Chennai: India will begin construction of an 800MW advanced ultra supercritical thermal power plant in 2019, which will run on an indigenous technology that is developed to reduce carbon emissions, said AK Bhaduri, director of Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam , on Friday.

Speaking on the sidelines of a press meet to announce the 5th International Congress of International Institute of Welding and 12th edition of Weld India 2017 exhibition to be held at Chennai Trade Centre from December 7 to 9, the senior scientist said the plant is expected to save 25% of coal reserve and cut down carbon by close to 15%, as it will function at a better efficiency compared to other plants in the country.

“This plant is 100% indigenous, including its design. The plant will generate 800MW run at an operating temperature of 710 deg C and at a 310 steam pressure bar. No other power plants in the world run with such numbers,” he said. “The plant will come up in one of the NTPC power plants and is expected to be in place by 2024.”

The project is being executed by a consortium of three government entities, Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited, Indira Gandhi Centre of Atomic Research and National Thermal Power Corporation. It will involve Indian industries in the design, manufacture and commissioning of the plant. “The entire gamut of power plants will not take off if we do not have the skill set of welding,” he said.

The IGCAR director said the prototype fast breeder reactor, which is built in Kalpakkam, will achieve criticality in another two months and is expected to generate full power of 500 MW by next year.

