BHEL commissions India’s first lignite-based 500 MW thermal unit

Bharat Heavy Electricals ltd (BHEL) has commissioned the first lignite-based 500 MW thermal unit of the 2×500 MW Neyveli New Thermal Power Project in Tamil Nadu.

This is not only the country’s first lignite-fired 500 MW power plant, but also its highest rated pulverised lignite-fired thermal unit commissioned so far.

The plant is based on the Once-Through and Tower Type Boiler design, which has been adopted for the first time in the country for a lignite-based thermal unit, BHEL informed the BSE.

Located in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore district, the project is owned by NLC India Ltd. The second unit of the project is also in an advanced stage of commissioning.

NLC had placed the order for a Boiler, Turbine & Generator (BTG) package for the two units with BHEL.