Centre for Power Efficiency & Environmental Protection (CenPEEP) is a NTPC initiative to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from thermal power plants. Established in 1994, CenPEEP’s mandate is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per unit of electricity generated by improving the overall performance of coal-fired power plants. The Centre functions as a Resource Centre for acquisition, demonstration and dissemination of state-of-the-art technologies and practices for performance improvement of coal fired power plants. Towards NTPC’s effort for betterment of Indian Power sector, CenPEEP is assisting various state electricity utilities in India by demonstration and dissemination of improved technologies and practices. This approach has brought significant benefits to the power plants and helped in reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

CENPEEP Profile and Partners

CenPEEP was established by NTPC under a bilateral agreement between the Government of India and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement the 'Greenhouse Gas Pollution Prevention Project (GEP)’. USAID has extended technical assistance and training to CenPEEP through U. S. Department of Energy’s (USDOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Structural Integrity Associates (SI), General Physics, utilities such as Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Reliant Energy, Mirant Corporation and US utility organizations such as US Energy Association (USEA) etc.

CenPEEP receives USAID technical assistance to promote emission reduction through introduction of efficient technologies and management practices at utilities of coal-fired plants. In course of more than a decade now CenPEEP is on the path of becoming Centre of Excellence to implement Energy Efficiency Management Systems at its own plants and other Indian utilities.

To increase outreach to SEBs, two Regional Centres of CenPEEP have been established at Northern Region (Lucknow) and Eastern Region (Patna). Both the centres have received technical assistance and training from USAID and are extending the performance improvement support to power plants of NTPC & SEBs in their respective regions. It is further envisaged to develop more regional centres and make them self reliant.

Methodology and Reach

CenPEEP has adopted a win-win strategy for achieving synergy between environmental concerns and utility’s needs and designed a 'Comprehensive Performance Improvement Program'. Reduction and avoidance of GHG emissions are being achieved by performance improvement of boiler & turbine cycle and availability improvement programs. These twin tasks also address utility concerns of high productivity and cost reduction. Emphasis has been on system development and integration with existing systems for sustainability.

Excellence in Efficiency:

CenPEEP has demonstrated performance assessment techniques by field tests using high accuracy test instruments at several NTPC and SEB stations with USAID support. The tests have demonstrated heat rate improvement potential even in the best run power stations. Many demonstrated techniques and practices have been adopted by the stations. CenPEEP with help of USAID & TVA has developed ‘Heat Rate Improvement Guidelines for Indian Power Plants’. The guideline has been widely disseminated and used by Indian power plants. 

A Centre of Excellence for Efficiency (CEE) has been set up in CenPEEP to consolidate the learning acquired during various demonstration projects. CEE mandate includes development and implementation of a system for accurate performance assessment, analysis and development of action plans for performance restoration. The Centre shall acquire techniques and state-of the-art tools for diagnosis of performance related problems. CEE also monitors plant performance, reviews test data and generates MIS reports.

CEE with the help of ‘Knowledge Team on Efficiency’ and with inputs from ‘Heat Rate Improvement Guidelines’ has developed ‘Energy & Efficiency Management System (EEMS)’ Manual for coal and gas stations. The manual covers details of operating parameters to be monitored, calculation of performance indices, analysis of efficiency gaps, test procedures, Heat Rate recovery action plans, formats for analysis and reporting systems.

To enhance the analytical and diagnostic capability of O&M engineers, advance training modules on equipment design & fundamentals are being organized jointly with academic institutions including IIT, specialist organizations and OEM. 

Maintenance Optimisation:

CenPEEP team is steering Maintenance Optimisation initiatives such as Project Risk Evaluation & Prioritization (Project REAP). The Project has adopted phased implementation of predictive maintenance, 'Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM)' and risk screening methods. The objective of these efforts is to improve reliability at the least cost possible and reduction of forced outages. All station teams have been trained in analyzing maintenance requirements through RCM process and maximization of condition monitoring. Predictive and Diagnostic Maintenance (PdM) systems & Technologies are being disseminated through pilot projects, seminars, workshops, hands on training and demonstrations. Development of new applications of technology and quest for new technologies continues. Technology application demonstration and dissemination for IR Thermography and Acoustics are being done.

Performance Improvement of Power plants in State Electricity Boards:

CenPEEP has taken up various works related to performance improvement at SEBs and IPPs on cost recovery basis. In addition, it is also demonstrating new techniques for Performance Improvement of Power Plants and predictive maintenance technologies of SEBs on need basis. CenPEEP has regularly organized workshops for SEBs in the area of Boiler and Turbine efficiency & PdM systems and technologies with hands on training.

Administration

CenPEEP has a unique management structure consisting of Advisory Board and Executive Committee.

Advisory Board is headed by Chairman and Managing Director of NTPC, which meets once every year and formulates the policy and reviews the progress. It has members from USAID, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Finance, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Council of Power Utilities (CPU) and Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI).

Executive Committee meets annually to discuss and approve work plans based on power sector needs and resolves implementation issues. Headed by Director (Operations) of NTPC, it has wide representation from power sector. Committee includes senior officials from USAID, USDOE, state and private electric utilities research and financial institutes.

Recognitions:

CenPEEP is considered as one of the most successful bilateral projects of USAID by US administration.

Climate Technology Initiative Award of CTI, Paris

CenPEEP has been conferred ‘World Climate Technology Award 2002’ under the Climate Technology Initiative of International Energy Agency, Paris. The award recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations in helping to commercialize and diffuse climate-friendly technologies. The award is decided by peer evaluation by an international panel. It was conferred during the Eighth Session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC-COP 8) held in New Delhi in October 2002.

Climate Protection Award of USEPA

CenPEEP has also received U.S.Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Climate Protection Award for 2003. U.S. EPA honors the extraordinary accomplishments of individuals, companies, and organizations that have made significant contributions to protecting the environment. This recognition reflects the outstanding achievement of CenPEEP.

General Manager (CenPEEP),

Tel: (91-120) 2410316; Fax (91-120) 2410322

CENPEEP Performance Optimiser