COAL AVAILABILITY FOR THERMAL PLANTS

Key Highlights:

• India's coal-based generation capacity is approximately 230.8 GW, contributing 69.54% of total electricity supplied from April to June 2026.
• As of July 12, 2026, thermal power plants hold 42.8 Million Tonnes (MT) of coal stock, sufficient for 14 days at 85% Plant Load Factor (PLF).
• The Central Electricity Authority (Flexible Operation of Coal based Thermal Power Generating Units) Regulations, 2023 mandates coal units to achieve a minimum technical level of 40% for renewable energy integration.
• 9,470 MW of thermal capacity was added in FY 2025-26, with an additional 2,260 MW commissioned in the current financial year.
• Approximately 2,669 MW of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and 7,426 MW of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) have been commissioned to supplement power during non-solar hours.

Detailed Insights:

• Scheduled maintenance of thermal units is planned to minimize disruption during peak demand periods, with deferments allowed by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) on a case-by-case basis.
• The 2023 regulations aim to enable coal plants to operate flexibly, supporting the grid's ability to absorb increasing renewable energy generation.
• Coal supply to thermal power plants is monitored daily by a joint committee involving the Ministries of Power, Railways, and Coal.
• An Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC), including Chairman, Railway Board, and Secretaries of Coal and Power, regularly reviews coal supplies to power plants.
• Priority is accorded to coal rakes and dispatches to power houses to ensure continuous fuel availability.
• BESS and PSPs store excess power generated during solar hours, releasing it during non-solar hours to maintain grid stability and meet demand.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Plant Load Factor (PLF): A measure of the average capacity utilization of a power plant over a period.
• Flexible Operation of Coal-based Thermal Power Generating Units: A regulatory framework enabling coal plants to vary output to integrate renewable energy.
• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): Systems that store electrical energy in batteries for later use, often to balance grid fluctuations.
• Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs): Hydroelectric energy storage systems that pump water to an upper reservoir during off-peak hours and release it to generate power during peak demand.