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Coal is one of the major sources of energy production. Coal is fulfilling around 55% of India’s energy needs (Source: Ministry of Coal). However, when coal is processed and burnt to produce energy, it leaves a residue called the fly ash. Untreated fly ash poses many threats to the environment as it contains harmful and radioactive chemicals. Hence, it becomes imperative to eliminate/ reutilize the fly ash in a proper manner.
This study discusses the fly ash elimination/ repurposing techniques of a large scale and well-functioning coal plants of India- NTPC Dadri. It also calculates the net profitability from fly ash repurposing by deducting the total costs from the total benefits benefit (total revenue). The social benefit is calculated using willingness to pay for the fly ash mound (a mound in the NTPC Dadri plant vicinity made solely out of fly ash).
The conclusion explains that there is awareness regarding the harmful effects of untreated fly ash among the people living around the plant and these people are willing to pay for the mound just because it mitigates those harmful effects. There is high profitability by fly ash repurposing and NTPC Dadri earns over 100 crore profit from it.
Keywords: Fly Ash, NTPC Dadri, Cost- Benefit analysis, Willingness to pay, Fly ash mound, Environment, Pollution Reduction, Sustainability.
