Neyveli Power Project in Tamil Nadu is based on which type of power generation?

Introduction / Context:
India uses a mix of hydro, thermal, nuclear and non conventional sources to generate electricity. Neyveli in Tamil Nadu is famous for its lignite deposits and the large power project that uses this resource. Exam questions frequently ask which category such projects fall into so that learners can connect specific locations with the correct energy source.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The project being discussed is the Neyveli Power Project. • Four types of power generation are listed: hydro electric, nuclear, thermal and non conventional. • We assume that the question refers to the major lignite based power stations at Neyveli.

Concept / Approach:
Neyveli has extensive deposits of lignite, which is a soft brown coal. The Neyveli Lignite Corporation operates large open cast mines and associated power plants that burn lignite to generate electricity. Burning lignite or coal to produce steam, which then drives turbines, is a classic example of thermal power generation. It is not hydro, nuclear or grouped with newer non conventional sources such as solar or wind.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Neyveli is known primarily for lignite mining and for lignite based power stations. Step 2: Understand that any power plant that burns fossil fuel such as coal, lignite or oil to produce steam is classified as a thermal power plant. Step 3: Compare this with the definitions of hydro electric, nuclear and non conventional sources and see that they do not involve lignite combustion. Step 4: Select thermal power as the correct type for the Neyveli Power Project.

Verification / Alternative check:
Energy sector summaries describe Neyveli as a major lignite based thermal power complex with several generating units feeding electricity to the southern grid. There are no references to a major hydro electric dam or nuclear reactor at Neyveli, which confirms that the project is thermal rather than another type.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (Hydro electric power) would require a large dam and reservoir to generate electricity from falling water, which is not the Neyveli setup. Option B (Nuclear power) involves nuclear reactors and uranium or other nuclear fuels and is associated with places like Kalpakkam or Kudankulam, not Neyveli lignite mines. Option D (Non conventional power) includes solar, wind, tidal and similar renewable sources, none of which describes the lignite burning Neyveli complex.

Common Pitfalls:
• Some learners confuse Neyveli with the broader list of power projects in Tamil Nadu and mistakenly associate it with nuclear installations. • Others may remember that non conventional energy is encouraged in Tamil Nadu and so guess that Neyveli is part of that category, forgetting the key word lignite.

Final Answer:
The Neyveli Power Project is a lignite based thermal power project.