Talcher Thermal Power Station


Talcher Thermal Power station is located in Talcher sub-division of Angul district in the Indian state of Odisha Pin.759101. The power plant is one of the coal-based plants of NTPC. The coal for the power plant is sourced from Jagannath Mines of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited. Source of water for the plant is from Brahmani River. It has its own railway station and is well connected to 3 other important stations in close vicinity: Talcher Road, Angul and Talcher Stations. This power plant has been ranked among the best power plants in the country despite being the oldest plant in the state. It has consistently topped the charts in NTPC for the last 4 years and was also the nation's top power plant in 2015-16.
On 23 November 2016, TTPS achieved the highest ever power generation among all the power plants in the country in a single day at 104.13% PLF.

Major milestones

The total capacity is 460 MW, consisting of four units of 60 MW each and two units of 110 MW each.

Construction

Stage I

Unit 1 was commissioned 17-12-1967.
Unit 2 was commissioned 28-03-1968.
Unit 3 was commissioned 11-07-1968.
Unit 4 was commissioned 11-04-1969.
Stage I units were boilers and TG’s of GE make.

Stage II

Unit 5 was commissioned 24-03-1982.
Unit 6 was commissioned 24-03-1983.
Stage II units are BHEL make.
The PPA agreement was signed between NTPC, OSEB and GoO on 08-03-1995. Talcher TPS was transferred to NTPC on 03-06-1995 in pursuance to the Talcher Thermal Power Station with an objective to improve its performance using NTPC’s technical and managerial expertise. Total consideration for transfer payable by NTPC was Rs. 356 Cr. The Switchyard was transferred to NTPC by an MOU signed on 10-09-2000.

Renovation and modernisation

Objective of R&M
TTPS R&M was taken in phases viz. Phase I, Phase II and Phase III, Switchyard R&M and Stage II ESP R&M. Units 5 and 6 of Talcher TPS were undertaken for R&M and LE Programme in Phase-III of R&M implementation plan with an addition to some works based on RLA study reports in TG and auxiliaries of Stage I units. Some schemes in BOP area common to both stage I and II such as air compressors and ash dyke were also covered in this phase.
The station PLF has improved from 25.90% at the time of takeover in the FY 1995-96 to 79.33% in the FY 2003-04 as an indication of successful R&M. Similarly, the heat rate at the time of takeover was 3882 kCal/kWh which also improved to 2924 during the year 2004-05. The Auxiliary power consumption at the time of takeover was 12.55%, which was reduced to 10.85% in the year 2004-05. There was also a significant decrease in forced outage of the unit from 43% at time of takeover to 3.6% during the year 2004-05. Tube leakages in Boiler was 29 times at the time of takeover and which reduced to 6 during the year 2004-05.
The benefits envisioned after performing successful R&M implementation were sustained unit availability and generation, the reliability of the unit has improved, life of the units
have been increased by implementing technological up-gradation of equipments, flexibility of operation and maintenance, technological obsolescence have been overcome by replacing older equipments to get the spares of the new ones, improvement in plant safety and better environment management by installing new ESP.

Performance

NTPC Talcher Thermal remains one of the best renovated & performing power plants in the entire country. For the last few years it has almost constantly topped the charts of NTPC in terms of PLF of electricity generation. It has even held the first position in the country for considerable intervals numerous times. Despite being an old take-over plant, its performance leaves newer plants of both NTPC and private sector behind. The power plant officials attribute this consistency to the work culture of the township including a sense of ownership in the plant. The transformation from about 20-30% PLF during its take-over in 1995 to an average of 92-95% PLF as of 2016 has baffled experts throughout the country and foreign alike. A book is in the process of being written to chronicle the events which led to this metamorphosis.

Business Excellence

As part of further growth strategy, two units of 660 MW are planned to be installed within the available land of Talcher Thermal. The useful life of the existing units are likely to be completed by March 2021. Further, with the increasing stringent environment norms and for efficient optimization of available resources, higher size units with advanced super-critical technology is the way forward instead of further investment in renovation of existing units. Clearance for the 1320 MW expansion was accorded from Govt. of Odisha on 20-01-2020.
Environment clearance for the project was accorded on 12-09-2018. 39 cusecs of water allotted for the project from River Brahmani. Coal linkage is under finalization with CCL.

Critical success factors

Long term sustainable CSR activities:
Stage II ESP R&M and Stage I AFGC system have committed to achieve SPM level less than 100 mg/Nm3.
100% ash utilization is achieved through mine back filling of South Balanda Mines of MCL.
More than 4.1 lakhs trees have been planted since takeover in 1995. 20000 trees are planted every year.
Online Ambient Air Quality Monitoring stations, online Continuous Emission Monitoring System, and online Effluent Quality Monitoring System have been commissioned for continuous monitoring of stack and effluent parameters.
The sewage treatment plant contributes to reuse of treated water in the plant ash handling process and horticulture works.
The AWRS system exists for reuse of decanted water.

Highlights of FY 2019-20

NTPC TTPS maintains a township of about 350 acres. The township authorities have taken specific care to keep it clean, green and well maintained. It has been asserted to be one of the most environment friendly townships in the state, despite the fact that it houses a coal-based power plant. The colony is well planned and has about 1200 houses, categorized to different types. The residence for the HOP is separate from these types.
There is a special guest house for accommodating the company guests, a multipurpose recreational center, a sports complex, a modern medical facility, an executive club and an open-air theatre.

Ashalok Hospital

Ashalok Hospital was constructed in 1967 as an OPD based Hospital. It was later converted to a 7 bed hospital and it is currently a 25 bed hospital with the following facilities: occupational health unit, ICU, cabin and IPD facility, dressing room, advanced operating theatre, radiology room with X-ray, pharmacy, pathology lab, laundry room with CSSD facility, dental unit, burn unit, and emergency unit.
Doctors at Ashalok Hospital contributed to post-Fani Cyclone restoration through medical camps conducted during May 2019, covering 8472 patients during the 22 day camp.

Schools

There are three schools on the campus with total enrollment of around 2446 students:
The pass percentage of these schools is among the best among the other schools in the district.

Awards and accolades

The Talcher Thermal Executive Association is a welfare body of all the executives working in Talcher Thermal Power Station. It is affiliated to . NEFI is a federation of all the executive associations from various projects of NTPC Ltd. The present office bearers of TTEA are President D. Mahanta and the General Secretary K.P. Rath.