Call for Submissions · 2026 Modernising A ir Q uality C ontrol S ystem for India's Thermal Power Plants
HIGHLIGHTS
CEE 5th National Power-Gen Environment Excellence Awards 2026
★ Celebrating Excellence

Congratulations to the Past Winners

Your leadership and innovation drive our energy transition. Congratulations to all winners who have set new benchmarks for environmental excellence in India's power sector.

AQCS 2025 · Highlights

Photo Album

Browse highlights from the awards night — photos, candid moments and award presentations from AQCS 2025.

Past Winners

AQCS 2025
DB POWER LIMITED
Damodar Valley Corporation - BOKARO TPS
Dhariwal Infrastructure Limited
Grasim Industries Ltd
Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd - UKAI TPS
Hindalco Industries Limited - Renusagar Power Division
JINDAL POWER LIMITED - SIMHAPURI TPS
JINDAL POWER LIMITED, TAMNAR
Jhajjar Power Limited (Apraava Energy)
JSW Energy (Barmer) Limited
JSW Steel Limited, Raigarh
MAHAGENCO - Bhusawal TPS
MAHAGENCO - Khaparkheda TPS
MAHAGENCO - Koradi TPS
MAHAGENCO - Nashik TPS
MAHAGENCO - Paras TPS
MAHAGENCO - Uran Combined Cycle Thermal Power Plant
NTPC Limited - Khargone Super TPS
NTPC Limited - Rihand Super TPS
NTPC Limited - Sipat Super TPS
NTPC Limited - Solapur Super TPS
NTPC Limited - VINDHYACHAL Super TPS
NTPC-SAIL Power Company Limited - Durgapur Captive Power Plant
TATA Power Company Limited - Jojobera Power Plant
THE SINGARENI COLLIERIES COMPANY LIMITED
UltraTech Cement Limited - Sewagram Cement Works
Vedanta Limited - Lanjigarh
Welspun Captive Power Generation Limited
West Bengal Power Development Corp Limited - KOLAGHAT TPS
AQCS 2024
ACB India Ltd (2x30MW) Chakabura Plant
Adani Power Limited - Raigarh
Adhunik Power & Natural Resources Limited
ANGUL ENERGY LIMITED
Bhubaneshwar Power Private Limited
Damodar Valley Corporation - MEJIA TPS
Damodar Valley Corporation - DURGAPUR STEEL TPS
Damodar Valley Corporation - Chandrapura TPS
DB POWER LIMITED
Dongamahua Captive Power Plant Jindal Steel & Power Limited
Gallantt Ispat Limited
JSW ENERGY LIMITED VIJAYANAGAR
JSW Steel Limited Raigarh
JK Cements Works Nimbahera
JK Lakshmi Cement Limited - Sirohi
Maruti Clean Coal and Power Limited
Nabha Power Limited
NTPC Limited - Faridabad Gas Power Station
NTPC Limited - Farakka Super TPS
NTPC Limited - Gadarwara Super TPS
NTPC Limited - Kahalgaon TPS
NTPC Limited - Solapur Super TPS
TATA POWER COMPANY LIMITED Jojobera Power Plant
TATA STEEL LTD - West Bokaro
Ultratech Cement Limited - Hirmi Cement Works
Ultratech Cement Limited - Sewagram Cement Works
Vedanta Limited - Lanjigarh
West Bengal Power Development Corp Ltd - Bakreswar TPS
West Bengal Power Development Corp Ltd - Bandel TPS
West Bengal Power Development Corp Ltd - Kolaghat TPS
West Bengal Power Development Corp Ltd - Sagardighi TPS
West Bengal Power Development Corp Ltd - Santaldih TPS
AQCS 2023
ACB (India) - Maruti Clean Coal and Power Limited
Adani Dahanu TPS
Adani Power Limited – Raikheda
ADANI POWER LIMITED- Mundra TPS
Angul Energy Limited
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO)
DB POWER LIMITED
Damodar Valley Corporation - Durgapur Steel TPS
Damodar Valley Corporation - Koderma TPS
GSECL - Ukai TPS
GSECL - Wanakbori TPS
Hindalco Industries Birla Copper Bharuch
Hindalco Industries Ltd - Mahan Aluminium
JINDAL POWER LIMITED
JINDAL STAINLESS LIMITED
JSW Energy (Barmer) Limited
JSW ENERGY LIMITED VIJAYANAGAR
JSW Ispat Special Products Limited
Jaypee Nigrie Super TPS
MAHAGENCO - Bhusawal TPS
MAHAGENCO - CHANDRAPUR SUPER TPS
MAHAGENCO- BHUSAWAL TPS
Nabha Power Limited
NLC India Limited - NLC Tamilnadu Power Limited
NLC India Limited- Neyveli New TPS
NTPC LIMITED - Kahalgaon Super TPS
NTPC LIMITED - Mouda Super TPS
NTPC LIMITED - Singrauli Super TPS
NTPC LIMITED - Singrauli Super TPS
NTPC LIMITED - Solapur Super TPS
OPG Power Generation Private Limited
Orient Cement Limited
TATA POWER COMPANY LIMITED- JOJOBERA POWER PLANT
TATA STEEL LONG PRODUCTS LTD
WBPDCL - BAKRESWAR TPS
WBPDCL - SAGARDIGHI TPS
WBPDCL - SANTALDIH TPS
Mr Santosh Kumar Singh
Adani Power Limited
Mr SANJOY KUMAR GHOSH
Damodar Valley Corporation

Supporting Media Partners

Recognition & Excellence

Proud Winners
2025

Celebrating outstanding achievements across India's power & industry sector

  • DB POWER LIMITED
  • Damodar Valley Corporation — Bokaro Thermal Power Station
  • Dhariwal Infrastructure Limited
  • Grasim Industries Ltd
  • Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd — Ukai Thermal Power Station
  • Hindalco Industries Limited — Renusagar Power Division
  • Jindal Power Limited — Simhapuri Thermal Power Plant
  • Jindal Power Limited — Tamnar
  • Jhajjar Power Limited (Apraava Energy)
  • JSW Energy (Barmer) Limited
  • JSW Steel Limited, Raigarh
  • MAHAGENCO — Bhusawal Thermal Power Station
  • MAHAGENCO — Khaparkheda Thermal Power Station
  • MAHAGENCO — Koradi Thermal Power Station
  • MAHAGENCO — Nashik Thermal Power Station
  • MAHAGENCO — Paras Thermal Power Station
  • MAHAGENCO — Uran Combined Cycle Thermal Power Plant
  • NTPC Limited — Khargone Super Thermal Power Station
  • NTPC Limited — Rihand Super Thermal Power Station
  • NTPC Limited — Sipat Super Thermal Power Station
  • NTPC Limited — Solapur Super Thermal Power Station
  • NTPC Limited — Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Station
  • NTPC-SAIL Power Company Limited — Durgapur Captive Power Plant
  • TATA Power Company Limited — Jojobera Power Plant
  • The Singareni Collieries Company Limited
  • UltraTech Cement Limited — Sewagram Cement Works
  • Vedanta Limited — Lanjigarh
  • Welspun Captive Power Generation Limited
  • West Bengal Power Development Corp Limited — Kolaghat Thermal Power Station
29 Distinguished Winners · 2025
Conference Overview

Modernising AQCS for India's Thermal Power Plants

In India, Air Quality Control Systems (AQCS) are the critical technological barrier between thermal power plant emissions and the environment. Given that India relies on coal for over 70 per cent of its electricity generation, the modernization of these systems is a central pillar of the National Clean Air Program (NCAP).


Over the past decade, India has tightened emission standards for thermal power plants, in line with global best practices. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) mandated strict limits on SO₂, NOₓ, PM, and mercury emissions for both existing and new plants.

"Coal powers over 70% of India's electricity. Modernising its emissions controls is not optional — it is existential."

National Clean Air Program, India
70% Coal Share
30–45% Ash Content
4 Emission Types
Section 01 — Core Technologies

1. The Core technological components

A standard AQCS in a modern Indian thermal power plant operates through three primary stages designed to control Particulate Matter (PM), Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂), and Nitrogen Oxides (NOₓ). Each stage integrates specialised technologies to reduce emissions at source and ensure compliance with India’s evolving environmental regulations.

Stage 01 · PM Control
Electrostatic Precipitators
ESP
Targets: Particulate Matter (PM)

Indian coal is notorious for its high ash content (often 30–45 per cent), making the ESP the most vital component.

  • Uses high-voltage electrodes to ionise flue gas. Dust particles become negatively charged and migrate to positively charged collecting plates.
  • Most Indian plants have ESPs, but many are being retrofitted with larger collection areas or "Moving Electrode" technology to handle the high-resistivity ash typical of Indian coal.
Stage 02 · SO₂ Control
Flue Gas Desulfurisation
FGD
Targets: Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂)

FGD systems represent the most significant addition to Indian thermal power plants in recent years. Although Indian coal contains relatively low sulphur compared to Chinese or US coal, the sheer volume of coal burnt made SO₂ emission regulation essential.

  • Most plants deploy Wet Limestone Scrubbing technology — SO₂ reacts with limestone slurry to form calcium sulphate (gypsum), commercially supplied to the cement industry.
  • As of 2026, installation is prioritised by location (Category A, B, and C), with plants near Delhi and major cities facing the earliest deadlines.
Stage 03 · NOₓ Control
NOₓ Control Systems
SCR / SNCR / LNB
Targets: Nitrogen Oxides (NOₓ)

Thermal power plants control nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) through two primary approaches.

  • Plants deploy Low-NOₓ Burners (LNB) and Over Fire Air (OFA) systems to minimise NOₓ formation during the combustion process.
  • They install Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) or Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) systems, which use ammonia or urea to convert NOₓ into harmless nitrogen and water.
Section 02 — Regulatory Framework

2. The Regulatory Framework

MoEFCC's phased compliance roadmap uses location-based categorisation to prioritise installations

The implementation of AQCS in India follows a phased compliance roadmap defined by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Given the scale of retrofitting required across hundreds of coal-based thermal power units, the ministry adopted a location-based categorisation approach to prioritise installations. Plants were grouped based on proximity to high population density zones and critically polluted regions to balance environmental urgency with engineering feasibility.

Category A Highest Priority Strict Enforcement

Plants located within 10 km of the National Capital Region (NCR) or cities with a population exceeding one million.

These units face the most stringent compliance timelines. FGD installation is mandatory, and most deadlines have either passed or are under strict enforcement oversight.

Category B Active Monitoring In Progress

Plants within 10 km of Critically Polluted Areas (CPAs) or non-attainment cities.

These plants are in various stages of FGD retrofitting and emission control upgrades, with compliance closely monitored by regulatory authorities.

Category C Conditional Exemptions Revised Rules

Plants in other locations where population density and pollution sensitivity are relatively lower.

Recent regulatory revisions have introduced conditional exemptions for certain Category C units, particularly older plants nearing retirement or those located far from densely populated regions. In such cases, regulators have placed greater emphasis on stack height optimisation and dispersion management rather than mandatory FGD installation. However, particulate matter and NOₓ norms continue to apply.

Section 03 — Challenges

3. Major Challenges in the Indian Context

Despite the mandates, the rollout of AQCS faces several structural hurdles

Space Constraints

Many older plants were not designed with enough space between the boiler and the chimney to plug in a massive FGD unit.

High Capital Cost

An FGD system can cost roughly Rs 0.5 crore to Rs 0.7 crore per MW, leading to significant tariff hikes for consumers.

Limited Vendor Capacity

There is a limited number of vendors (like BHEL, GE, and Mitsubishi) capable of executing these massive engineering projects simultaneously across the country.

Resource & Energy Demands

FGD systems require significant amounts of water and limestone, and they consume about 1–2 per cent of the power plant's own electricity (auxiliary power) to operate.

Council of Enviro Excellence
The CEE 5th National Power-Gen
Environment \ Excellence
Awards 2026

The CEE 5th National Power-Gen Environment Excellence Awards 2026 is intended to award the Units / Plants which has shown improvements in its key environmental parameters such as CO₂, SO₂, & NOₓ emissions, Particulate Matter emissions, disposal and utilization of Ash, etc, through Excellence in environmental sustainability.

CO₂ Emissions SO₂ Emissions NOₓ Emissions Particulate Matter Ash Disposal Ash Utilization Environmental Sustainability

Award Categories

Recognising excellence across Independent Power Producers, Captive Power Plants & specialised achievements

Independent Power Producers
Coal
Best Environment Excellence Unit
Below 500 MW
Coal
Best Environment Excellence Unit
500 – 1000 MW
Coal
Best Environment Excellence Unit
1000 – 1500 MW
Coal
Best Environment Excellence Unit
Above 1500 MW
Lignite
Best Environment Excellence Unit
Below 125 MW
Lignite
Best Environment Excellence Unit
125 – 250 MW
Lignite
Best Environment Excellence Unit
Above 250 MW
CCGT
Best Environment Excellence Unit
Below 125 MW
CCGT
Best Environment Excellence Unit
Above 125 MW
Captive Power Plants
CPP Coal
Best Environment Excellence Unit
Below 50 MW
CPP Coal
Best Environment Excellence Unit
50 – 135 MW
CPP Coal
Best Environment Excellence Unit
Above 135 MW
CPP Lignite
Best Environment Excellence Unit
CPP CCGT
Best Environment Excellence Unit
WHR
WHR
Best Environment Excellence WHR Plant of the Year
Specialised Award Categories

Specialised Categories

Public Sector Private Sector
Best Environment Excellence IPP Coal Plant of the Year
Best Environment Excellence IPP Lignite Plant of the Year
Best Environment Excellence IPP CCGT Plant of the Year
Best Environment Excellence CPP Plant of the Year
Best Environment Excellence Team of the Year
Best Environmental Excellence Leader of the Year
Best Environmental Excellence Women Icon of The Year
Best Environment Excellence FGD Unit of the Year
Best Environment Excellence Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) Unit of the Year
Best Environment Excellence Dry Sorbent Injection (DSI) Systems Initiatives Unit of the Year
Best Environment Excellence Co-Firing Biomass & Alternative Fuels Plant of the Year
Best Environment Excellence Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Initiative Plant of the Year
Best Environment Excellence Retrofitted Units of the Year
Best Environment Excellence in Fly Ash Utilization / Disposal Plant of the Year
Best Environment Excellence ESG Initiatives / Implementation of the Year
Best Environment Excellence Environmental Sustainability Initiative Plant of the Year
Best Environment Excellence Digital Environmental Monitoring Initiative Plant of the Year
Why Nominate

Key Benefits of Nominating

Seize the platform to be recognised as a leader in environmental excellence

Showcase Achievements

Highlight your team's efforts in optimizing energy usage and setting benchmarks for industry peers.

Enhance Brand Reputation

Gain national recognition and credibility as a pioneer in energy efficiency.

Foster Innovation

Inspire your workforce and others by demonstrating successful implementation of innovative strategies.

Encourage Industry Collaboration

Engage with industry leaders, policymakers, and experts, fostering growth and sharing best practices.

Seize this opportunity to spotlight your dedication to energy efficiency and sustainability. A nomination is not just an acknowledgment but a step toward building a greener and more efficient future.

Take the First Step Towards Recognition Today!

Key Dates

Step 01
1st April 2026
Nomination Opens
Step 02
11th June 2026
Nomination Closes
Step 03
12th June 2026
Evaluation Process Starts
Step 04
29th June 2026
Awards Ceremony
CEE 5th National Power-Gen Environment Excellence Awards 2025

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
Step 01
📄

Online Registration

To participate as Delegates, nominate for Awards, or be a Speaker, fill and submit the online form from the links above.

Step 02
🧾

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.

Step 03

Make Payment

Make online payment via our secured payment gateway using your Credit Card, Bank Transfer, or send Cheque/DD to our postal address.

Delegate Registration
Award Nomination
Speaker Registration

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 at +91 98214 19110 for assistance.
Partnership Tiers

Sponsorship Packages

Platinum
₹6,00,000
USD 8,000
Diamond
₹5,00,000
USD 7,000
Gold
₹4,00,000
USD 6,000
Silver
₹3,50,000
USD 5,000
Associate
₹2,50,000
USD 4,000
Lunch
₹2,00,000
USD 3,000
Welcome Kit
₹1,50,000
USD 2,500
Max Sponsors Permitted
1
2
3
3
3
2
4
Delegate Passes
8
6
4
4
3
3
2
Auditorium Stage Branding
Branding on Conference Website
Branding on LinkedIn
Special Announcements
Promotional Corporate Standee
Distribute Brochure in Welcome Kit
Sponsor Presentation Opportunity
1 slot · 30 min
1 slot · 30 min
Delegates List
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
Standee Acknowledging Lunch Sponsorship
Logo on Bags / Badges / Lanyard
Get in Touch

Connect With Us

Have Questions?
SV

Mr. Salim Valyani

Project Director