India's Nuclear Ambition: NTPC's 30 GW Expansion Strategy

India's Nuclear Ambition: NTPC's 30 GW Expansion Strategy\n\nState-owned NTPC, India's largest energy generating company, has set its sights on expanding its nuclear energy capacity to 30 GW by 2047. This ambitious target is part of the company's drive to increase non-fossil fuel energy capacity to 2 GW by 2032.\n\nTo achieve this goal, NTPC plans to conduct feasibility studies in more states, including Uttar Pradesh, to identify potential sites for nuclear projects. The company has already completed feasibility studies in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha, and has identified Banka in Bihar, Basai in Madhya Pradesh, and Nabarangpur in Odisha as potential sites.\n\nNTPC's nuclear expansion strategy is aimed at contributing to the government's ambitious 100 GW nuclear capacity target by 2047. The company plans to set up an average project with two units of 700 MW each, with an investment of Rs 15,000-20,000 crore required for each project.\n\nThe process of setting up a nuclear project involves several stages, including the submission of a feasibility study to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), review by the Standing Site Selection Committee, and further processing by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).\n\nIndustry estimates suggest that setting up a nuclear power capacity of 1 gigawatt requires an investment of Rs 15,000-20,000 crore and a timeframe of at least three years from concept to commissioning.\n\nNTPC is also exploring collaborations with global energy players such as US-based Westinghouse, Rosatom of Russia, and French company EDF to deploy large pressurised water reactor (PWR) projects in India.\n\nThe Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has estimated that an investment worth Rs 15 lakh crore will be required to scale up the country's nuclear capacity target to 100 GW by adding around 91 GW to the current 8.8 GW.\n\nNTPC, which began power generation through thermal power, has steadily expanded and diversified into new energy sources, spanning coal, gas/liquid fuel, hydro, and solar power. With over 91,000 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity, NTPC is India's largest energy generating company, catering to the country's one-fourth electricity demand alone.\n\nAs NTPC continues to expand its nuclear energy capacity, it is clear that the company is committed to playing a significant role in India's nuclear ambition. With its expertise in power generation and its commitment to sustainability, NTPC is well-positioned to contribute to the country's energy needs for generations to come.