Co-generation with excess power to grid-an experience in India

Industrial growth in India and the change in living styles of people since independence, i.e. in the last four decades, has resulted in a steady rise in the demand for power. Consequently, the power sector has registered a phenomenal growth. Despite this growth in power generation, there is always a gap in the demand for power and the power generated. At present this shortfall is estimated to be in the region of 12000 MW. An attempt has been made to implement a suitable cogeneration scheme in a sugar factory to generate power for not only meeting the requirements of the sugar factory but also feeding about 4000 kW of excess power to the state electricity grid. This project is drawing great attention from the government´s financial institutions, technologists and engineers from all over the country. It is hoped that this implementation will be the trend setter and many schemes are expected to be implemented in the future in India, where the demand for power is a never ending process.<>