The thermal power plant market involves generation of electricity through combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil. Thermal power plants utilize steam-powered turbines for electricity production and involve three main steps - production of steam, transfer of steam to the turbine, and conversion of kinetic energy of steam to mechanical energy of turbine.
The Global Thermal Power Plant Market Share is estimated to be valued at US$ 1,532.34 Bn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 3.5% over the forecast period 2024 to 2031.
Key players operating in the thermal power plant market include EDF, American Electric Power Company, Inc., Siemens AG, General Electric Company, Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc., National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, ENGIE, Duke Energy Corporation, SSE, NTPC Limited, Adani Power Limited., Tata Group., Reliance Power Limited., Maharashtra State Power Generation Co. Ltd., Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), India Power Corporation Ltd., Jindal Steel & Power Limited., and NS Energy Group. Thermal power plants offer advantages such as utilizing indigenous and abundant fossil fuel resources for power generation along with low operating costs. However, thermal power plants also involve environmental issues such as air and water pollution due to emissions.
Key Takeaways
Key players analysis: EDF, American Electric Power Company, and Siemens AG are the leading players in the global thermal power plant market, owing to their extensive product portfolio and widespread geographical presence.
Growing demand: The demand for thermal power plants is growing significantly in Asia Pacific region due to rapid industrialization and urbanization. Countries like China and India are investing heavily in coal-fired power plants to meet the rising electricity needs of their economies.
Technological advancements: Various technological innovations such as ultra-supercritical plants, integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology, and carbon capture and storage are being incorporated to improve the efficiency and reduce emissions of thermal power plants.
Market Trends
Transition to cleaner fuels - With rising environmental concerns, several countries are shifting from coal to relatively cleaner natural gas and increasing the share of renewables in their power mix. This will drive demand for natural gas-fired combined cycle plants.
Renewable integration - Thermal power plants are increasingly being integrated with renewable energy sources through projects such as coal + solar, natural gas + wind to provide firm and reliable grid support. This improves the flexibility and sustainability of thermal power.
Market Opportunities
Developing nations in Asia and Africa - Countries like India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria offer lucrative opportunities for setting up new coal and gas-fired thermal power projects to fulfill their growing electricity needs.
Ramping up renewable capacity - Retrofitting existing thermal plants with Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technology and converting them to hybrid gas-coal plants can help reduce emissions substantially while leveraging existing infrastructure.
Impact of COVID-19 on Thermal Power Plant Market
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the growth of the thermal power plant market. Thermal power plants witnessed a decline in demand for power generation during the lockdowns imposed across various regions globally. With industries and commercial establishments remaining shut for prolonged periods, the demand from these sectors dropped significantly. This led to reduced plant load factors and lower utilization of existing generation capacities of thermal power plants. However, residential demand remained robust during the lockdowns as people stayed home.
Post lockdowns, as economic activities resume gradually, the demand from industrial and commercial sectors is also recovering. This is leading to improvement in plant load factors of thermal power plants. However, demand may remain below pre-COVID levels until full-fledged economic recovery. The pandemic has also accelerated the shift toward renewable energy sources. Going forward, coal power developers will need to factor in uncertainties around future demand growth and increasing preference for cleaner energy sources. Concerted efforts toward transition to cleaner fuels, energy efficiency improvement, and carbon capture technologies will be required to ensure sustained growth of the thermal power industry in the long run.
Geographical Regions with Highest Thermal Power Plant Market Value
In terms of value, the thermal power plant market is highly concentrated in Asia Pacific region. China accounts for the largest value share globally in thermal power generation due to its huge power requirements as well as substantial existing installed coal-fired generation capacity. India also contributes significantly to the Asia Pacific and global thermal power plant market value. The United States and European countries including Germany, the United Kingdom, France also have large installed thermal power capacities. However, their future additions are expected to be relatively limited compared to developing economies.
Fastest Growing Region for Thermal Power Plant Market
Africa is expected to be the fastest growing region for the thermal power plant market during the forecast period. Rapid urbanization and industrialization accompanied by rising population is driving the strong demand for power generation across African countries. To bridge the demand-supply gap, African governments are increasingly focusing on developing coal and natural gas-fired thermal power projects to boost available generating capacities. This makes the African region an attractive market for thermal power developers and equipment suppliers in coming years.
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