Chinese power equipment are not energy efficient

As many as 19 projects are based on Chinese equipment,according to investment bank Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia (CLSA). These include projects by Adani at Mundra,JSW Energy at Ratnagiri,Lanco Amarkantak and the Sasan UMPP among others. The CEA and CLSA estimate that around 14.5 giga watt power capacity based on Chinese equipment will be commissioned in the next three years.

The team also found that the heat rate quoted by Chinese players for super-critical units was on the higher side at 1,920 kilo calories per kilo watt hour (kcal/kWh). The team thus asked them to improve it to 1,850 kcal/kWh so as to comply with latest norms,says a CLSA report.

The team’s visit was decided upon after it was seen that the Yamuna Nagar power plant required the operation of five mills instead of an earlier estimated four,even with near-design coal to achieve full-load of the unit. Generally,the fifth mill is required to be operated when using “worst” coal. There have also been reports of oil guns failing frequently and oil consumption of units being high. In addition,ceramic bonds and coal pipes have also been failing and eroding,the CLSA report says. The 600-MW power plant is operating on equipment supplied by Shanghai Electric.

“The Sagardighi power plant has faced tripping of one of its units due to boiler tube failures. Similarly,the 300-MW plant at Amarkantak has faced problems with bearings,” a CEA official said. The CEA and NTPC team,however,noted that projects in China to which equipment had been supplied by Shanghai Electric were in good working condition.

The issue was initially raised in 2008 after the CEA wrote a report on problems faced by two power plants using Chinese equipment. However,with glitches continuing,a visit was undertaken to assess performance of heavy power equipment in China vis-à-vis India and determine what further more changes can be made to improve the situation.