CHENNAI: More than 18 months after achieving the full-load generation milestone, the North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) Stage III, Tamil Nadu’s first 800 MW unit, has been brought under commercial operation from January 24, following the successful completion of a 72-hour full-load trial run.
With the declaration of commercial operation (COD), the State’s installed thermal power capacity has increased from 4,320 MW to 5,120 MW, which will help bridge the power deficit faced during evening peak hours in the summer months.
Work on the Rs 10,602-crore NCTPS Stage III project began in January 2016 and was scheduled to commence commercial operation in July 2019.
After Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurated power generation from the unit in Ennore on March 7, 2024, trial generation began at the plant. However, the project faced several setbacks even after that. The contractor entrusted with ‘balance of plant’ works, BGRESL, abandoned the works in February 2024 without completing several components, which delayed the commissioning.
With the declaration of commercial operation, the State’s installed thermal power capacity has increased from 4,320 MW to 5,120 MW, which will help bridge the power deficit faced during evening peak hours in the summer months
The plant also faced issues related to coal quality and the clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change to operate without a flue gas desulphurisation plant.
TNPDCL chairman J Radhakrishnan said after a 72-hour full-load trial run failed in December following a continuous run of 36 hours, the utility had even considered seeking a deemed COD for 650 MW to operate the plant during the ensuing summer period. However, he said the efforts of engineers from BHEL and TNGECL resulted in the successful completion of the 72-hour full-load test run from 4.30 am on January 21 to 4.30 am on January 24.
Following the commissioning of NCTPS Stage III, plans were in place for coal firing of the first 660 MW unit of the Udangudi supercritical thermal power plant of 1,320 MW capacity in Thoothukudi by the end of this month, Radhakrishnan said. After synchronisation with the grid, teething issues would be addressed, and trial operation would be attempted in the second and third week of February, he added.