|
Green energy attracts global players
21 November 2008, Financial Express
Notwithstanding the ongoing global meltdown, Deutsche Bank
and BP are bullish on investment opportunities in India's
renewable sector. Both Deutsche Bank and BP assert that
though there may be financial problems in the short term,
the situation will be quite comfortable in medium and long
term for India's renewable sector. The intentions of
Deutsche Bank and BP are quite crucial when the Centre has
projected an investment of Rs 1,25,000 crore ($26 billion)
in the renewable sector during the 11th Five Year Plan to
add 14,000 mw to 20,000 mw .
New modelling systems help tap the potential of hydro power
18 November 2008, Financial Express
Keeping in view the problems associated with large hydro
projects, the government plans to promote small hydropower
projects under the Union ministry for new & renewable
energy. Such projects also help decentralise power
generation and distribution. Hydropower generation depends
on the availability of surface water, which ultimately
depends upon rainfall. Climate change has posed a problem of
erratic rainfall. It has also become a threat, signalling
the gradual drying up of glaciers, which feed perennial
rivers. Small hydro projects would also lead to the
diversion of water from agriculture, drinking and household
uses in rural areas. According to the government, the
potential of small hydro projects is estimated at 14,294 mw,
but their cumulative power generation up to December 2007
was only 2,045 mw. Across the country, 5,403 potential sites
for small hydro projects have been identified, of which 607
have seen installations generating 2,013 mw. Another 216
projects with a capacity of 612 mw are under implementation.
The Alternate Hydro Energy Centre (AHEC), in collaboration
with the UK's Centre of Ecology & Hydrology, has developed
software to assess the hydrology of potential project sites.
A resource assessment for all renewable energy sources,
including small hydro projects, and mapping of potential
sites on the GIS platform are underway. Models have been
developed that take into account regional flow duration
curves, geological and seismological data, and vegetation
cover for identification of potential sites. The GIS
technique is used to extract information on natural drops
available in the river system. The water availability at
these sites is then determined using a distributed rainfall
runoff model called a soil & water assessment tool. The
model uses terrain features, land use and soil data along
with rainfall and other meteorological parameters to
generate the flow time series. This model has been
successfully tested on the Beas river basin and is being
applied to other basins. AHEC and IIT Roorkee are assessing
standards, guidelines and manuals on hydropower developed by
international and national bodies. At present, back-ended
subsidy for small hydro projects is released on the basis of
verification against the standards set by the International
Electrotechnical Commission. AHEC and IIT Roorkee test the
projects commissioned for their performance. Some 19 states
have announced policies for setting up commercial small
hydro projects through private sector participation. The
facilities include wheeling of power generated, banking, and
power buyback for third-party sale. India has a strong base
for the manufacture of small hydro project equipment. Indian
manufacturers have international tie-ups and technical
collaborations to produce a range of turbines, generators
and control equipment. Water wheels have been traditionally
used in the Himalayan region for rice hulling, milling of
grain and for other mechanical applications. Improved
versions of water wheels have been developed for power
generation of 3-5 mw. The equipment used in SHPs is now more
efficient, reliable and automatic. Electronic governors have
replaced the mechanical systems, and digital controls have
replaced analogue ones so that projects are completely
azutomated. There is now the need to improve civil design
and hydraulic structures. Attention is being paid to the
development of efficient desilting structures, self-cleaning
water intakes and trash racks.
US banks still ready to fund green energy
15 November 2008, Financial Express
Even as the credit crunch worldwide is paralysing many
businesses globally and the US is worst hit, the banks in
the US are standing by their commitments of funding green
energy projects. Astonfield Renewable Resources Ltd (ARRL),
a member of the US-based Astonfield Group, is relying on
American credits to fund the projects in India. Sourabh Sen,
co-chairman, ARRL, said: "The Exim Bank of America, Bank of
America and the Citi Group are standing by their commitments
to fund our projects. Although the Citi Group has been hit
by the mortage loan crisis, it wants to target green energy
for business." The group is eyeing solar power since its
gestation time is very low, only nine months, as compared
with thermal power's 7 years. ARRL is looking to implement
green energy projects adding up to 200 mw in India and is so
far clear about implementing projects with a total capacity
of 100 mw. "We hope to end 2008 with over 200 mw of
allocations solidified," Sen said. ARRL got its first
renewable energy allotments from Bengal, 10 mw biomass, 5 mw
solar PV and 1 mw manure, to the power sector. Recently, the
Haryana government has issued a letter of intent to ARRL for
setting up a 5 mw solar power project with 3 mw in the first
and the rest in the second phase. The Karnataka government
on Friday awarded Astonfield a 10 mw solar power project and
has shown interest to work closely with the company for huge
solar power capacities in the state.
IREDA gives green energy a Rs 17,000 crore push
14 November 2008, Indian Business Insight
The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a
Government of India enterprise, will invest Rs17,000 crore
to fund renewable energy projects in the country during the
Eleventh Plan period of 2007-2012. About 70 percent of the
amount will be used to fund wind energy projects, while the
remaining 30 percent will fund solar, biomass and hydropower
projects. IREDA is currently in negotiations with several
international lenders, including KfW Germany, European
Investment Bank and Nordic Bank, to borrow funds to finance
the projects.
L&T goes green, plans to enter solar power generation
business
14 November 2008, Mint
Engineering and construction company Larsen and Toubro Ltd
(L&T) plans to enter solar power generation and expand its
offering in the green energy technology business that
includes nuclear and hydel power. L&T is in talks with two
firms to make machinery for solar panels. Lately,
environment-friendly energy technology has attracted firms
including Wipro Ltd, Tata BP Solar India Ltd and Reliance
Industries Ltd.
Dirty coal to remain world's top power source, says IEA
12 November 2008, Reuters News
Coal, the dirtiest source of fuel, will remain the world's
main source of power until 2030 and nuclear will lose market
share, the International Energy Agency said recently.
Expectations of slower economic growth have led the IEA to
downgrade its 2030 world electricity demand forecast to
23,141 terawatt hours (TWh), but the share of coal generated
power would rise to 44 percent by 2015 from 41 percent in
2006.
Haryana set to add 5,000 MW at Rs 25k-crore investment
29 October 2008, Business Standard
The state of Haryana is planning to add 5000 Mega Watt (MW)
of power by 2012 to the current capacity of 4,600 MW through
conventional power. The additional capacity will require
around Rs 25,000 crore investment, according to a senior
representative from the state government. The state is also
planning to increase the renewable energy contribution to 10
per cent in the state, for which the agency had signed six
memorandum of understandings for setting up various
renewable energy projects with a total capacity of 714.8 MW.
This would bring investments to the tune of around Rs 240
crore before December 2009.
Hong Kong's CLP to develop 113-MW Indian wind farm
27 October 2008, Renewable Energy Report
China's CLP Group plans to develop a $160 million, 113.6-MW
wind farm in the western Indian state in Maharashtra, making
it the largest wind project undertaken by the group. Hong
Kong-based CLP said in a statement that the new Andhra Lake
project would increase CLP's renewable energy portfolio to
more than 1 GW. CLP, which has developed renewable energy
projects elsewhere in India as well as in China and
Australia, said it has signed an agreement with Enercon
India to supply the wind turbines. Construction on the
project is expected to start toward the end of 2009 and be
completed by July 2010. CLP other projects in India include
developing a 50.4-MW wind farm in Maharashtra, a 100.8-MW
wind farm in Gujarat and an 82.4-MW wind project in
Karnataka.
Govt plans more incentives to boost wind, solar energy
generation
17 October 2008, Financial Express
The ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) which had
introduced generation-based incentive scheme for a maximum
of 49 mw for wind power and 50 mw for solar energy is now
planning to remove ceilings to unlock the full potential of
renewable energy in the country. Deepak Gupta, secretary
MNRE told the International Congress on Renewable Energy (ICORE
2008), organised by the Solar Society of India (SESI), that
the government was planning to scale up the generation-based
incentive scheme for renewable energy generation. He said
plant load factor (PLF) would be the guiding principle for
future incentives. The ministry has plans to attract large
investments in the wind energy sector from independent power
producers by offering a generation-based incentive. It would
be a boon to the investors who would not be able to avail of
the accelerated depreciation benefit. However, the
incentive was fixed at 0.50 paise a unit and the total power
production eligible for this was only 49 mw a year. Now the
ministry wants to lift this ceiling and offer incentives
without limit to boost wind energy generation. The proposal
is with the Planning Commission. In order to develop and
showcase the technical viability and performance of grid
interactive solar power, MNRE had announced a programme in
January 2008 to support a total of 50 mw of grid connected
solar photovoltaic power and solar thermal power. The limit
for an individual State was a maximum of 10 mw. MNRE, under
the programme , offered to give a generation-based incentive
of Rs12 per unit of solar photovoltaic power and Rs 10 a
unit for solar thermal power. This was in addition to the
tariff rate the state utilities were to give. Gupta said the
ministry was planning to lift this 50 mw ceiling to make the
investors and states to think big and go for greater
capacity installations. The solar mission has been working
out a framework for creating facilities to generate 1,000 mw
from solar energy in the next decade. MNRE also wanted to
develop at least 60 green cities in the country with green
buildings generating their own electricity, homes with solar
power and water heaters, municipal corporations that produce
electricity from all sources and convert waste to energy, he
said.
Suzlon targets India, China for green power investments
13 October 2008, Renewable Energy Report
India's Suzlon Green Power Ltd plans to develop renewable
energy projects totaling 3.5 GW at a cost of $5 billion in
China and India, the company said September 24. The company
is owned by Tulsi R. Tanti, who also owns wind turbine maker
Suzlon Energy. "Our flagship business Suzlon Energy
continues to focus on developing wind power, offering wind
turbines to the global market. On the other hand, we now
commit to developing and owning green power assets through
Suzlon Green, which will bring energy where it is needed
most," Tanti said. "Suzlon Green's business model will offer
us an asset-based long-term annuity income while mitigating
the challenge of global warming. It also adds greater
vertical integration to our holdings, building the value of
our businesses in the long term." Tanti said Suzlon Green
plans to buy existing renewable energy projects and also
join with non-governmental organizations for developing
green power projects.
First tidal power plant to be set up in West Bengal
12 October 2008, UNI (United News of India)
National Hydro-electric Power Corporation (NHPC) and West
Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA) will
jointly set up India`s first tidal power plant on Durgaduani
Creek in the Sunderbans at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore.
Official sources said the Centre has agreed to bear 90 per
cent of the total cost, with the rest being provided by the
State Government. The NHPC, which has been roped in as the
project implementing agency, will execute the process on a
turnkey method. The project is expected to be commissioned
by 2010, the sources said. The sources maintained that the
eco-friendly project, with a capacity to generate around
four MW, will electrify villages in Gosaba area of South 24
Parganas, benefitting around one lakh dwellers. The WBREDA
completed the Detailed Project Report (DPR) in 2002, while
the environmental study was over in 2004. The study covered
several aspects relating to the impact on physical,
biological and human such as topography, hydrology, water
and air quality, forest and vegetation, fauna, aquatic
ecology, rehabilitation, services, health and education.
Based on the study, environmental clearance was sought for
the project. The project comprises two barrages to be built
across the upstream and downstream ends of the Durgaduani
creek which runs between the Gosaba and Bali-Bijoynagar
islands and connects Bidyadhari and Gomti rivers. Apart from
these projects, the WBREDA will also set up a wind farm with
a generation capacity of around 50 MW at Dadanpatra near
Contai. ''The vast energy potential of the seas and oceans,
which cover about 3/4th of our planet, can make a
significant contribution to meet our energy requirement,''
the sources said, adding that various forms of energy from
the seas and oceans which are receiving attention at present
are tidal power, waves and ocean currents. The sources
further maintained that realisation of power from oceans is
limited due to technological gaps and limited resources. At
present, only tides can be harnessed for power generation.
In India, the Gulf of Kutchh and Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat
and the Gangetic delta of Sunderbans in West Bengal are
potential sites for generating tidal power, the sources
said.
Tata plans geothermal plant in Chhattisgarh
5 October 2008, Business Today
Tata Power Company has the wind and the sun in its hair and
is also getting steamed up by ideas of pouring water on hot
rocks to get free electricity as it eyes global ambitions
based on clean power. The company is evaluating setting up
of a geothermal unit in Chhattisgarh. The company has its
eyes on rock formations in states like Chhattisgarh and is
keen to bring in technology from Geodynamics to India. The
investment needed is around Rs 10-14 crore per megawatt.
Berkeley Lab and University of California announce India
Energy R&D Program
3 October 2008, Ascribe News
U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California,
Berkeley have announced a joint research and development
program in which researchers will work with the government
and private sector of India to develop paths toward reducing
the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) while maintaining
sustained economic growth. The Berkeley-India Joint
Leadership on Energy and the Environment (BIJLEE) will bring
together researchers from Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley,
including its College of Engineering, and other U.S. and
Indian universities, institutions, and corporations to
develop energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies.
At the same time, BIJLEE will address the policy innovations
needed to transfer these technologies to the marketplace,
with the goal of combating climate change and promoting
economic growth with solutions that are appropriate to
India. BIJLEE's collaborative, outcome-oriented research
will come from Berkeley Lab, the College of Engineering, and
a new center in India.
CLP Group to develop 113.6MW wind farm in India
2 October 2008, Datamonitor News
Hong Kong-based CLP Group has announced that it will develop
its fourth wind farm in India after entering an agreement to
develop a 113.6MW wind farm in the western state of
Maharashtra in India. The Andhra Lake project will increase
CLP's renewable energy portfolio to over 1,000MW. CLP Wind
Farms (India) Private Limited, the group's subsidiary in
India, has entered into an agreement with wind turbine
manufacturer Enercon (India) Limited to develop the
green-field project, which will cost more than $160 million.
Construction is planned to commence at the end of 2009 and
the project is expected to be completed by end-July 2010.
The wind farm will involve the building of 142 wind turbines
of 800kW capacity each.
Indo-Japan deal on green energy to be finalised soon
1 October 2008, Financial Express
Even as India awaits the US Senate's nod for the Indo-US
nuclear deal, the country is close to finalising an energy
deal with Japan for cooperation in specific projects in the
energy sector, mainly to develop clean energy technologies
and tap renewable energy sources. The deal is likely to be
sealed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's upcoming visit
to Tokyo . The energy cooperation will be done through
exchange of experts and capacity building, as well as
through the participation of Japanese companies in the power
sector in India. Cooperation in the energy sector will be of
a comprehensive nature, involving the government as well as
industry. Japan will specifically assist India in reducing
energy consumption in 15 identified energy-intensive sectors
through energy audits and adopting reduced energy
consumption norms.
Ambuja employs new tech at Ropar plant
1 October 2008, Financial Express
Leading cement producer Ambuja Cements Limited has developed
a technology to operate on coal and a wide variety of
biomass which reduces carbon dioxide emissions (CO2)
significantly at its multi biomass co-fired captive power
plant at Ropar and intends to extend this technology in its
other plants spread across the country. The 30 mw captive
power plant at Ropar which was commissioned in 2004 uses
agricultural waste for power generation. The plant is
presently using 24 types of biomass at the plant.
Use green energy to cut emissions, UNIDO tells India
30 September 2008, Financial Express
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido)
has said that India should shift from coal-based thermal
power plants to renewable energy-based power plants using
solar, wind or hydro power to avert the adverse effects of
climate change. Experts in Unido have said that even the
estimated cost of generating power from renewable
energy-based power plants is much less at around $1.75
million per megawatt of installed capacity, than the
investments required for coal-based power plants. Per the
experts, if 20% of the capacity expansion foreseen in the 11
th Five-Year Plan is shifted from coal to renewable energy,
India will be able to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (CO2)
by over 60 million tons per year, thereby helping contain
the tide of climate change.
Suzlon Green Power Commits USD5 Billion To Renewable Energy
In China And India
29 September 2008, China CSR
Suzlon Green Power, an enterprise wholly owned by India's
Tanti family, announced at the 2008 Clinton Global
Initiative that it will bring 3,500 megawatts of electricity
to nearly 10 million people. Suzlon pledged USD5 billion in
green energy assets over five years, primarily in India and
China. Of the USD5 billion total project value, Suzlon Green
Power will provide approximately USD1.5 billion in equity.
Tanti's efforts are global, with a majority of Suzlon Green
Power's projects to be located in India and China,
two areas with burgeoning energy needs. The company
estimates that its projects will create 1,000 jobs directly
and many times more indirectly, and will reduce emissions by
the equivalent of seven million tons of CO2 a year.
BPCL JV to invest $480 million in biodiesel
24 September 2008, Reuters News
A joint venture of India's Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL)
will invest 22 billion rupees ($480 million) to produce
biodiesel in about four years. Bharat Renewable Energy Ltd,
in which two other firms also own stakes, will initially
grow jatropha plants on one million hectares of wasteland in
the northern state of Uttar Pradesh to produce biodiesel.
State-run refiner BPCL is also considering similar projects
in other parts of the country, Sinha told the newspaper.
Nuclear power to be a part of India’s integrated energy
policy
22 September 2008, Asia Pulse
India's Planning Commission will move Cabinet in October for
approval of an Integrated Energy Policy that will include
nuclear power as part of efforts to fuel the growing
economy. Chairing a recent meeting of the Planning
Commission, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reviewed the draft
Integrated Energy Policy and emphasised that appropriate
energy pricing was must to promote investment in augmenting
supplies. The draft also suggested setting up of common
appellate tribunal along with sector-specific regulatory
bodies. The draft policy also emphasised the need for
acquisition of energy assets abroad to meet the growing
demand to achieve the target of 9 per cent economic growth.
Geothermal energy firm completes exploration work in Andhra
18 September 2008, The Press Trust of India Limited
GeoSyndicate Power Private Ltd has completed the exploration
work in Andhra Pradesh geothermal field jointly with
Australia's Panx Geothermal. The Indian geothermal energy
company would soon start work on a deep exploration well to
assess the actual potential of the field, a top company
executive said today. GRP is also looking forward to the
forthcoming bids from Centre for Renewable Energy
Development Agency (CREDA) to develop the Chhattisgarh
geothermal field in collaboration with Tata Energy. The
company is exploring options to acquire geothermal assets in
East Africa and Central America to develop low enthalpy
(heat) geothermal resources.
Govt. acquires 2,000 hectares for renewable energy SEZ
17 September 2008, The Press Trust of India Limited
Government today said it has acquired 2,000 hectares of land
to develop a special economic zone for renewable energy in
Nagpur, which would become operational within 2-3 years.
This SEZ is being developed by the Maharastra Industrial
Development Corporation (MIDC) and Indian Renewable Energy
Development Agency (IREDA). A European firm is understood to
have committed investment worth 3.71 billion euros (Rs
22,000 crore) in the SEZ.
EC Commission sets up $11 million business centre in India
12 September 2008, Asia Pulse
The European Commission (EC) has launched a US$11 million
European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC) in New Dehli,
aimed at enhancing business and technology corporation
between India and the 27-member bloc. The centre
would commence operations from October 1 and would primarily
focus on sectors like the environment (clean development
mechanism, chemicals, water and waste management),
transport, energy (renewable energy, energy efficiency and
clean coal), biotechnology and climate change. The initial
budget of EBTC is over 8 million euro (US$11 million) of
which the EU would contribute 6.6 million euro. Another 5
million euro is expected from the EU budget in the next few
months.
Sensex zooms due to NSG clearance
9 September 2008, Indian Express
The Dalal Street surged on Monday (8 September) after the
Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) lifted a 34-year-old embargo on
nuclear trade with India. The BSE 30-share Sensex jumped 461
points or 3.18 per cent at 14,944.97. Strong Asian and
European markets also supported domestic bourses.
Tata buys into Geodynamics
7
September 2008, The Australian
Tata Power, in a bid to strengthen its renewable energy
portfolio, has acquired (either by itself or through one or
more of its subsidiaries in India or abroad) 29.4 million
ordinary shares of Geodynamics Ltd, a listed Australia-based
organisation specialising in geothermal energy and enhanced
geothermal systems (EGS), representing 11.4% of the current
issued share capital (equivalent to 10% of the increased
share capital after allotment by Geodynamics). The shares
will be acquired by Tata Power at an issued price of $1.50
per share, entailing a total investment of $44.1 million in
absolute terms. As part of the investment, Tata Power will
also get a directorship on the board of Geodynamics. In
addition to the cornerstone investment above, the companies
have agreed to review the potential of geothermal prospects
outside Australia by leveraging the companies' respective
strengths.
Nagpur to house India's biggest solar thermal plant
4
September 2008, The Economic Times
Nagpur will soon have a 10-mw solar thermal power plant. The
proposed solar plant will be one of the country's biggest in
this category and is an initiative of Union minister for new
and renewable energy Vilas Muttemwar, who is from
Nagpur. Mr Muttemwar is the lone Congress MP from all of
Vidarbha.
|
