NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA), the R&D wing of power major NTPC, has applied for patent on potable water being produced from the desalination plant set up at the NTPC Simhadri Super Thermal Power Station near here.
“The project is unique as for the first time they have started an innovative project to produce drinking water from seawater used by the 4x500 MW coal-fired power plant. A green initiative, we are treating the water by using flue gas,” NTPC Simhadri Group General Manager Arupratan Maiti said on Saturday.
The project to produce 120 tonne of treated water per day was commissioned last year with an investment of ₹8.5 crore. An in-principle MoU has been signed between NTPC and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) for establishing a Rail Neer bottling plant at Deepanjalinagar Township of NTPC Simhadri.“We want to supply the water to IRCTC on cost basis as we don’t have any profit motive from our green initiatives,” Mr. Maiti said. This is one of the pilot projects launched by NTPC.
Olive Ridley turtles
The power major recently released the third instalment of funding for conservation of highly endangered Olive Ridley turtles to the Forest Department.
NTPC Simhadri has sanctioned ₹5 crore for the five-year long project under corporate social responsibility.
Mr. Maiti said due to glut situation, they were planning to seek the opinion of experts on designing the plant for ‘flexible operations.’ He said sourcing coal from Talcher and Ib valley due to congestion of railway line had remained an issue of concern for them and they also had started procuring one to two rakes from Singareni mines in Telangana.
Ash utilisation
Besides giving emphasis to Green Visakha campaign, NTPC Simhadri had been encouraging brick and cement making units for utilising ash generated by the power plant and sanctioning funds for school buildings and strengthening infrastructure in King George Hospital and other hospitals as part of the CSR.
