nuclear power will ameliorate in the impending years. The structure of nuclear power is shown in Figure 2.4.
2.4.2 Major Nuclear Power Plants
There are seven nuclear power plants comprising of 22 nuclear reactors in total operating in India as of March 2018. Of all, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant located in Tamil Nadu has the highest capacity power plant with a capacity of 2,000 MW currently under operation and 2,000 MW under operation. It is also the only nuclear plant in India that has incorporated pressurized water reactors while others have boiling water reactors or pressurized heavy-water reactors. The given table gives insights about the major nuclear power plants in India [9].
Figure 2.4 Organization chart of nuclear power in India.
2.4.3 Currently Operational Nuclear Power Plants
| Power station | State | Total capacity (MW) |
|---|---|---|
| Kaiga | Karnataka | 880 |
| Kakrapar | Gujarat | 440 |
| Kudankulam | Tamil Nadu | 2,000 |
| Madras (Kalpakkam) | Tamil Nadu | 440 |
| Narora | Uttar Pradesh | 440 |
| Rajasthan | Rajasthan | 1,080 |
| Tarapur | Maharashtra | 1,400 |
Advantages of Nuclear Power Plants
The culmination of nuclear power plant is due to its march ahead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, thereby standing out as a safer way of producing power with less or almost nil release of polluting gases and refraining from contributing to global warming.
Yet another spotlight in nuclear power is the remarkably low fuel costs and minimal requirement of fuel.
Nuclear power plants being sustainable and possessing exceptional lifetime.
2.4.4 Challenges of Nuclear Power Plants
Despite having so many striking pros, the major drawback that blindfolds all of the advantages is the generation of radioactive wastes and challenges involved in its disposal. The disposal is expensive and the wastes are viable of producing ill-effects even after very long periods.
The harmful effects of nuclear wastes have led to lack of discernment from people and instilled their minds with negativity.
Commissioning of nuclear power plants and safety precautions involve huge costs.
Also, the nuclear plants have less adaptability and hence cannot immediately react to changes in the requirement of power.
2.5 Hydropower Generation
Hydropower generation is one of the oldest ways of power generation [10]. With an installed capacity of 4,600 MW (as per March 2020) which accounts for a total of 12.3% total installed capacity in India holds fifth place in terms of exploitable hydro-potential on the global scenario.
Traditionally, potential energy stored in dammed is converted into electrical energy. Based on the height of water, three types of turbines are used. It is capable of instant start. It can take the load at a rate of 20 MW/minute. Therefore, it can be used to meet out peak load periods.
Three gauges project in China on the Yang-Yang river is the largest power station in the world having installed capacity of around 18,200 MW. Tehri hydropower complex is built across the Bagirathi River in Uttarakhand with a proposed capacity of 2,400 MW is the tallest hydropower project in India. The hydropower plants of less than 25 MW come under Ministry of New and Renewable energy and above 25 MW are under the Ministry of Power. The construction of massive dams submerges large areas that may lead to the color change of the land. Some hydro project submerges rain forests which will add to global warming impacts. Because of heavy construction requirements, it needs high capital cost and long gestation period compared to thermal plants [11].
2.5.1 Pumped Storage Plants
The pumped storage plants are used to store hydro electrical energy. This scheme has an upper and lower reservoir. During peak power generation, electrical energy is used to pump water from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir. During peak load period, energy in the upper reservoir is used to generate the power.
The western region of India with steep gradients of rivers has the largest potential for the development of pumped storage plants. A potential of 96,524 MW was identified by CEA during studies conducted in 1978–1987.
| Name of the station | State | Installed capacity (MW) |
|---|---|---|
| Srisailam LBPH | Telangana | 900 |
| Purulia PSS | West Bengal | 900 |
| Kadamparai | Tamil Nadu | 400 |
| Ghatghar | Maharashtra | 250 |
| Bhira | Maharashtra | 150 |
Synchronous machines in these plants can be made to act as synchronous condensers for voltage support. It helps in the straightening of load curve by act load during low load period and as generating source during peak periods which improves the overall economy of power system operation.
2.6 Solar Power
As we know, the sun is the biggest source of renewable energy for the Earth. The part of solar energy is enormously large even though the earth receives only a part of the energy generated by the sun (i.e., solar energy). There are two forms of solar energy, namely, light and heat, which the earth receives. The solar power can be converted to electrical energy using either photovoltaic (PV) or concentrated solar power systems.
2.6.1 Photovoltaic
PV directly converts solar energy into electricity. When certain semiconductor materials are exposed to light, they absorb photons and release free electrons. This phenomenon