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81% SO2 Emissions Linked to FGD-Exempt Indian Coal Plants
13 Jul
Summary
- Most SO2 emissions near Delhi come from power plants exempt from pollution controls.
- A recent notification exempts 78% of India's coal plants from mandatory FGD systems.
- Higher coal generation due to heatwaves will increase SO2 and PM2.5 pollution.
A new analysis indicates that 81% of sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions impacting the Delhi-NCR region originate from coal-fired power units that have been exempted from installing flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems. These exemptions stem from a July 2025 Union government notification.
Flue gas desulphurisation is a critical process for removing sulphur compounds from fossil fuel emissions. The analysis examined 25 coal-fired power units, finding that 90% of the estimated SO2 came from plants operating without FGD systems. The notification exempts Category C plants, which constitute approximately 78% of India's coal-fired units, from mandatory SO2 controls.
This situation is concerning as coal-fired power generation is anticipated to increase due to rising temperatures and higher electricity demand for cooling. SO2 is a primary precursor to PM2.5, a pollutant linked to serious health issues. For instance, the Mahatma Gandhi Thermal Power Plant's units with FGDs emitted significantly less SO2 compared to similar output from Rajpura Thermal Power Plant's units without effective controls.
Experts urge the government to reinstate mandatory FGD installation for all coal plants. They also recommend making real-time emission monitoring data publicly accessible and disclosing the operational status of FGD systems to improve compliance and air quality.
