After developing the Fast Breeder Reactor, scientists at IGCAR will now pool their expertise to design advanced super-critical boilers for use in coal-based power plants.

The Kalpakkam-based Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) recently in this regard.

The MoU came in the wake of suggestions in this regard by Principal Scientific Adviser R Chidambaram.

"IGCAR has the capacity to design such high-temperature boilers, BHEL can manufacture these plant components while NTPC can put up such plants. The MoU will help build synergy between the three entities," IGCAR Director Baldev Raj said.

He pointed out that the IGCAR expertise of equipment design, development of materials that can operate in very high temperature has been demonstrated while developing the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR).

Raj also made a presentation on the subject at a meeting of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Union Cabinet headed by Chidambaram held in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The advanced super-critical boilers, to be designed and developed by IGCAR, will be able to operate at a pressure of 350 bar and withstand temperature of 700 degree centigrade.

Raj said he expected the project, which could cost to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore, to be realised by 2017.

He said as India aimed to generate at least 4,00,000 MW power by 2030 through coal-fired power plants it was necessary to develop advanced super-critical technologies that would be less taxing on the environment.

The super-critical boilers used by the industry today operate at 250 bar and 600 degree centigrade and are very expensive, he said adding that indigenous development of such technology will help India save on equipment costs.

IGCAR has successfully designed and developed India's first 500 MW PFBR which is being built at Kalpakkam.

IGCAR, NTPC and BHEL today signed an MoU for indigenous development of next generation of super-critical technology August 26.

The technology would have substantially higher power plant efficiency with 15-20 per cent reduction in carbon emissions.