Date: 24th November 2025
Flexible Operations in Thermal Power Plants
A Focus on India
Supporting Media Partners
Award Winners 2024
🏭 Winning Organizations
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⭐ Honoured for their Leadership Roles -- 2024
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The Flexible Operations in Thermal Power Plants
Designed to address this urgent challenge
India's energy future is at a critical crossroads. Although the country has already set goals of 40 per cent of installed renewable capacity by 2030 under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the introduction of large-scale renewable energy (RES), including solar and wind in the grid, has presented new challenges. These resources are not always available and their intermittency and variability cannot ensure sustained supply, and this is why the Flexible thermal power plants (TPPs) would be a necessary element to ensure that the grid stability, security and reliability are maintained.
Despite rapid growth in renewables, coal-based generation continues to underpin India's energy system. The reality is clear: India cannot phase out coal abruptly, but it can make thermal plants more flexible to complement renewable integration.
This High-Impact Event Will:
Transition to Flexible Operations
Explore how India's coal-based fleet can transition from rigid base-load units to flexible, load-following operations.
Enhance Grid Stability
Highlight strategies to enhance grid stability, reliability, and efficiency while reducing emissions.
Global Best Practices
Share global best practices and lessons from India's own pilot projects in flexible operations.
Knowledge-Sharing Platform
Provide a platform for policymakers, regulators, utilities, OEMs, and technology leaders to co-create solutions.
🔧 Key Flexibility Methods & Technical Solutions
Low Minimum Load Operation
India's push for renewable energy necessitates that its coal power plants operate at lower minimum loads, around 30-40 per cent of capacity, to balance the grid, reduce fuel costs from fewer startups, and prolong equipment life by minimizing shutdowns.
Key Considerations: While the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) supports this flexibility and recommends retrofitting existing plants for it, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has raised concerns that extended operation at lower loads could significantly reduce plant lifespan.
Solution: Targeted retrofits and equipment adjustments are crucial for achieving this flexibility without compromising efficiency or long-term durability.
Faster, Efficient Start-ups and Shutdowns
Indian coal plants can shorten their 6–8 hour start-up times by implementing flexible operation through upgrades to control systems, optimization of boiler operations, and improved maintenance practices. These changes enable faster response to the grid, helping to manage renewable energy fluctuations and improve overall grid reliability.
Methods for Faster Start-ups:
🎛️ Control System Upgrades
Modern control strategies, such as model predictive control (MPC), can be applied to optimize the complex processes involved in a coal plant's start-up, from low load to maximum power.
⚙️ Boiler and Turbine Optimization
Refinements in boiler operations and the ability to operate at lower minimum loads, along with improved ramp rates (the speed at which a plant can change its power output), contribute to shorter start-up times.
Ramp Rate Improvements
Ramp rate improvements in coal-fired power plants, achieved through advanced instrumentation and better combustion control, enhance flexibility by enabling quicker output adjustments to balance variable renewable energy sources like solar and wind. These improvements ensure grid stability and prevent supply interruptions by allowing thermal plants to respond to sudden changes in renewable generation or demand, ensuring a consistent and reliable power supply.
How Ramp Rate Improvements Work:
🔥 Better Combustion Control
Optimizing the way fuel is burnt through advanced combustion technologies improves stability and efficiency, allowing for faster load changes without compromising safety or operational stability.
🌡️ Reduced Thermal Inertia
Modifications to the boiler and cooling systems can reduce the time it takes for the plant's components to heat up or cool down, which is a significant factor in a plant's ability to change output rapidly.
💨 Steam Accumulator Systems
Integrating steam accumulators, which store and release steam, can provide rapid bursts of energy to the turbine, significantly increasing the rate at which the plant's output can be increased.
Workforce Training & Awareness
Technology alone cannot deliver flexibility. India's operators and engineers must be trained in new Operation and Management strategies, awareness of commercial impacts, and advanced automation tools, ensuring people and technology move in sync.
Key Discussion Topics
Policy and Regulatory Framework for Flexible Operations
Exploring regulatory guidelines, compliance requirements, and policy reforms enabling flexible thermal power operations in India's evolving energy landscape.
Digitalization and Automation in Thermal Plants
Leveraging AI, IoT, predictive analytics, and smart controls to enhance plant efficiency, reduce downtime, and enable real-time operational optimization.
Energy Efficiency and Emission Reduction
Strategies for heat rate optimization, reducing carbon footprint, meeting environmental norms, and implementing clean coal technologies for sustainable power generation.
Role of Renewable Integration and Grid Stability
Managing intermittency, load balancing, and ensuring seamless coordination between thermal plants and renewable energy sources for reliable grid operations.
Asset Management and Maintenance Strategies
Preventive maintenance, predictive diagnostics, extending equipment life, and optimizing plant availability through advanced asset management practices.
Future of Coal-based Power in India
Transitioning from baseload to flexible operations, exploring co-firing options, and preparing for India's net-zero goals while ensuring energy security.
Categories
Excellence Awards Based on Megawatt Capacity
IPP COAL Units
- Excellence IPP COAL Unit Below 500 MW
- Excellence IPP COAL Unit 500 – 1000 MW
- Excellence IPP COAL Unit 1000 - 1500 MW
- Excellence IPP COAL Unit Above 1500 MW
IPP Lignite Units
- Excellence IPP Lignite Unit 125 – 250 MW
- Excellence IPP Lignite Unit Above 250 MW
IPP CCGT Units
- Excellence IPP CCGT Unit Below 125 MW
- Excellence IPP CCGT Unit Above 125 MW
CPP COAL Units
- Excellence CPP COAL Unit Below 50 MW
- Excellence CPP COAL Unit 50 – 135 MW
- Excellence CPP COAL Unit Above 135 MW
Public Sector / Private Sector
Leadership Awards Category
Key Dates
Registration
Delegate Registration
- Indian Delegate
- INR 22,500 + 18% GST Per Delegate
- Overseas Delegate
- USD 300 Per Delegate
- Group Discount
- 5% For 3+ Participants
- 10% For 5+ Participants
Award Nomination
- INR 33,500 + 18% GST Per Category
- Discount 5% For 3+ Categories
Speaker Registration
- Indian Speaker
- INR 60,000 + 18% GST
- Overseas Speaker
- USD 800
Registration Process
Online Registration
To participate as Delegates, nominate for Awards, or be a Speaker, fill and submit the online form from the links below.
Receive Invoice
We will email you an invoice along with the necessary documents for processing the payment. The original invoice will also be sent to your postal address.
Make Payment
Make online payment via our secured payment gateway using your Credit Card, Bank Transfer, or send Cheque/DD to our postal address.
Please Note
- For each Award category, only one participant is permitted.
- In case additional participants (of existing Award nominee) who wish to attend the event, will be charged a discounted price of INR 20,500 + GST per participant.
- In each category, only 5 nominations are permitted.
- Only the first 5 applications will be eligible for consideration.
- Accurate participant information and details must be provided during registration.
- The online registration is considered final, and no cancellations will be allowed once the registration is completed.
- Successful online registration will result in a confirmation sent to the provided email address.
- In case of technical issues with the online registration system, participants are encouraged to contact support (+ 91 98214 19110) for assistance.
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Sponsorship Packages
| Sponsorship Opportunities | Platinum Sponsor (INR 600,000 / USD 8,000) |
Diamond Sponsor (INR 500,000 / USD 7,000) |
Gold Sponsor (INR 400,000 / USD 6,000) |
Silver Sponsor (INR 350,000 / USD 5,000) |
Associate Sponsor (INR 250,000 / USD 4,000) |
Lunch Sponsor (INR 200,000 / USD 3,000) |
Welcome Kit Sponsor (INR 150,000 / USD 2,500) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Sponsors Permitted | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Auditorium Stage Branding | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding on Conference Website | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sponsor Presentation Opportunity | 1 slot 30 Min |
1 slot 30 Min |
— | — | — | — | — |
| Branding on LinkedIn | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Special Announcements | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Delegates List | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Delegate Passes | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Screening of Corporate Film | Upto 5 Min | Upto 3 Min | Upto 2 Min | — | — | — | — |
| Panel Discussion Panellist | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — |
| 1 Award Nomination | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Exhibition Stall Space (3×2 Mtrs) | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Lobby Sponsor TV AV | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Promotional Corporate Standee | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Distribute Brochure in Welcome Kit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Standee Acknowledging Lunch Sponsorship | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ | — |
| Logo on Bags/Badges/Lanyard | — | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ |
Contact Us
Have Questions?
Mr. Sachin Chavan
Head – Corporate Alliance & Partnerships
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