(EnergyAsia, March 5 2012, Monday) — Japan’s Toshiba Group said an Indian subsidiary has been awarded a contract to supply three 800MW supercritical steam turbine and generator island packages for a coal-fired thermal power plant in Kudgi in India’s Karnataka state.

NTPC Limited, India’s largest state-owned energy service provider, awarded Chennai-based Toshiba JSW Turbine and Generator Pvt Ltd, the US$470 million contract for the project’s stage 1 construction.

Established in September 2008, Toshiba JSW launched its main plant facility to manufacture mid- and large-sized turbines and generators on February 12 2012. Here, the company will undertake most of its engineering, manufacturing and erection and commissioning work of the complete steam turbine and generator equipment as a prime contractor.

Toshiba said it expects to begin delivery of the equipment next year.

Underpinned by strong economic growth, the power generation equipment market in India is expected to expand by more than 16,000MW a year between 2007 and 2017, according to the Indian government’s Eleventh (2007-2012) and Twelfth (2012-2017) Five-Year Plans.

Coal-fired thermal power plants will account for over 60% of capacity growth, far surpassing other energy sources Supercritical power plants will comprise around 60% of the country’s thermal plants.

The Indian government recognises supercritical technology as a major tool for increasing generation capacity and efficiency while reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.

Toshiba JSW said it will mainly manufacture steam turbines and generators from 500 to 1,000 MW in scale, targeting both the domestic and export markets.