Thermal Powertech Corporation India (TPCIL) today said it has commenced the commercial operation of the 660 MW first phase of its 1,320 MW thermal power plant located in Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh's SPSR Nellore District.
TPCIL is a joint venture between Singapore-based Sembcorp and Gayatri Energy Ventures Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gayatri Projects.
"The first of the plant's two 660 MW units attained its full load of 660 MW at 12 noon on 25 February 2015 and successfully completed 72 hours of full load trial operation at 12 noon on 28 February 2015," a press release from Gayatri said adding that the unit's official date of commercial operation (COD) has been declared as 28 February.
"The plant's second 660 MW unit is expected to commence operation in the third quarter of 2015, taking the total installed capacity of the plant to 1,320 MW," the release said.
The TPCIL plant operates on a combination of domestic coal and imported coal. The power plant utilises supercritical technology that allows for enhanced efficiency, thereby reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. The commissioning of its first unit will help in bridging the ever-increasing gap between the demand and supply of power for the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states, it further said.
TPCIL has signed a combined Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Power Distribution Companies for the supply of 500 MW of power for a period of 25 years.
