MAGNANIMITY OF THERMAL POWER PRODUCTION ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGHS: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN INDIA

In consideration of the practical fact, in terms of our long term needs and effects of thermal electric energy production, the Electric Energy-Water- Climate seasonal link makes it essential for adaptation to climate change and its effective management in a sustainable manner for future. In this research paper, the author uses a long panel data set of few selected Indian thermal power plants that are thermal based for the time period 2000-2001 to 2008-2009 to test certain hypotheses regarding thermal power plant performance with respect to water withdrawals vis-a-vis power generation relative to normal seasonal variation using Advanced Statistical Technique specifically can be mentioned as “Seasonal Variation Index”. The study finds strong, robust evidence in support of water shortage owing to the impact of changing climate. Cooling towers as technological breakthrough are preferred due to erratic seasonal monsoons in summer season. This paper evaluates the performance and effectiveness of cooling tower mechanism as per Bureau of Energy Efficiency technical parameters in the present arena of 21st century Global Environmental Sustainability. The assessment of cooling towers in selected power stations clearly indicates that, the technology was able to counteract the water shortage problem in the respective power stations to a certain extent. Keeping in view of resource inefficiency i.e. in terms of water utilization, this paper suggests pertinent sustainable developmental management strategies and spatial technologies as a policy recommendation to abridge the water gap in arid regions of selected thermal power plants