| Ash Utilisation DURING VISIT TO MY VILLAGE I MET TO NTPC ASSOCIATES & DISCUSSED WITH THEM ABOUT AS UTILIZATION |  |
Sustainable ash utilization is one of the key concerns at NTPC. The Ash Utilization Division (AUD), set up in 1991, strives to derive maximum usage from the vast quantities of ash produced at its coal based power stations. The AUD proactively formulates policies, plans and programmes for ash utilization. It further monitors the progress in these activities and works for developing new segments of ash utilization. Ash Utilization Cell at each station, handles ash utilization activities.
The quality of fly ash produced at NTPC’s power stations is extremely good with respect to fineness, low unburnt carbon and has high pozzolanic activity and conforms to the requirements of IS 3812 - 2003-Pulverized Fuel Ash for use as Pozzolana in Cement, Cement Mortar and Concrete. The fly ash generated at NTPC stations is ideal for use in manufacture of Cement, Concrete, Concrete products, Cellular concrete products, Bricks/blocks/ tiles etc. To facilitate availability of dry fly ash to end – users, dry fly ash evacuation and storage system have been set up at coal based stations. Further, at NTPC-Rihand facility for loading fly ash into rail wagons has been provided so that fly ash can be transported in bulk quantity through railway network. Such facility is also being provided at all new up coming coal based power stations.
Over the years, the Ash Utilization level has reached from meagre 0.3 million tonne in 1991 - 1992 to 26.03 million tonne in 2010-11.
The various segments of ash utilization currently include Cement, Asbestos – Cement products & Concrete manufacturing industries, Land development, Road embankment construction, Ash Dyke Raising, Building Products such as Bricks/ blocks/tiles, Reclamation of coal mine and as a soil amender and source of micro and macro-nutrients in agriculture.
MoEF Notification on Fly Ash
Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), Govt. of India vide its notification (amendment) dated 3rd Nov 2009 has made it mandatory:
- Within 100Km radius of a Thermal Power Plant
- To use Fly Ash based Building products such as cement or concrete, fly ash bricks, blocks, tiles etc. in all construction projects
- To use Fly Ash in Road or Flyover Embankment construction
- To use Fly Ash in Reclamation of low lying areas
- Within 50Km of a Thermal Power Plant (By Road)
- To use Fly Ash in back filling of underground and open cast mines
- Financial institutions to include a clause in their loan documents for compliance of this notification
Major Projects where Fly Ash has been utilized
- Road Embankment Construction & Filling Works:
- 67 lakh Cubic Meters (Cu.M) of Pond Ash from NTPC Unchahar Station has been utilized in Allahabad By-pass Road executed by NHAI
- 20 lakh Cu.M of Pond Ash from NTPC Badarpur Station has been utilized in Noida - Greater Noida Expressway
- About 1.5 lakh Cu.M of Pond Ash from Indraprastha thermal power station has been utilized in 2nd Nizammudin approach road embankment
- About 5.0 lakh Cu.M of Pond Ash from NTPC Badarpur Station has been utilized in Yamuna Expressway & Badarpur Flyover
- More than 15 lakh Cu.M of Pond Ash has been used by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in their Shastri Park rail car depot from NTPC Badarpur Station.
- Concrete Works:
- Fly Ash from NTPC Dadri Station is being utilized in all underground concrete works by DMRC
- Fly Ash is being utilised by all Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) Plants
- Fly Ash used by ACC Ltd. in Concrete Road at its RMC Plant in Greater Noida
- Fly Ash used in Concrete Road from Dehra Jhal to NTPC Dadri
- Building Construction Works:
- Administrative Building of Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) constructed with Fly Ash Bricks
- NTPC’s own Buildings constructed with Fly Ash Bricks
- NETRA office at Greater Noida
- 'D' Type residential quarters at Noida Township
- Northern Region Headquarter building at Lucknow
- All Projects and Township construction
- Private Real Estate Developers in various metro cities viz. Pune, Vishakhapatnam & NCR areas use Fly Ash Bricks for construction of residential complexes
- Mine Filling: South Balanda Mine being filled with Ash from NTPC Talcher-Thermal Station.
Developing New Segments of Ash Utilisation
Following Research Studies have been / are being conducted for development of new segments having long term potential of Ash Utilization:
- Railway Embankment: To demonstrate use of ash in construction of railway embankment, research study was carried out in association with Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), New Delhi. The design of railway embankment developed by CRRI was validated by conducting Centrifuge Model Tests at IIT Bombay. Construction of railway embankment for NTPC’s Merry Go-Round (MGR) rail track for coal transportation is planned at NTPC Kahalgaon and NTPC Talcher-Kaniha.
- Mine Filling:
- Feasibility Study being conducted at Talcher-Kaniha by M/s Desien for finalising the Techno Economically optimum mode of conveying ash from power plant to Mines on long term basis. Infrastructure shall be created accordingly for filling of mines with Fly Ash from NTPC Talcher- Kaniha.
- Research study is being done by Central Institute of Mining & Fuel Research (CIMFR), Dhanbad for taking up Technology Demonstration project for Random Filling of Ash from NTPC Ramagundam with Mine Over Burden (OB) at Medapalli Mines.
- Pre-stressed Railway Concrete Sleepers: Use of Fly Ash in the manufacture of pre-stressed Railway Concrete Sleepers demonstrated in association with IIT Kanpur.
- Ash based Bituminous Road: Demonstration project for construction of Fly Ash based bituminous roads have been taken up in association with CRRI at NTPC Badarpur and Dadri.
- Flux bonded Bricks/Tiles: Research study for use of Fly Ash in Flux bonded bricks/tiles has been conducted at NTPC Ramagundam in association with NIIST Trivandrum.
- HDPE Products: Use of fly ash in manufacturing of HDPE products taken up by Vindhyachal through IIT Delhi.
- Showcase Projects on use of Ash in Agriculture: Use of fly ash in agriculture, as a soil modifier and source of micro and macro nutrients, has been successfully demonstrated through “Show case projects” in collaboration with the local farmers under the direct guidance of reputed agriculture institutions/universities.
- At NTPC Simhadri in association with Annamalai University
- At NTPC Unchahar in association with N.D University of Agriculture & Technology, Faizabad (U.P)
- At NTPC Talcher – Thermal in association with Annamalai University
- At NTPC Vindhyachal in association with Annamalai University
- At NTPC Dadri in association with Annamalai University
Promotional Measures
In order to promote and propagate multifaceted utilisation of Fly Ash as a Resource Material in various segments and to create awareness among the prospective users & entrepreneurs for use of ash, following promotional measures have already been carried out by AUD:
Books:
- NTPC Guide for Users of Coal Ash
- Fly Ash Bricks – Modern Building Material; Towards Cleaner Environment
- Fly Ash for Cement Concrete – A Resource for High Strength and Durability of Structure at Lower Cost
Brochures:
- Fly Ash Bricks
- Clay Ash Bricks
- High Volume Ash Clay Brick
- Coal Ash Environment Friendly Material For Fills Embankment Road Pavement Construction
- Fly Ash A Resource for Cement & Concrete
- Use of Ash in Agriculture (in Hindi)
Films :
- Clay Ash Bricks
- Fly Ash Bricks
- High Volume Ash Clay Bricks
- Use of Fly Ash in Concrete and RMC plants
- Coal Ash – As fill Material (Road/ Flyovers)
- Use of Fly Ash in Mine filling
- Use of Fly Ash in Agriculture
Advertisements:
For awareness creation advertisements in National dailies are released from time to time on various application of fly ash such as:
- General uses of Fly Ash
- Use of Fly Ash in Cement Concrete & Building Products
- Use of Fly Ash in Road Embankment Construction Works
- Use of Ash in Mine filling
- Use of Ash in Agriculture
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Enviroment Policy & Management ![Print]()
Status of Environment Clearance of Coal Mine ProjectsStatus of Environment Clearance of Thermal Power ProjectsEnvironment Policy & Environment Management System
For NTPC, the journey extends much beyond generating power. Right from its inception, the company had a well defined environment policy. More than just generating power, it is committed to sustainable growth of power.
NTPC has evolved sound environment practices.National Environment Policy
The Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Ministry of Power and NTPC were involved in preparing the draft Environment Policy (NEP) which was later approved by the Union Cabinet in May 2006.NTPC Environment Policy
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Since its inception NTPC has been at the forefront of Environment management. In November 1995, NTPC brought out a comprehensive document entitled ‘NTPC Environment Policy and Environment Management System. Amongst the guiding principles adopted in the document are the company's pro-active approach to environment, optimum utilisation of equipment, adoption of latest technologies and continual environment improvement. The policy also envisages efficient utilisation of resources, thereby minimising waste, maximising ash utilisation and ensuring a green belt all around the plant for maintaining ecological balance.Environment Management, Occupational Health and Safety Systems
NTPC has actively gone for adoption of the best international practices on environment, occupational health and safety areas. The organisation has pursued the Environmental Management System (EMS) ISO 14001 and the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment System OHSAS 18001 at its different establishments. As a result of pursuing these practices, all NTPC power stations have been certified for ISO 14001 & OHSAS 18001 by reputed national and international certifying agencies.Pollution Control Systems
While deciding the appropriate technology for its projects, NTPC integrates many environmental provisions into the plant design. In order to ensure that NTPC complies with all the stipulated environment norms, following state-of-the-art pollution control systems / devices have been installed to control air and water pollution:- Electrostatic Precipitators
- Flue Gas Stacks
- Low-NOX Burners
- Neutralisation Pits
- Coal Settling Pits / Oil Settling Pits
- DE & DS Systems Cooling Tower
- Ash Dykes & Ash Disposal Systems
- Ash Water Recycling System
- Dry Ash Extraction System (DAES)
- Liquid Waste Treatment Plants & Management System
- Sewage Treatment Plants & Facilities
- Environmental Institutional Set-up
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Following are the additional measures taken by NTPC in the area of Environment Management:- Environment Management During Operation Phase
- Monitoring of Environmental Parameters
- On-Line Data Base Management
- Environment Review
- Upgradation & Retrofitting of Pollution Control Systems
- Resources Conservation
- Waste Management
- Municipal Waste Management
- Hazardous Waste Management
- Bio-Medical Waste Management
- Land Use / Bio-diversity
- Reclamation of Abandoned Ash ponds
- Green Belts, Afforestation & Energy Plantations
| S.No. | Name of Crop | Increase in Yields |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheat | 16 - 22% |
| 2 | Paddy | 10 - 15% |
| 3 | Sugarcane | 20 - 25% |
| 4 | Banana | 25 - 30% |
| 5 | Maize | More than 30% |
| 6 | Vegetables | 10 - 15% |