/Nm3 in 2003 under Co'l)orate Social Responsibilities. Limit of 50 mg/Nm3 is 1being specified on case to case basis depending on the area ------------;---- NOx None for coal based stations SOx None, stack provided for dispersion <500 MW - 220 m . >=SOO MW - 275m FGD space provision for units size 500 MW and above. Source: CEA 600 mg/Nm units less than 500MW capacity 200 mg/Nm3 for units 500MW and above capacity 600mg/Nm However, power generating companies (GENCOs) are concerned that they may have to spend massive amounts to meet the prescribed technical upgrades. Though the government has had interactions with all the stakeholders it has not taken several issues raised by the industry into account while issuing the new norms, is the argument of the industry. New Norms For the purpose of application of the new norms, TPPs are divided into 3 categories, viz. those: (i) installed before 31st December, 2003 600 mg/Nm3 for units less than 500MW capacity 200 mg/Nm3 for units 500MW and above capacity 300 100 (ii) installed after 2003 up to 31 51 December, 2016 and (iii) Installed after 31st December, 2016. The standards have been made stringent for recent plants, compared to earlier ones and most stringent for those plants to come up in future. The new SPM norms specify 100 mg/Nm3 , 50 mg/Nm3 and 30 mg/Nm3 respectively for these three categories against 350 mg/Nm3. In case of SOx, the TPPs are divided into units less than 500 MW capacity and units of 500 MW and above and more stringent norms are made applicable to the latter. That kind of division is not there in case of NOx reduction, but the division is based only the above categories (See Table-1, 2 & 3 for more details). 42