Potential for further performance improvement

Potential for further performance improvement

For the benchmarking exercise, data from 19 thermal power generating units have been collected. The comparison of For the benchmarking exercise, data from 19 thermal power generating units have been collected. The comparison of the best figures in each parameter achieved by any Indian power plant over three years (2001 – 2004) with such figures for 2004 – 2005 of relatively high performing India power plants are given below.

Description Avg parameters - Average parameters a) of Best b) (of all Indian thermal performing unit power plants)

Forced outage - % 4.44 (8.84)
Planned maintenance % 1.03 (8.23)
Operating availability factor % 93.6 (82.93)
Plant load factor 93.18 (74.82)
Specific fuel oil consumption 1.20 (1.37)
Auxiliary power consumption 7.53 % (8.57)

The table clearly indicates that there is a significant gap between the average performance figures of Indian thermal power generating units and the figures of the best performing power generating unit. This clearly indicates that the potential for performance improvement is tremendous in Indian thermal power generating units.

If the availability factor of the existing thermal power generating units is increased by 10%, from the present level the capacity addition requirement will come down by 12,000 MW. This will reduce the investment requirement of about Rs 48,000 Crores.