India's largest integrated energy utility, NTPC, has launched the first air-cooled condenser installed supercritical power plant in the country. The first unit of the 660 MW capacity of the power plant located in Jharkhand, which commenced commercial operation on Wednesday (1 March), is equipped with an air-cooled condenser that requires almost one-third less water than traditional water-cooled condensers.
This would result in water saving of around 30.5 million cubic meters annually, enough to meet the needs of around 1.5 million people in the region. The North Karanpura plant will have a total capacity of 1980 MW, 3 Units of 660 MW each.
“NTPC, the country’s largest integrated energy utility, has started commercial operation of first Unit of 660 MW at North Karanpura (3×660 MW), in Jharkhand on 1 March 2023,” the company said on Wednesday.
According to the company, the plant is based on one of the most efficient Supercritical Technology and being a pit head plant (10 Km from coal source) will supply economical power to Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha.
The project aligns with NTPC's water conservation efforts, and the company has already implemented several measures to manage water across its plant locations.
The company said that it is a signatory to the UN Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate.