Scheme for Promotion of Wind Projects continued; registration process with IREDA for GBI Scheme started...

 

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has conveyed the President of India's sanction for continuation of the "Scheme for Promotion of Grid Interactive Power Generation Projects based on Renewable Energy Technologies for Wind Power projects" during 12th Five Year Plan.

According to the Ministry's notification to various State Nodal Department/Agencies and other implementing agencies, the scheme shall be implemented during 2012-17 as per the norms/guidelines and other provisions which were applicable during 2011-12.

In this regard, the Ministry states that it will continue to provide financial support for carrying out Wind Resource Assessment, organization of seminars/ symposiums/ workshop/ training programme, strengthening of technical institutions, testing facilities, engaging consultants, etc. on a case-by-case basis.

In light of this sanction for continuation of this scheme by the President, MNRE is requesting all SNAs to take up projects for implementation as per the guidelines of 2006-07 till further communication.

It may be noted that the scheme for Promotion of Grid Interactive Power Generation Projects based on Renewable Energy Sources started implementation in 2006-07.

Also, in a separate development IREDA has started the registration process for the "Extension Wind GBI Scheme" for the 12 plan ie. (2012-17) which was extended by MNRE vide its notification dated 04/09/2013.

Under the "Extension Wind GBI Scheme"

• a Generation Based Incentive (GBI) will be provided to wind electricity producers @ Re. 0.50 per unit of electricity fed into the grid for a period not less than 4 years and a maximum period of 10 years with a cap of Rs. 100 Lakhs per MW.
• The total disbursement in a year will not exceed one fourth of the maximum limit of the incentive i.e. Rs. 25.00 Lakhs per MW during first four years. The GBI scheme will be applicable for entire 12th plan period having a target of 15,000 MW.
• GBI would be available for wind turbines commissioned on or after 01.04.2012 and for entire 12th plan period and shall be governed by the guidelines.
• The incentive would be available for grid connected wind power projects set up for sale of electricity to the grid, at a tariff notified by SERC and /or State Govt. and also for Captive Wind Power Projects including Group Captive to the extent of sale of electricity to the grid only.
• Exclusion: GBI would not be available to any wind power project selling power to third party, (viz. merchant power plants).

 

---

• The complete operational guidelines for the GBI Scheme can be viewed here.
• The link for registration with IREDA for the GBI Scheme can be accessed here.

---

Read More...

Andhra Net Metering Policy for Solar Power attracts people to go for rooftop solar...

 

The state government’s sops to single phase users, under the net metering scheme, is attracting more people take to solar power units.
 
Net metering is a power policy that allows solar energy consumers to supply surplus power to the grid, which is now gaining popularity.
 
The EPDCL has introduced net metering in the city as an attempt to encourage solar power production in the state. But, then the government had announced benefits only to three phase users and not may were attracted to the move.
 
Subsequently, the government altered the policy and annouced subsidy to single phase users as well. They can avail the subsidy by installing solar photo voltaic units of up to 3 KW capacity on the roofs. Further, the discom has decided to bear 50 per cent of expenditure of the systems that are installed before March 31.
 
“We are receiving good response after applying the policy to single phase users,” said a senior discom official. He said the state had agreed to provide 20 per cent subsidy for installation of roof top system of up to 3 KW capacity in domestic sector, vide GO. MS nos 22 & 27, in addition to 30 per cent central subsidy.
 
The EPDCL had also designed a project for 194 tribal hamlets for the benefit of tribals. Panels with power generation capacity of 210 KW will be installed in each tribal hamlet, identified under the project, depending on the requirement, an official said.
 
The project is expected to take off next month and it would continue to be in force till December next year.

Source

Read More...

NTPC, Gail hire Deloitte to work out Dabhol revival plan...

 

Taking note of the operational mess and heavy defaults to leading lenders, including ICICI Bank, State Bank of India (SBI) and others, the operator of the beleaguered Dabhol power project — Ratnagiri Gas and Power Pvt Ltd (RGPPL), being promoted jointly by state-owned NTPC Ltd and Gail (India) Ltd, has hired global consulting firm Deloitte to work out a new business plan for effective functioning of the plant, currently lying idle due to dwindling gas supplies.

“Banks with a heavy exposure in gas-based projects, especially the Dabhol power project, have expressed serious concerns on viability and we need to address the fuel issue immediately,” Rajiv Takru, financial services secretary, told HT.

Shortfall in supply of domestic gas has sharply affected the plant’s operational and financial performance as its entire capacity of 1967 mw is currently stranded due to lack of domestic gas supply.

“RGPPL has engaged Deloitte as consultant for conception of a business plan in view of current gas shortfall scenario and other associated issues,” said a senior company official..

RGPPL has a debt of Rs. 9,000 crore and has defaulted in its debt servicing obligation in September, October and November 2013,” said a senior government official. “This is worrisome as the default has happened the first time after the project’s restructuring in 2009.”

If operations are not resumed and unless payments are made, there is a possibility of the project to be classified as a non-performing asset. RGPPL’s outstanding dues have ballooned to Rs. 1,017.64 crore as on November 25.

“The viability of RGPPL depends on viability of its power and LNG business on a standalone basis,” the official said.

Source

Read More...

AP Genco Asks ERC to Hike Tariff by 4 p.c....

 

APGenco wanted four per cent escalation in its tariff for the years 2009-14. APGenco’s tariff is for the power to be supplied by the generation corporation to the Discoms. Though the power purchase agreement pertained to 2009 to 2014, the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) did not convene public hearing all these five years.

The tariff is about to expire in March next and the APERC held a public hearing here on Friday, a few months before the PPA gets lapsed.

Presenting the Genco’s argument, managing director K Vijayanand wanted the ERC to fix the tariff with four per cent escalation. He said that ERC was allowing 5.72 per cent escalation on operation and maintenance.

Vijayanand further said that the pay revision commitment should be considered while fixing the tariff for 2009-14. However, the Discoms collected the electricity charges from the consumers for the same period. If the Genco’s tariff order was finalised by the ERC, then the over and above tariff collected by Discoms would be collected from consumers in the subsequent bills.

Vijayananda also said that the capital cost of several projects has gone up due to various reasons.  The capital cost was increased against the original estimate for RTPP stage-2, NTTPS-4, KTPP-1, Priyadarshini Jurala, Pochampad and others. The cost escalation should also be taken into consideration.

Raising objections to this, farmers’ leader Cherukuri Venugopala Rao demanded that those who lost lands for the construction of thermal power stations should be given jobs. He alleged that the thermal power stations were not following the guidelines and fly ash became a major problem.

Power expert Venugopal said that it was ridiculous to conduct a public hearing on the tariff for 2009-14 now. The tariff order should not be fixed for five years and it should be fixed for 35 years as per the PPAs. He wanted the government to accord priority for the APGenco in allotting fuel and also sanctioning new projects. The APERC would announce its tariff order soon.

NEW TARIFF: Meanwhile, the APERC extended the time for Discoms to file ARRs before December 10. The Discoms will file ARRs every year to fix the retail tariff to be collected from power consumers. As there was no fuel surcharge adjustment (FSA) now, the tariff may be increased considerably, sources said.

Source

Read More...