UPSC CSE Prelims
Conventional Energy Sources Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Coal gasification converts coal into syngas (mainly carbon monoxide and hydrogen), which serves as a raw material for many chemicals.

• I. Ethanol ✅ Correct – Syngas can be converted into ethanol through chemical or biological processes.

• II. Nitroglycerine ❌ Incorrect – Nitroglycerine is produced by nitrating glycerol, not from syngas obtained through coal gasification.

• III. Urea ✅ Correct – Hydrogen from syngas is used to make ammonia, which then reacts with carbon dioxide to produce urea.

• Therefore, only Ethanol and Urea can be produced using coal gasification technology, making Option B the correct answer.

Substance-wise Analysis

 Coal Gasification

What is Coal Gasification?

Coal gasification is the process of converting coal into syngas, a mixture of:

• Carbon Monoxide (CO)

• Hydrogen (H₂)

• Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

• Water Vapour

Major Products from Syngas

• Ammonia

• Urea

• Methanol

• Ethanol

• Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG)

• Hydrogen

Important Facts

• Coal gasification helps reduce dependence on imported natural gas and crude oil.

• It is an important technology for producing fertilizers and industrial chemicals.

• India is promoting coal gasification to utilize its large domestic coal reserves.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — None

All three statements regarding coal-based thermal power plants in India are incorrect. Some plants use seawater for cooling (like Mundra), many are located in water-stressed districts, and a significant number are privately owned.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Mundra Thermal Power Plant uses seawater from the Gulf of Kutch in a closed-cycle cooling system, and also employs purified seawater from reverse osmosis plants for auxiliary systems.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: According to WRI research, 40% of India's thermal power plants are situated in water-stressed regions, with 14 out of 20 largest thermal utilities experiencing shutdowns between 2013-2016 due to water shortages.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Out of India's 269 thermal power plants, 138 are publicly owned while 131 are privately owned, demonstrating significant private sector participation.

📝 Short Notes: Coal-Based Thermal Power Plants in India

• Cooling Water Sources: While most plants use freshwater from rivers or reservoirs, coastal plants like Mundra (Gujarat) utilize seawater cooling systems to conserve freshwater resources.
• Water Stress Challenge: 40% of thermal plants are in water-stressed regions, leading to operational disruptions and forced shutdowns during water scarcity periods.
• Ownership Structure: Total 269 plants - 138 public sector (Central/State utilities like NTPC, State Gencos) and 131 private sector (Adani Power, Tata Power, Reliance Power, etc.).
• Capacity Distribution: Thermal power contributes approximately 50-55% of India's total installed electricity generation capacity.
• Environmental Concerns: High water consumption (3-5 liters per kWh), thermal pollution, and emissions make water management critical for sustainability.