(a) the average Plant Load Factor (PLF) in thermal power generating units in the country for the last three years;
(b) whether the Government conducts any review and assessment of units which operate below the national average PLF;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government is proposing any mandatory measures for improving the PLF in thermal power generating units; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) : The national average Plant Load Factor (PLF) of Coal / Lignite based power generating stations during last three years i.e. 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 is 73.32%, 69.93% and 65.55% respectively.
(b) & (c) : Central Electricity Authority (CEA) conducts review from time to time to assess the performance of thermal power stations. In 2014-15 (up to November, 2014), 79 stations were having PLF below national average. This was due to various reasons such as planned maintenance, forced outages, transmission constraints, availability of fuel and quality of fuel, less schedule given by beneficiary states due to low demand/higher cost of generation.
(d) & (e) : To improve PLF of thermal power generating stations, following measures, inter-alia, are being taken :
i. Thrust to increase domestic coal production and import of coal for meeting the shortfall in domestic coal.
ii. Efforts are being made to make gas available for power sector.
iii. Utilities are advised to follow best practices in operation and maintenance of the units to minimize forced outages.
iv. Renovation, modernization and life extension of old generation units.
v. Strengthening of inter-state and inter-regional transmission capacity for optimum utilization of available power.
vi. Retirement of inefficient generating units.