NLC India Ltd A Vital Player in Tamil Nadu’s Power Supply

The state-owned enterprise NLC India Ltd (NLCIL), a key player in the Southern India Grid, largely serves the electricity needs of Tamil Nadu. This was disclosed by NLCIL’s Chairman and Managing Director, M. Prasanna Kumar. The company boasts a significant power generation capacity of 4,390 MW from thermal projects and another 1,411 MW from renewable energy projects located within Tamil Nadu state.

Key Contributions by NLCIL to Tamil Nadu’s Energy Demand

As per Kumar, around 50% of the power required by Tamil Nadu is supplied by NLCIL. This constitutes nearly 10% of the state’s total power consumption. To enhance its commitment towards ensuring power supply, NLCIL has planned new projects including a supercritical thermal power project in Odisha, in which Tamil Nadu will hold a stake of 62.5%. The company is also planning to expand the Neyveli Thermal Power Station II in Tamil Nadu, where 81.9% of its total capacity will be allocated to the state. The completion of these projects is targeted for Fiscal Year 2029.

Overcoming Obstacles and Future Objectives

In the first half of the fiscal year, NLCIL tackled issues related to lignite scarcity due to land acquisition complications, affecting power generation. Interventions by the government have since alleviated the situation. NLCIL has made it clear it won’t import coal to blend with lignite due to their distinct properties, which can lead to technical difficulties. Instead, the company is focusing on ramping up lignite production and maintenance to meet the increasing power demands in the summer season.

Transition Towards Renewable Energy

Underlining the increasing power demand, Kumar supports the idea of expanding rooftop solar systems in Tamil Nadu. He highlighted benefits like the absence of networking needs, decreased funding requirements, and zero transmission losses. NLCIL has an objective to generate about 50 GW additional capacity annually through renewable energy sources. Despite a deceleration in thermal power generation due to financial and environmental pressures, Kumar stressed the need for a balance between thermal and renewable power for grid stability. He also projected that breakthroughs in storage technology, gasification, and green hydrogen will be influential in the near future.

Source: The Reader Wall news