The largest coal consuming sector is power generation. Currently, all coal-fired plants rely on conventional pulverised coal (PC) combustion technology with subcritical steam conditions. Although efficiency of some stations remains poor, efforts have been made to improve the performance of others via renovation and life extension exercises. Additional coal-fired generating capacity is being added to the country’s power sector and more is planned in an effort to meet the increasing requirements and current electricity shortages.

There is a growing emphasis on the adoption of more advanced technologies and the deployment of clean coal technologies. India’s first supercritical PC power plant is approaching completion and a number of large Ultra Mega Power Projects are being developed. Several forms of fluidised bed combustion technology are well established within the country and their numbers are growing. Coal-fuelled IGCC technology has been developed by BHEL and a large-scale demonstration has been proposed.