NTPC, EIL Partner to Develop Coal-to-SNG Clean Energy Plant

In a significant advancement toward cleaner energy, NTPC Limited, India's largest integrated power producer, has entered into a partnership with Engineers India Limited (EIL) to construct a Coal-to-Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) facility. This effort is a major step forward for NTPC in its efforts to shift the focus of peak hour dispatch and stabilize the grid using innovative fuel technologies.

The plant will utilize the high ash Indian coal from NTPC's captive mines and convert it into Synthetic Natural Gas, a cleaner fuel for NTPC's gas-based power stations and in-situ power generation. The project is also part of India's larger mission to develop cleaner technologies in coal and reduce dependence on imported fuels.

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The key technology of the project is coal gasification, which is perceived as a sustainable method for utilizing indigenous coal while reducing environmental emissions. The R&D organization of NTPC (NETRA) is leading the initiative under the "Greening the Coal" vision of NETRA, with emphasis on carbon capture and utilization technologies as a part of the vision. The partnership is also a major step towards establishing proprietary solutions for clean energy to secure India's future energy landscape.

NTPC is currently responsible for approximately 25 percent of India's electricity needs - NTPC has an installed capacity of 84 gigawatts (GW), with an additional 30.9GW in development (including 13.3GW of new renewables). NTPC intends to reach its goal of 60GW renewable capacity by 2032 and contribute to India's Net Zero commitment.

In addition to power generation, NTPC is actively expanding into e-mobility, green hydrogen, waste-to-energy and nuclear power as part of its strategy to transform into a diversified clean energy player.