BHEL develops India's first catalyst set to curb NOx emissions in power plants

Tags: Environment

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), a government engineering firm successfully produced the first indigenous Selective Catalytic Reactor (SCR) to control NOx emissions from thermal power plants.

An Overview of the News

• SCR Catalysts were earlier imported in line with the 'Make in India' initiative.

• The initial batch of indigenous SCR Catalyst was manufactured for 5x800 MW Yadadri Thermal Power Station in Telangana.

• The inaugural event took place at BHEL's Bengaluru Solar Business Division unit, which was led by Renuka Gera, Director, of Industrial Systems and Products.

• BHEL set up a manufacturing facility at its Solar Business Division unit to produce SCR catalysts for reducing NOx emissions in thermal power plants.

• Burning coal converts its nitrogen content into nitrogen oxides (NOx), a major air pollutant that includes substances such as NO, NO2, and N2O.

• Recognizing the serious environmental impact of NOx, the Telangana State Power Generation Corporation Limited (TSGENCO) ordered SCR units for the Yadadri Thermal Power Station.

• Other orders for SCR units came from Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO), West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL), and NALCO for various thermal power stations.

• BHEL is dedicated to environmental protection, offering a range of eco-friendly technologies for thermal power plants, including high-efficiency boilers, electrostatic precipitators, flue gas desulphurization units, and selective catalytic reactors.

• BHEL achieved indigenization of technology in collaboration with NANO, a leading company of the Republic of Korea for the development of SCR technology.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL):

• It is a major Central Public Sector Enterprise in India.

• It has the distinction of being the largest manufacturer of power generation equipment under government ownership.

• BHEL works as a part of the Government of India and comes under the purview of the Ministry of Heavy Industry.

• Establishment - 1956

• Headquarters - New Delhi