NTPC Group, comprising NTPC Ltd along with its subsidiaries and joint ventures, commissioned 3,700 mw of new installed capacity during FY21.
While the new capacity installed was predominantly from coal-fired power plants, it also includes renewable energy sources like solar and hydropower. Coal accounted for 3,120 mw (or 84.3 per cent) of the total new capacity installed in FY21.
Out of the 3,700 mw commissioned, 2,030 mw came from assets owned by NTPC Ltd, while the remaining 1,670 mw was from NTPC’s joint ventures and subsidiaries.
With this, the total installed capacity of NTPC Group grew to 65,810 mw as of March 31, 2021, up from 62,110 mw on March 31, 2020. In the case of NTPC Ltd, aggregate installed capacity rose from 50,355 mw on March 31, 2020 to 52,385 mw on March 31, 2021.
During FY21, NTPC Ltd crossed an important milestone in that its aggregate commercial capacity crossed the 50-GW mark, reaching 51,725 mw, as of March 31, 2021. As of the same date, the commercial capacity of the NTPC Group was 64,490 mw.
The commercial capacity commissioned by NTPC Group in FY21 stood at 3,364 mw, while that by NTPC Ltd was 2,030 mw, in the same year. (See tables)
Commercial capacity includes only that portion of the installed capacity that has gone into actual commercial generation.
For FY22, NTPC Group has set a target of adding commercial generation capacity to the tune of 6,000 mw. This includes all forms—coal, hydropower and renewables.
Renewables
On the renewable energy front, NTPC has been aggressively pursuing solar projects. NTPC, partly by itself but mainly through NEEPCO, is also engaged in hydropower. Excluding hydropower, NTPC Group added 280 mw of renewable energy capacity in FY21. All this came from solar power plants. As of March 31, 2021, NTPC Group’s installed renewable energy capacity was 1,860 mw, excluding hydropower.
NTPC, according to its recent investor conference, has targeted to attain 60,000 mw of renewable energy capacity by 2032. This target was earlier fixed at 30,000 mw. Though not specified, this target should be inclusive of hydropower.
Featured photograph (source: NTPC) shows NTPC’s Dadri thermal power plant in Uttar Pradesh
