State-owned NTPC today said it is is well on course to meet its target of generating 10 GW solar energy as part of the government’s aim of 100 GW by 2022 . “NTPC’s commitment to add 10 GW solar energy out of government’s overall commitment of 100 GW (Solar) is well on target for 2022,” company’s CMD Gurdeep Singh said in a statement here. He also stressed on maintaining PSU’s market leadership in the power sector through increase in renewable portfolio, while optimising the operations of existing fossil fuel fleet. He said that more than 90 per cent of NTPC’s current coal-based capacity addition are low carbon footprint, high efficiency and SC (super critical)/USC (Ultra Super Critical) units.
Ministry of Environment & Forest Secretary A N Jha referred to the dilemma of NTPC as a responsible power generator to find ways of providing power to feed the development needs of 1.2 billion people in India and also ensuring minimum damage to the environment. Jha said technology holds the prime space in all development initiatives and is the most appropriate theme. He praised NTPC’s contribution for improving the Carbon sink by planting one crore saplings. Technology imperatives of the power industry in India is to be able to drive sustainable growth while reducing the carbon footprint and pursuing the best possible cost effective technologies to provide efficient, reliable and economically viable energy to support the GDP growth, CEA Chairperson S D Dubey in his address said. NTPC Director A K Jha spoke of perspectives for the PSU in the Indian market context and informed that although India is likely to meet the long term IEA projections on Energy Demand & Supply, the current mid-term will see a substantial increase in coal-based generation in addition to renewables.
Source:PTI
