NTPC Vindhyachal STPS to set up India’s first carbon capture plant by 2023

• As a pilot project, the facility will be set up in NTPC Vindhyachal STPS, wherein CO2 emitted from the plant will be mixed with hydrogen to form methanol, said Naik
• The amount of carbon dioxide emitted in the atmosphere will be reduced and methanol produced as a by-product can also be used based on utility, he added

New Delhi: NTPC Limited's Vindhyanchal power plant in Madhya Pradesh is aiming to put in place a carbon capture plant, which will be the first-of-its-kind initiative not only in India but in the world, by 2023 to curb pollution, Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Station (STPS) head SC Naik told the press on Thursday. "As a pilot project, the facility will be set up in Vindhyachal, wherein carbon dioxide emitted from the plant will be mixed with hydrogen to form methanol, which will reduce pollution," said the top official.

The amount of carbon dioxide emitted in the atmosphere will be reduced and methanol produced as a by-product can also be used based on utility, he added.

NTPC Vindhyachal STPS focused on sustainability

Naik said NTPC's Vidhyachal STPS is focussed on sustainability and more than 25 lakh saplings have been planted in the area so far to make it a greener belt. NTPC Vindhyachal is the largest power plant of the country, with a total installed capacity of 4,783 MW being generated through coal, solar and hydro sources, said the top official.

What is carbon capture & why is it crucial for NTPC

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) or carbon capture and sequestration is the process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) before it enters the atmosphere, transporting it, and storing it (carbon sequestration). The technology is yet to be deployed at commercial scale in India, but it is considered crucial for ensuring cleaner utilisation of coal until the time it is phased out. India, which has the world's third-largest coal reserves in the world, is keen on utilising coal for the next 15 years at least to meet the growing power demand of the economy. Carbon Capture is a technology which will allow India to use coal while reducing its carbon emissions. NTPC, being India's largest thermal power generator, is keen on leveraging the technology in order to reduce its carbon footprint.

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