Power for All by 2012

The Ministry of Power has set a goal - Mission 2012: Power for All.

A comprehensive Blueprint for Power Sector development has been prepared encompassing an integrated strategy for the sector development with following objectives:-

- Sufficient power to achieve GDP growth rate of 8% - Reliable of power - Quality power - Optimum power cost - Commercial viability of power industry - Power for all

Strategies to achieve the objectives:

Power Generation Strategy with focus on low cost generation, optimization of capacity utilization, controlling the input cost, optimisation of fuel mix, Technology upgradation and utilization of Non Conventional energy sources Transmission Strategy with focus on development of National Grid including Interstate connections, Technology upgradation & optimization of transmission cost. Distribution strategy to achieve Distribution Reforms with focus on System upgradation, loss reduction, theft control, consumer service orientation, quality power supply commercialization, Decentralized distributed generation and supply for rural areas. Regulation Strategy aimed at protecting Consumer interests and making the sector commercially viable. Financing Strategy to generate resources for required growth of the power sector. Conservation Strategy to optimise the utilization of electricity with focus on Demand Side management, Load management and Technology upgradation to provide energy efficient equipment / gadgets. Communication Strategy for political consensus with media support to enhance the genera; public awareness.

DEFINITION

electric grid
An electric grid is a network of synchronized power providers and consumers that are connected by transmission and distribution lines and operated by one or more control centers. When most people talk about the power "grid," they're referring to the transmission system for electricity

Central Electricity Regulatory Commission

Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), a key regulator of power sector in India, is a statutory body functioning with quasi-judicialstatus under sec - 76 of the Electricity Act 2003. CERC was initially constituted on 24 July 1998 under the Ministry of Powers Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998 for rationalization of electricity tariffs, transparent policies regarding subsidies, promotion of efficient and environmentally benign policies, and for matters connected Electricity Tariff regulation. CERC was instituted primarily to regulate the tariff ofPower Generating companies owned or controlled by the government of India, and any other generating company which has a composite scheme for power generation and interstate transmission of energy, including tariffs of generating companies

Obligations of CERC
Formulate an efficient tariff setting mechanism, which ensures speedy and time bound disposal of tariff petitions, promotes competition, economy, and efficiency in the pricing of bulk power and transmission services, and ensures minimal cost investments. The regulation of tariffs of central generating stations. The regulation of tariffs of electric power generated and sold across states in a composite package. The regulation of interstate transmission tariffs, and facilitation of open access in interstate transmission. To issue licences to persons to function as transmission licensees and electricity traders with respect to their interstate operations. To adjudicate disputes involving generating companies or transmission licensees. To Improve the operations and management of the regional transmission systems through Indian Electricity Grid Code (IEGC), Availability Based Tariff (ABT), etc. To specify and enforce the standards with respect to quality, continuity, and reliability of service by licensees. To promote the development of the power market & fix the trading margin in the interstate trading of electricity, if considered necessary. To discharge such other functions as may be assigned under the Act.

[edit]Advisory

Functions

Formulation of National Electricity Policy and Tariff Policy. Promotion of competition, efficiency, and economy in the activities of the electricity industry. Promotion of investment in electricity industry.

Any other matter referred to the Central Commission by the Central Government.

Evolution of Electricity Tariff & Role of CERC

[edit]Single

part tariff

A system of single-part tariffs was in vogue in India for pricing of thermal power prior to 1992. The single-part tariff for a station was calculated to cover both the fixed cost as well as the variable (energy) cost at a certain (normative) generation level. Demerit: 1. Energy production above the normative generation level yielded additional revenue. i.e., a surplus over the fixed and variable cost of the station. 2. The incentive and disincentive for power generation got linearly linked to the annual Plant Load Factor (PLF) of the generating station. [edit]Two

part tariff for Generation as per K.P. Rao Committee (1992)

Finding that the single-part tariff, particularly for Central generating stations, was conducive neither to economic generation of power as per merit-order, nor to satisfactory operation of the regional grids, the government of India adopted in 1992 a two-part tariff formula for NTPC stations based on the recommendations of the KP Rao Committee. Recognizing that there would be no motivation on the part of NTPC (Central generating stations) to maintain a high level of efficiency and availability if it was paid the full fixed cost irrespective of level of generation and variable cost for the quantum of energy actually generated, the K.P. Rao Committee had recommended a scheme of incentive/disincentive, as a variant of a simple two-part tariff. The scheme provided for linking of incentive and disincentive with Plant Load Factor (PLF) plus deemed [14] generation, which in effect is Plant availability. [edit]Evolution

of Availability Based Tariff (ABT)

The serious problems of regional grid operation however continued even after 1992. This was because the K.P. Rao Committee had been able to tackle only one end; the Central generation side. Overdrawals by some State Electricity Board's during peak-load hours and under-drawals during offpeak hours continued unabated, causing serious frequency excursions and perpetual operational/commercial disputes. In the year 1994, M/s ECC of USA were commissioned under a grant from Asian Development Bank to undertake a comprehensive study of the Indian power system and recommend a suitable tariff structure.ECC submitted their report in February, 1994, recommending Availability Tariff for generating stations, which was accepted in principle by GOI in November, 1994. A National Task Force (NTF) was constituted by the Ministry of Power in February, 1995 to oversee the implementation of ECCs recommendations. Based on NTF deliberations between 1995 and 1 998, [15] Ministry of Power had crystallized the formulation for the so-called Availability Based Tariff (ABT). With the spirit of the Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act 1998 and consequent upon transfer of relevant powers vested under section 43 A (2) of the Electricity (Supply) Act 1948 to the CERC with effect from 15 May 1999, GOI forwarded the above draft ABT notification to CERC vide OM dated 31.5.1999 for finalization after due deliberation. The draft notification was then issued through a public notice and comments/objections were invited. The Commission in July 1999 held detailed hearings on

the above. The ABT order dated January 4, 2000 of the Commission departs significantly from the draft notification as also from the prevailing tariff design. [edit]Standard

Tariff Model of CERC

Tariff for supply of electricity shall comprise two parts: 1. Fixed or Capacity Charges (For recovery of Annual Fixed Cost) 2. Energy or Variable Charges (For recovery of Primary Fuel Cost wherever applicable) The annual fixed cost (AFC) of a generating station or a transmission system shall consist of the [16] following components 1. Return on equity (RoE); 2. Interest on loan capital; 3. Depreciation; 4. Interest on Working capital; 5. Operation and maintenance expenses; 6. Cost of secondary fuel oil (for Coal-based & Lignite fired generating stations); 7. Special allowance for Renovation and Modernization or separate compensation allowance, wherever applicable. The Energy charge shall cover the Primary fuel cost and limestone consumption cost (where applicable), and shall be payable by every beneficiary for the total energy scheduled to be supplied to such beneficiary with fuel and limestone price adjustment

SERC and CERC

CERC and State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) are the two electricity regulators one operating at the central level and the other at various state levels. CERCs primary function was to regulate the tariffs of central generating stations as well as for all interstate generation, transmission and supply of power. Whereas SERCs primary function was to determine bulk and retail tariffs to be charged to customers, regulate the operations of intrastate transmission, including those of the State Load Despatch Center (SLDC). During Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy in the year [19] 2001, SERC being established in states, for formulating standards relating to quality, continuity and reliability of service for the electricity industry have failed in their efforts. There was a proposal of having benches of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) in five to six locations instead of having a SERC in each state, but the Committee that has rejected the proposal stating it was not possible unless states were willing to accept such a proposal.

Nuclear power in India

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kaiga Kakrapar Kalpakkam BARC Narora New Delhi Rajasthan Tarapur Jaitapur Koodankulam Atomic Power Stations in India (view) Active plants Plants under construction

Nuclear power is the fourth-largest source of electricity in India after thermal, hydroelectric and renewable sources of electricity.[1] As of 2012, India has 20 nuclear reactors in operation in six nuclear power plants, generating 4,780 MW [2] while seven other reactors are under construction and are expected to generate an additional 5,300 MW.[3] In October 2010, India drew up "an ambitious plan to reach a nuclear power capacity of 63,000 MW in 2032",[4] but "populations around proposed Indian NPP sites have launched protests, raising questions about atomic energy as a clean and safe alternative to fossil fuels".[5] There have been mass protests against the French-backed 9900 MW Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in Maharashtra and the 2000 MW Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu. The state government of West Bengal state has also refused permission to a proposed 6000 MW facility near the town of Haripur that intended to host six Russian reactors.[5] A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has also been filed against the governments civil nuclear program at the Supreme Court.[5][6] Despite these impediments the capacity factor of Indian reactors was at 79% in the year 2011-12 as against 71% in 2010-11. Nine out of Twenty Indian reactors recorded an unprecedented 97% Capacity factor during 2011-12. With the imported Uranium from France, the 220 MW Kakrapar 2 PHWR reactors recorded 99% capacity factor during 2011-12. The Availability factor for the year 2011-12 was at 89%.

India has been making advances in the field of thorium-based fuels, working to design and develop a prototype for an atomic reactor using thorium and low-enriched uranium, a key part of India's three stage nuclear power programme.[7] The country has also recently re-initiated its involvement in the LENR research activities,[8] in addition to supporting work done in the fusion power area through the ITER initiative.

Nuclear fuel reserves

India's domestic uranium reserves are small and the country is dependent on uranium imports to fuel its nuclear power industry. Since early 1990s, Russia has been a major supplier of nuclear fuel to [9] [10] India. Due to dwindling domestic uranium reserves, electricity generation from nuclear power in [11] India declined by 12.83% from 2006 to 2008. Following a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers [12] Group in September 2008 which allowed it to commence international nuclear trade, India has signed bilateral deals on civilian nuclear energy technology cooperation with several other countries, [13] [14] [15] [16] including France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada. and South [17] Korea. India has also uranium supply agreements with [18][19] [20] [21] [22] [23] Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Argentina and Namibia. An Indian private company won [24] a uranium exploration contract in Niger. Large deposits of natural uranium, which promises to be one of the top 20 of the world's reserves, have been found in the Tummalapalle belt in the southern part of the Kadapa basin in Andhra Pradesh in March 2011. The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) of India, which explores uranium in the country, has so far discovered 44,000 tonnes of natural uranium [25] (U3O8) in just 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) of the 160 kilometres (99 mi) long belt. [edit]Nuclear

agreements with other nations

The nuclear agreement with USA led to India issuing a Letter of Intent for purchasing 10,000 MW from the USA. However, liability concerns and a few other issues are preventing further progress on the issue. Experts say that India's nuclear liability law discourages foreign nuclear companies. This law gives accident victims the right to seek damages from plant suppliers in the event of a mishap. It has "deterred foreign players like General Electric and Westinghouse Electric, a US-based unit of Toshiba, with companies asking for further clarification on compensation liability for private [26] operators". Russia has an ongoing agreement of 1988 vintage with India regarding establishing of two VVER 1000 MW reactors (water-cooled water-moderated light water power reactors) [27] at Koodankulam inTamil Nadu. A 2008 agreement caters for provision of an additional four third [28] generation VVER-1200 reactors of capacity 1170 MW each. Russia has assisted in Indias efforts [29] to design a nuclear plant for its nuclear submarine. In 2009, the Russians stated that Russia would not agree to curbs on export of sensitive technology to India. A new accord signed in Dec 2009 with Russia gives India freedom to proceed with the closed fuel cycle, which [30][31] includes mining, preparation of the fuel for use in reactors, and reprocessing of spent fuel. France was the first country to sign a civilian nuclear agreement with India on 30 September 2008 [32] after the complete waiver provided by the NSG. During the December 2010 visit of the French President Nicholas Sarkozy to India, framework agreements were signed for the setting up two thirdgeneration EPR reactors of 1650 MW each at Jaitapur, Maharashtra by the French companyAreva.

The deal caters for the first set of two of six planned reactors and the supply of nuclear fuel for 25 [33] years. The contract and pricing is yet to be finalised. Construction is unlikely to start before 2014 because of regulatory issues and difficulty in sourcing major components from Japan due to India not [34] being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. India and Mongolia signed a crucial civil nuclear agreement on 15 June 2009 for supply of Uranium to India, during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Mongolia making it the fifth nation in the world to seal a civil nuclear pact with India. The MoU on development of cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of radioactive minerals and nuclear energy was signed by senior officials in the department of [35] atomic energy of the two countries. On 2 September 2009, India and Namibia signed five agreements, including one on civil nuclear energy which allows for supply of Uranium from the African country. This was signed during President Hifikepunye Pohamba's five-day visit to India in May 2009. Namibia is the fifth largest producer of uranium in the world. The Indo-Namibian agreement in peaceful uses of nuclear energy [36] allows for supply of Uranium and setting up of nuclear reactors. On 14 October 2009, India and Argentina signed an agreement in New Delhi on civil nuclear cooperation and nine other pacts to establish strategic partnership. According to official sources, the agreement was signed by Vivek Katju, Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs and Argentine foreign minister Jorge Talana. Taking into consideration their respective capabilities and experience in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, both India and Argentina have agreed to encourage and support [37][38] scientific, technical and commercial cooperation for mutual benefit in this field. The Prime Ministers of India and Canada signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement in Toronto on 28 June 2010 which when all steps are taken, will provide access for Canada's nuclear industry to India's expanding nuclear market and also fuel for India's reactors. Canada is the world's largest exporter of Uranium and the two countries are the only users of heavy water nuclear [39] technology. On 6 November 2012, India and Canada finalised their 2010 nuclear export agreement, [40] opening the way for Canada to begin uranium exports to India. On 16 April 2011, India and Kazakhstan signed an inter-governmental agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, that envisages a legal framework for supply of fuel, construction and operation of atomic power plants, exploration and joint mining of uranium, exchange of scientific and research information, reactor safety mechanisms and use of radiation technologies for healthcare. PM Manmohan Singh visited Astana where a deal was signed. After the talks, the Kazakh President Nazarbaev announced that his country would supply India with 2100 tonnes of uranium and was ready to do more. India and Kazakhstan already have civil nuclear cooperation since January 2009 when Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Kazakh nuclear company KazAtomProm signed an MoU during the visit of Nazarbaev to Delhi. Under the contract, [41][42] KazAtomProm supplies uranium which is used by Indian reactors. South Korea became the latest country to sign a nuclear agreement with India after it got the waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) in 2008. On 25 July 2011 India and South Korea signed a nuclear agreement, which will allow South Korea with a legal foundation to participate in Indias [43] nuclear expansion program, and to bid for constructing nuclear power plants in India. [edit]Nuclear

power growth in India

India now envisages to increase the contribution of nuclear power to overall electricity generation [44] capacity from 2.8% to 9% within 25 years. By 2020, India's installed nuclear power generation 10 [45] capacity will increase to 20,000 MW ( 2.010 Watts, which is 20 GW). As of 2009, India

stands 9th in the world in terms of number of operational nuclear power reactors. Indigenous atomic [46] reactors include TAPS-3, and -4, both of which are 540 MW reactors. India's US$717 million fast [47] breeder reactor project is expected to be operational by 2012-13. The Indian nuclear power industry is expected to undergo a significant expansion in the coming years thanks in part to the passing of the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement. This agreement will allow India to carry out trade of nuclear fuel and technologies with other countries and significantly enhance [48] its power generation capacity. When the agreement goes through, India is expected to generate an additional 25,000 MW of nuclear power by 2020, bringing total estimated nuclear power generation to [49] 45,000 MW. India has already been using imported enriched uranium for light-water reactors that are currently under IAEA safeguards, but it has developed other aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle to support its reactors. Development of select technologies has been strongly affected by limited imports. Use of heavy water reactors has been particularly attractive for the nation because it allows Uranium to be burnt with little to no enrichment capabilities. India has also done a great amount of work in the development of a thorium centered fuel cycle. While Uranium deposits in the nation are limited (see next paragraph) there are much greater reserves of thorium and it could provide hundreds of times the energy with the same mass of fuel. The fact that thorium can theoretically be utilized in heavy water reactors has tied the development of the two. A prototype reactor that would burn UraniumPlutonium fuel while irradiating a thorium blanket is under construction at theMadras/Kalpakkam Atomic Power Station. Uranium used for the weapons program has been separated from the power program, using uranium from indigenous reserves. This domestic reserve of 80,000 to 112,000 tons of uranium (approx 1% of global uranium reserves) is large enough to supply all of India's commercial and military reactors as well as supply all the needs of India's nuclear weapons arsenal. Currently, India's nuclear power [50] reactors consume, at most, 478 tonnes of uranium per year. Even if India were quadruple its nuclear power output (and reactor base) to 20 GW by 2020, nuclear power generation would only consume 2000 tonnes of uranium per annum. Based on India's known commercially viable reserves of 80,000 to 112,000 tons of uranium, this represents a 4050 years uranium supply for India's nuclear power reactors (note with reprocessing and breeder reactor technology, this supply could be stretched out many times over). Furthermore, the uranium requirements of India's Nuclear Arsenal are only a fifteenth (1/15) of that required for power generation (approx. 32 tonnes), meaning that India's domestic fissile material supply is more than enough to meet all needs for it strategic nuclear arsenal. Therefore, India has sufficient uranium resources to meet its strategic and power requirements for the [50] foreseeable future. Indian President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, stated while he was in office, that "energy independence is India's first and highest priority. India has to go for nuclear power generation in a big way using thorium-based reactors. Thorium, a non fissile material is available in abundance in our [51] [52][53] country." India has vast thorium reserves and quite limited uranium reserves. [edit]Nuclear

power plants
[54][55]

Currently, twenty nuclear power reactors produce 4,780.00 MW (2.9% of total installed base).

Power station Operator

State

Type

Units Total capacity (MW)

Kaiga

NPCIL

Karnataka

PHWR

220 x 4 880

Kakrapar

NPCIL

Gujarat

PHWR

220 x 2 440

Kalpakkam

NPCIL

Tamil Nadu

PHWR

220 x 2 440

Narora

NPCIL

Uttar Pradesh PHWR

220 x 2 440

Rawatbhata

NPCIL

Rajasthan

PHWR

100 x 1 200 x 1 1180 220 x 4

Tarapur

NPCIL

Maharashtra

BWR (PHWR)

160 x 2 1400 540 x 2

Total
[56]

20

4780

The projects under construction are:

Power station Operator

State

Type

Units

Total capacity (MW)

Kudankulam

NPCIL

Tamil Nadu VVER-1000 1000 x 2 2000

Kalpakkam

Bhavini

Tamil Nadu PFBR

500 x 1

500

Kakrapar

NPCIL

Gujarat

PHWR

700 x 2

1400

Rawatbhata

NPCIL

Rajasthan

PHWR

700 x 2

1400

Total [edit]Anti-nuclear

5300

protests

Safety in nuclear power plants in India

Abstract
Safety in nuclear power plants (NPPs) in India is a very important topic and it is necessary to dissipate correct information to all the readers and the public at large. In this article, I have briefly described how the safety in our NPPs is maintained. Safety is accorded overriding priority in all the activities. NPPs in India are not only safe but are also well regulated, have proper radiological protection of workers and the public, regular surveillance, dosimetry, approved standard operating and maintenance procedures, a well-defined waste management methodology, proper well documented and periodically rehearsed emergency preparedness and disaster management plans. The NPPs have occupational health policies covering periodic medical examinations, dosimetry and bioassay and are backed-up by fully equipped Personnel Decontamination Centers manned by doctors qualified in Occupational and Industrial Health. All the operating plants are ISO 14001 and IS 18001 certified plants. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited today has 17 operating plants and five plants under construction, and our scientists and engineers are fully geared to take up many more in order to meet the national requirements. Keywords: Atomic energy act, atomic energy regulatory board, dose limits, emergency planning and measures, environmental radiological surveillance, epidemiological survey, nuclear facilities, nuclear power plants, radioactive waste management, radiological protection, safety, the disaster management act, zoning concept
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INTRODUCTION
Safety in nuclear power plants (NPPs) is often less understood and more talked about and, thus, I wanted to share the facts with the readers. With reference to an article published in an earlier issue of this journal,[1] it became all the more pertinent to clear the myths. At the very start, may I state that any discussions on the IndoUS deal are outside the purview of this article. I would like to focus only on the safety aspects of the NPPs in India. Currently, all the NPPs in India are under the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). Hence, any discussions regarding the NPPs in India will pertain to it. The NPPs in India are not only safe but are also well regulated, have proper radiological protection of workers and the public, regular surveillance, dosimetry, approved standard operating and maintenance procedures, a well-defined waste management methodology, proper well documented and periodically rehearsed emergency preparedness and disaster management plans. The NPPs have occupational health policies covering periodic medical examinations, dosimetry and bioassay and are backed-up by fully equipped Personnel Decontamination Centers manned by doctors qualified in

Occupational and Industrial Health. Moreover, they have specialized training in handling radiological emergencies. Safety in NPPs in India is a very vast subject and would need reams of papers to cover it aptly. However, I have tried to summarize it to the best possible level. I hope that I would succeed in making the reader understand the magnanimity with which these plants are operated and that they are entirely safe. Safety is accorded overriding priority in all the activities. All nuclear facilities are sited, designed, constructed, commissioned and operated in accordance with strict quality and safety standards. Principles of defense in depth, redundancy and diversity are followed in the design of all nuclear facilities and their systems/components. The regulatory framework in the country is robust, with the independent Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) having powers to frame the policies, laying down safety standards and requirements and monitoring and enforcing all the safety provisions. The AERB exercises the regulatory control through a stage-wise system of licensing. As a result, India's safety record has been excellent in over 277 reactor years of operation of power reactors. Nuclear power generation is governed by a legislation, the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. The Atomic Energy Act encompasses all the activities concerned with atomic energy, including electricity generation.