Kahalgaon: NTPC is exploring renewable energy sources given the proposed closure of coal-based power generation in the coming days.

It also aims at reducing the price of electricity for the convenience of its customers, NTPC general manager (in-charge), Kahalgaon super thermal power, Rakesh Samuel, said on Friday.

According to Samuel, NTPC generates 365MW of solar energy and is targeting to raise it to 60,000MW by 2022. Installation of a 15MW solar energy production plant at Kahalgaon has almost been completed. "By 2022, production of 450MW of solar energy is targeted, but presently we will utilise the solar power at NTPC's offices and other units here," he said.

Samuel said that solar energy apart, 50MW of power is already being generated from windmills at the NTPC campus. He said the Kahalgaon project was concentrating on how to reduce energy cost, but that would be possible on availability of quality coal.

Because of sustainable supply of quality coal from Rajmahal coal fields, NTPC Kahalgaon's consumption of coal has reduced but production increased, resulting in cost-effective power production in comparison to last year. "But sometimes, because of disruption in supply of quality coal, our stock falls, resulting uncertainly," he said.

On the question of fly ash utilisation, he said the project had already achieved utilisation of 80 percent of fly ash, a byproduct in this thermal power station.