India Considers Cheaper Domestic Options for Air Pollution Over Costly Sulphur-Reduction Technologies
India is reassessing its ten-year, $30 billion plan to install flue-gas desulphurisation systems in coal-fired power plants. Only 8% of the 540 units targeted over a decade embraced FGD technology, and it has become technically and financially highly challenging. It is now looking at other supplement options that might better suit the current scenario of the nation in the war against particulate matter and air pollution in general.
The Challenge of Implementing FGDs
The FGD program was originally aimed at reducing the sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission from coal-fired plants, which is perceived to be a cause of air pollution and acid rain. However, the complexity of the FGD system, plus its associated high cost, has produced delays and criticism. Each FGD system would cost around $141,000 per megawatt, with potential operational shutdowns of up to 45 days per plant. This roll-out has thus been slower than forecasted and growing concerns have arisen in relation to whether this programme is actually the best option for fighting the pollution battle of this nation.
The Problem of Sulphur Content in Indian Coal
One of the biggest problems with FGD systems in India is the fact that the sulphur content of Indian coal is much lower as compared to the average from the global perspective. Indian research has shown that the Indian coal has a 0.5% sulphur content, which makes it much less sulfurous as compared to coal found in other regions worldwide, wherein the sulphur content is much higher. The experts, on their part, have therefore argued that they do not require money being spent on high-priced FGD systems and control over sulphur.
Government research funding shows that FGD systems have had a minimal effect on improving the quality of air in the country. Instead, effort was focused on controlling PM, which was highly considered in cities.
Air pollution, partly through the emission of high-ash Indian coal, greatly contributed to health concerns in such areas, including respiratory problems and high impacts on smog and unhealthy air quality.
In the wake of problems associated with FGDs, Indian authorities are now considering alternative measures to reduce air pollution, especially from coal-fired power plants. Among the alternative options is that of using electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) because they are known to be more efficient in the reduction of particulate matter. Moreover, ESPs are highly cost-effective such that their installation costs approach nearly one-fifth that it takes to install FGD systems. The advantages are in the fact that they capture by charging particles in the flue gas and make electric fields for removal. These are more suited to high-ash coal, a characteristic of Indian coal.
Electrostatic precipitators have been around for decades in almost every type of industry to combat air pollution, and the decline in efficiency of such systems on particulate emissions is very well accepted. The coal-fired plants are one of the largest causes of air pollution in India; therefore, replacing these with these inexpensive and effective systems would prove useful in addressing the country’s most pertinent environmental and public health issues.
Economic and Environmental Considerations
Installation costs have also been the deciding factor for the policy change; in the United States, installation costs for FGDs stood at $141,000 per megawatt, coupled with shutdown risks that put the power plants on tight leash to meet the required deadline. Notably, the industrial sulphur and nitrogen emissions from the plants have been contributed mainly by coal-fired plants accounting to about 80% hence the policy is imperative for India’s climate policies and air quality enhancement.
Managing the environmental impact vis-à-vis offering an assured source of energy-that is the kind of tight rope this country has to balance: considering the dependence of meeting 92% of the country’s thermal energy from coal. Technology of FGD reduces the sulphur emission well. But real issues for India come on PM-more dominating the Indian scene and more menacing on account of public health hazard.
Another important issue is environmental impacts of coal power generation. As coal is one of those sources of energy that will be intensive in CO2, the drive to have reduced emissions from the coal fired plants has been added as an important input into India’s long-term climate strategy. This does not necessarily hold for many environment groups who see an investment in sulphur-reduction technologies like FGDs as a sidestep away from the general problems facing India, whose economy and electricity generation depend more and more on coal.
To them, continued dependence on coal is never supported by such installations and carbon capture technology, which cannot stand the test of sustainability for so long.
Policy Delayed and Likely to Extend
Since challenges remain between implementation and FGD, the Indian government has approached seeking further relaxation on the deadline to commission FGDs. Set in 2022, this might again be extended up to 2029. It will further raise questions from these environmental groups who think that bolder steps need to be undertaken so that the country could actually cut down on its emission and switch over to a cleaner source of energy.
The power ministry is already consulting stakeholders on what way to go, taking into account the alternatives under consideration by the government-including electrostatic precipitators. A decision as to whether the priority should shift from FGDs to a less costly local solution is expected soon.
The Way Forward
This development from the Indian government, reviewing its FGD program, underlines the complexities of the challenges that face the country in terms of reducing air pollution and energy efficiency. The country’s coal sector contributes to both air pollution and greenhouse gases, although there are alternative options to the expensive, ineffective FGD systems.
This would let India take giant leaps in reduction of particulate pollution while focusing on better, less expensive, and locally suited solutions such as electrostatic precipitators. On the side lines, it would have to continue on a long term plan towards reducing dependence on coal, maximizing the share of clean, sustainable source of energy.
As the government progresses with the decision, they should consider that any change in policy should come alongside broader reforms that address root causes of pollution problems in India as well as a more sustainable energy future.
Source: Reports from the Indian Government, December 2024.