Work on commercial operation of YTPS 5th unit in full speed

HYDERABAD

Work on the 5×800 megawatt Yadadri Thermal Power Station (YTPS) is making swift progress towards the commercial operation date (COD) of the fifth unit next month to make it fully operational with its installed capacity of 4,000 MW.

Four units of the project are already into commercial operation and the fifth unit was synchronised with the grid on October 20. To ensure speedy completion of the balance works, Special Chief Secretary (Energy) Navin Mittal, along with Chairman and Managing Director of the Telangana Power Generation Corporation Ltd (TG-Genco) S. Harish, is spearheading the work, following a high-level joint review held on September 29.

Intensive site inspections were conducted on October 2 with BHEL executives and engineers including its Director (Power). Further joint inspections were held on October 8, followed by the CMD camping at the project site from October 13 to 19 to personally oversee the Coal Handling Plant (CHP) rectification works. The rigorous high-level supervision has resulted in significant operational improvements across all thermal stations, particularly the YTPS.

On October 20, the fifth unit of YTPS was synchronised with the grid achieving a peak load of 158.7 MW during its initial coal-firing trial. Following the successful synchronisation, the unit was hand-tripped to facilitate final preparatory activities, setting the stage for TG-Genco to declare its COD in November. With four supercritical units already commissioned, the COD of the last unit of YTPS would help the project reach its full operational capacity of 4,000 MW.

According to the Genco authorities, the plant’s core infrastructure including the boiler, turbine, water systems and ash handling systems are operating satisfactorily. The four commissioned units are actively supplying power to the State grid, contributing between 1,800 MW and 2,300 MW to meet the growing energy demand.

To sustain peak generation across all units, the Genco is proactively diversifying its fuel supply. In addition to long-term linkages with the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), the Genco has operationalised alternative fuel sources including the Naini coal block and Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL). Higher grade coal from the Naini block has been arriving at YTPS at a steady rate of 4 to 5 rakes per day and the logistical arrangements are underway to move the coal procured from MCL under Window-II of the SHAKTI Policy-2025.

To mitigate the seasonal challenges associated with wet coal and to unlock the CHP’s rated capacity of 2,500 tonnes per hour (TPH), intensive rectification works are underway in active coordination with BHEL, which assured major upgrades to the CHP infrastructure by the end of this month.