Thermal power
Topic: Energy Resources of India: Conventional and Non-conventional · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 5 "Minerals and Energy Resources"; Class 10, Ch 6 "Manufacturing Industries"; Class 12, Ch 5 "Mineral and Energy Resources"
Meaning
Thermal power is electricity made by burning coal, oil or natural gas. The heat boils water into steam, and the steam spins turbines. The fuel cannot be replaced once used, and burning it pollutes the air and releases CO2. Still, it is India's main source of power. Coal produces about three-quarters of India's electricity (verify current). Coal is bulky and loses weight as it burns to ash, so many plants are built right on coalfields. These are called pithead plants.
Example
Pithead plants run at Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh–Uttar Pradesh border), Korba (Chhattisgarh), Talcher (Odisha) and Neyveli (Tamil Nadu). Port-based plants burn imported coal at Mundra (Gujarat) and Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
Don't confuse with
- Hydel power: electricity from fast-flowing water turning turbines. It is renewable and burns no fuel. Once made, the electricity is exactly the same.