The big problem however seems to be about having enough thermal and hydel capacity to ramp up when renewable power switches off at night
8With 175 GW of installed capacity from RES by the year 2021-22, it is estimated that the frequency of ramping requirement will increase with maximum positive ramping requirement of  400 MW/min.
8There is now confidence among decision makers that this kind ramp up can be done
8While hydro power is one obvious sources for quick ramp up, gas based power stations can also do the job but that will need overcoming a lot of technical difficulties
8The impact of start-stop operations for gas based power will put a heavy load on inspection schedules and maintenance.
8In some of the turbines, number of starts also triggers the need for inspection. In one case, while the minor inspection is after 24,000 operating hours (2.7 years), the same is triggered after 450 starts (considering that the gas turbine is started each day for 1.5 years). Therefore, the inspection schedules are expected to be adversely affected by daily start stop operation in such cases as well.
8This is over and above the fact that a merit order system will find the price of gas based power, fired on imported LNG, to be very expensive.
8Take the example of the Dadri gas based power station of NTPC. The plant has had a total of 500 start-stops in its 25 years of operation. But when working in the peaking load format, these numbers will be achieved in only one and half years.
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As per CERC guidelines the Technical Minimum at 55% has been already approved for ISGS units.
8Meetings are now being held to review the possibility of the generating units in thermal power plants going to levels of 50% , 40% and 25%.
8These levels can be attained by implementing measures recommended in the Task Force Committee report on Flexibilisation of Thermal Power plants.
8The authorities are now looking at changes required in the machines for 40% first and then 25%
8At present 6 units had been selected to operate at 55% Technical minimum
8The technical issues faced by them are now under intense scrutiny
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What kind of tariff reforms are needed in India today?
8While preserving the existing framework, a comprehensive analysis has examined the following aspects of the tariff structure in India:
-- Roles and responsibilities of regulatory commissions,
-- Present structure of electricity tariff,
-- International practices in electricity tariff,
-- Issues & challenges,
-- Way forward
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German experts were brought in to find out how flexible coal based thermal units can work with minimal investment.
8Some kind of cost estimates have evolved in terms of investments needed to allow for flexible loading
8Flexible operation of a coal unit upto 50% loading can be achieved with minimal investment Rs 65 lakhs per unit.
8Flexible operation of coal unit up to 40% loading can be achieved in phased manner with an investment of Rs 7.8 to 17.55 crore per unit.
8Involvement of OEMs is necessary for the implementation of all measures.
8Of course these estimates will vary depending upon the unit concerned
8There are some very severe technical issues, which will have to be handled, while pushing coal based plants towards more flexibility.
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What kind of optimal generation mix can you expect in the 2022-27 period?
8A local study has thrown up two different scenarios. One of them involves hydro power generation showing a significant increase.
8The studies show that even with 1,25,000 MW installed capacity from renewable energy sources, RES, (capacity addition 100,000 MW during 2017-22 and capacity addition of 25,000 MW during 2022-27) our target of achieving a 40% renewable content can indeed be achieved.
8In the second scenario where the hydro installed capacity goes up to 80,000MW by 2027, the non-fossil mix could be as high as 50%.
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For reference purposes the website carries here the following tenders: 
8Tender for Liaison, Logistics, Handling and Transportation of Coal from Various Mines of CCL to Power Plant Site  Details
8Tender for work of 'On Site coating of GT Compressor at Gas Power Station'  Details
8Work of Counter-Poise type tower Earthing at Various tower Locations of 220 KV Line Details
8Supply & Erection of LT Distribution Panel (Feeder pillar box) for underground Cable network Details 
8Tender for work of 33 KV Line conductor Augmentation from 132 KV S/s Details
8Construction of 3*10 MVAR Capacitor Bank at 132 KV Substation Details 
8Annual Maintenance Contract of Various U/G Optical fiber Links Details 
8Repairing of Tower of 220KV Double Circuit Transmission Line Details 
8Annual Maintenance Contract for Grid substations and other buildings Details 
8Design, Engineering, Supply,Erection, Testing & commissioning of HTLS Conductor for Re-Conductoring of 220 KV D/C Details 
8Dismantling,Erection,Testing and Commissioning of 66 KV Isolators Details
You can also click on Tenders for more.
For reference purposes the website carries here the following Newsclips: 
8Rel Infra gets shareholder nod for sale of Mumbai power biz to Adani Details
8NTPC achieves highest ever gross power generation on Feb 28 Details
8China beats 2017 coal-fired power capacity reduction target Details
8Fukushima radiation levels 'dangerously' high: Greenpeace Details
8Lakshadweep joins UDAY scheme for power distribution firms' revival Details
8Atomic energy should be tapped to meet fuel needs of country: Kakodkar Details
8Microsoft to buy solar power in Singapore in first renewable deal in Asia Details
8Avaada to invest Rs 3,500-crore for 500 MW solar projects in Andhra Pradesh Details
You can also click on Newsclips for more Details