NTPC to repurpose coal-based plants in renewables push

The National Thermal Power Corp is planning an aggressive boost in the renewable energy segment and repurposing their existing coal plants, according to NTPC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gurdeep Singh.

“We will aggressively push solar, hydro, wind and repurposing our existing coal plants,” Singh said in a panel discussion at an event organized by KPMG in New Delhi.

He added that while the state giant will increase its share of renewable energy in its energy mix, it does not mean NTPC will close its coal plants.

The NTPC Group had an installed power generation capacity of 69,134 MW at the end of July 2022, including coal-based capacity of 56,800 MW, gas-based capacity of 6,400 MW, hydropower capacity of 3,700 MW and 2,000 MW (2.8% of the total) of renewable energy. Speaking at the same event, Rajarshi Gupta, general manager of ONGC Videsh (OVL), said that gas is not a transition fuel, but rather a transformative fuel.

“OVL has a dream to be a vehicle for transferring renewable energy technology to India from other countries,” said Gupta. KPMG's two-day ENRich 2022 event focused on 'Dealing with the energy and resource trilemma'.