Station Heat Rate (SHR). Station Heat Rate is defined as the heat energy input in kilo calories required to generate one kilo watt hour (kWh) of electrical energy at generator terminals. Regarding this parameter, the petitioner herein has sought for a value of 4378 kcal/kWh. On the other hand, the respondent stated that the station heat rate for coal plants is 2500 KCal /kWh as fixed by both APERC and CERC. The Thermal plant station heat rate is lower than Bagasse plant station heat rate. The boilers in most of the Bagasse co-generation plants are designed and constructed for multi fuel firing i.e, coal and Bagasse / Biomass and other Agri Waste fuels. The Bagasse projects which have facility of multi fuel firing have commenced generation with coal, immediately after GoAP orders were issued. Remaining projects, which do not have such facility of multi fuel firing did not generate power using coal. The variation in usage of fuel will impact the boiler efficiency. The boiler efficiency is computed by deducting losses in boiler from 100. The boiler losses are (i) heat loss in dry flue gases (ii) heat loss due to moisture in fuel (iii) heat loss due to burning of hydrogen in fuel (iv) heat loss due to radiation (v) heat loss due to un-burnt fuel. The heat loss due to moisture and burning of hydrogen depends on the type of fuel used. The moisture content of imported coal is less compared to Bagasse. As such the boiler losses due to coal shall be less compared to Bagasse resulting in reduction of Station Heat Rate. The Commission vide orders dated 06-08-2013 in O.P.No.41 of 2013 on the same issue, while noting that higher Heat Rate is also due to not maintaining the plants efficiently, extended the SHR given to Bagasse plants viz., 3700 KCal/kWh to the plants with usage of coal as fuel also. Therefore, the petitioner’s request for consideration of higher SHR need not be accepted and the Commission may extend the SHR of 3600 KCal/kWh presently being given to Bagasse developers to the power generated using coal also. The petitioner in the rejoinder stated that the Commission itself extended the SHR at 3700 KCal/kWh in its orders for the previous years and the respondents are not justified in suggesting the SHR at 3600 KCal/kWh. The SHR of the petitioner is 4378 KCal/kWh and 3600 KCal / kWh was never the SHR of the petitioner. If the suggestions of respondents are taken into account, the petitioner will be put to great hardship and irreparable loss. Commission has examined the issue. The S...
