Multinational conglomerate company General Electric Power India Limited (GEPIL) has been awarded three contracts in July for a combined value of $112.57-million to supply its best-in-class air quality control systems (AQCS) solutions to three companies.

First, a 150 MW AQCS solution was supplied to Indian aluminium and copper manufacturer Hindalco Industries Limited for its Aditya Aluminium Plant Lapanga in Sambalpur, Odisha.

The company has committed to setting up India’s first ever semi dry flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) system, a one of its kind system under the Make-in-India initiative to reduce sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions within permissible limits. The project is expected to be commissioned by 2021.

The scope includes design, engineering, supply, installation, commissioning and civil and structural work on FGD solution. This technology will give a number of benefits as it facilitates SO2 removal with lower water consumption, a smaller footprint, use of an existing stack, a lower lifecycle cost and a lower implementation time.

Secondly, multiple AQCS solutions were supplied to electric power distribution company NTPC Limited for its Feroze Gandhi Unchahar Thermal Power Project Stage I, II and III in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh. This is GE Steam Power’s first wet FGD order to install common absorber for a combination of multiple boiler units.

This landmark order is expected to be completed by February 2023.

This will help to treat 8.4-million cubic metres an hour of flue gas and remove about 63 000 t/y of SO2, thereby complying with the new emission norms to reduce the level of sulphur oxides (SOx) in emissions from thermal power plants. The scope includes design, engineering, supply, installation, commissioning and civil and structural work of the FGD solution – along with auxiliaries including limestone and gypsum handling systems and wet stack – on a full turnkey basis.

Lastly, electricity generation company UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam (UPRVUNL) will be setting up a combustion system modification of the boilers along with advanced firing system equipment to meet the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emission norms for their Harduaganj, Parichha and Anpara plants. The order is a first for combustion modification for NOx control by any State utility in India.

GE’s AQCS solutions offer real and tangible impact for its customers and its communities in terms of improving in the overall air quality.

“The commitment being shown by the government of India to reduce the overall levels of SOx and NOx is very encouraging. GE is an industry leader in clean power generation with a broad and best-in-class portfolio of AQCSs and is proud to partner with customers who are working towards a cleaner tomorrow. The solutions from its AQCS portfolio will help to lower levels of SOx and NOx in emissions and will serve to improve the overall quality of air,” says GE Power India MD Prashant Jain.

GE’s AQCS portfolio of products offers advanced air pollution control engineering, from process and equipment design to construction, operations and maintenance.