THDC India Commences Operations at 660-MW Khurja Thermal Power Plant

THDC India Ltd. starts commercial operation of 660-MW Unit at Khurja Power Project, enters domestic thermal energy market
THDC India Ltd recently inaugurated a 660-MW unit at Khurja Power Plant and with the same step stepped into the thermal energy segment. The power plant is set to increase its electricity generation manifolds since now the energy sector will extend more than the renewal sources for THDC.

Overview of Khurja Power Project:

The Khurja Power Project is located at Bulandshahr in UP. This power project is part of a bigger 1,320-MW STPP project. It has two units with 660 MW power generation capacity each. Commercial operation began from the first unit of this power plant from January 25, 2025. The scheduled commissioning for the second unit has also been finalized now. After both the units get commissioned, the whole plant would be put into full operation.

The power plant is being established at an investment of approximately Rs 13,000 crore. It is a coal-based integrated thermal power station sprawling over 1,200.843 acres. There was an operational Amelia coal mine in the Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh, and a linkage with the same coal mine would have ensured the availability of the fuel required for this power plant.
Present Power Generation Portfolio

Before entering the thermal power industry, THDC India was only a renewable source-based company. Hydroelectric power generation produces 1,424 MW of power while wind energy production generates 113 MW of power and solar energy production generates 50 MW of power.

The addition of the 660-MW unit at Khurja plant will add diversification to the company's energy portfolio with thermal generation as against its predominant renewable and hydro-based power assets. This will enhance the power generation capacity of the country to cater to the ever-increasing demands for energy as THDC India envisions.

Environmental Considerations and Technology

The best technologies in operation have enabled it to reduce its environmental impact at the Khurja power plant, FGD having reduced its emissions thus allowing it to extract sulfur content through the sulphurous gases created at the plant as a by-product of the coal burning during combustion.

On commissioning, the plant is anticipated to produce 9,264 million units (MUs) per year at an 85 percent plant load factor (PLF). It will feed this to the national power grid for the energy need of the nation.

Power Distribution and Supply

Under the distribution policy of Ministry of Power, it has been planned that power generated would be distributed mainly in Uttar Pradesh and it holds a share of 64.7 percent for this plant producing 854 MW of electricity and followed by is Rajasthan with an allotment share of 21.3%, Uttarakhand would get around 3.9% percent. The share for other region comes to a sum of around 10.1%.

Future Prospects of THDC India

THDC India attempts to expand its operations and thus diversifies and consolidates its position in the energy sector. The most important steps the company has taken to achieve a balance between renewable sources of energy and conventional power generation to meet the increasing demand for electricity in the country are represented by the Khurja project. Development with continued operation of renewable energy assets and addition of thermal power capacity makes THDC India ideally place for one of the major plays in India's energy sector.

It is a joint venture between NTPC-owned by the Centre and the Government of Uttar Pradesh in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. THDC India plans to enhance its strength of energy from renewable as well as thermal sectors, both aimed to be strong contenders for meeting long-term requirements of India's energy.

Source: PTI