SANTALDIH is a 500 MW coal power station in Jharkhand, India. It is operated by NTPC Ltd [100%]. Based on reported annual generation of 3,246 GWh, it can supply roughly 927k homes. It ranks #542 of 2,225 India power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2009, it is around 17 years old — relatively modern. In context, coal supplies about 70.8% of India's electricity; the national grid averages 670 gCO₂/kWh (26.7% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id IND0000393.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000102686; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 500 MW, SANTALDIH is below the median coal plant in India (1,000 MW). Technically it is described as subcritical. Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 74%, from 3,246 GWh of reported generation; the median for 167 coal plants in India that report generation is 54%
- Generation trend
- 3,126 GWh in 2014 and 3,246 GWh in 2018 (+4%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2015: 3,378 GWh; 2017: 2,693 GWh
- Share of India coal capacity
- less than 0.1% of 805,419 MW across 713 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 140 of 354 dated coal plants in India are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by NTPC Ltd [100%].
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a humid subtropical (dry winter) climate (Köppen Cwa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 23.6°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
This site has effectively no heating season (tropical/equatorial climate), so winter heat loss is not the driver here. The thermal concern shifts to year-round process heat and humidity/heat-driven corrosion of hot equipment.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #470 largest coal power plant of 713 in India by capacity.
India has 713 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 805,419 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Santaldih · Solar · 10 MW · Jharkhand
- RAGHUNATHPUR TPP PH-I · Coal · 1,200 MW · West Bengal
- Welspun Energy Parbahal Thermal Power Plant · Coal · 1,980 MW · West Bengal
- Adra Purulia power station · Coal · 1,320 MW · West Bengal
- Chharrah · Solar · 10 MW · West Bengal
- PANCHET · Hydro · 80 MW · West Bengal
Location
Coordinates 23.6013, 86.4666 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is SANTALDIH?
SANTALDIH is a 500 MW coal power plant in Jharkhand, India, commissioned in 2009.
How much electricity does SANTALDIH generate?
SANTALDIH generates about 3,246 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates SANTALDIH?
SANTALDIH is operated by NTPC Ltd [100%].