Larsen &Tubro (L&T) has called upon the power ministry to ensure that power project capacities of 660 mw and 800 mw should be specified as nominal capacities. According to L&T, with the different designs of turbines available in India now, the manufacturers should be given the freedom to offer plant capacities within + 5% of the nominal specified capacities.
This will give the manufacturers freedom to select the most optimum size and the best heat rates for the system, resulting in low coal consumption and carbon dioxide generation.
L&T?s submission to the power ministry comes at a time when the latter has taken a decision to promote super-critical power projects, with capacities of 660 mw and 800 mw in the 12th Plan and beyond, a story that FE had carried out. L&T also admits that the power ministry?s decision will ensure that the pace of capacity additions is accelerated and the development takes place in an efficient and environment-friendly manner. L&T and Mitsubhishi have joined hands together to produce power plants in the country.
According to L&T?s argument, since bidders can offer any size in the above range, the commercial comparison and ranking of various bidders can be based on Rupees per megawatt (the total evaluated price divided by the output at the maximum load condition). L&T also recalled that a significant breakthrough was made by it when the first order for a 2×800 mw super-critical steam turbine generator island for the Krishnapatnam thermal project, was awarded to it by APPDCL (APGENCO JV).