Gamesa wins order to set up 50MW wind farm for Green Infra...

 

Gamesa Wind Turbines has won an order to supply wind turbines and set up a 50MW wind power project for Green Infra, an independent power producer backed by IDFC Private Equity.

Under this contract, Gamesa would set up 25 units of 2MW turbines at Kosegaon, Maharashtra. The project is scheduled to be complete in two phases. Gamesa would develop the site.

It would supply, commission, operate and maintain the turbines for a period of 10 years, a statement from the company said.

"We are happy that Green Infra has joined the customer base of Gamesa India. This business deal comes at a time when the wind industry is poised to bounce back in the light of the government announcing restoration of generation based incentive scheme (GBI)" to the wind industry, Ramesh Kymal, chairman and managing director, Gamesa India, said.

Gamesa recently won orders to set up a 46MW wind power project for ITC Paperboards and Specialty Papers Division and two projects for Greenko and CLP India, totalling 230MW with an option to further supply 200MW to Greenko, and all are set to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2014.

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Government shortlists 14 Discoms for smart grid pilot projects worth Rs. 200 Crores...

 

 

The government today said it has shortlisted 14 power distribution utilities for undertaking smart grid pilot projects entailing Rs 200 crore.

Aimed at benefiting consumers, the smart grid utilises digital technology that allows for 2-way communication between the utility and its customers, as well as monitoring of the transmission lines for efficient use of electricity.

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Coal India’s tender for Rs. 3,000 crore coal import project fails to attract participants...

 

State-owned Coal India Ltd’s tender seeking to appoint a vendor for a Rs. 3,000 crore project to import five million tonnes (mt) of coal to help make up for India’s short supply has failed to attract any participants, a top executive said on Tuesday.

The deadline for the tender was 11am on Tuesday.

“There is no participation in the tender till now (1430 hours India time)… We will wait till the end of the day (to see if there are any applicants),” said the official, who is close to the tendering process but declined to be named. “It is too early to say what the reason is. It will have to be analysed.”

Coal India, the world’s largest coal mining company, floated a tender on 15 November for selecting a vendor via competitive bidding to supply imported coal as its own production of about 482 mt (target in the year to March) is below India’s demand of over 600 mt a year.

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Raymond Wins National Energy Conservation Award 2013...

 

Raymond Limited, marketer and retailer of suiting fabrics, today said it has been conferred with National Energy Conservation Award by President Pranab Mukherjee for its Vapi manufacturing plant in Gujarat.

"Raymond was awarded this feat for an energy conservation programme undertaken by its Vapi manufacturing plant in Gujarat," the company said in a statement.

The award was presented by President Pranab Mukherjee to Raymond Limited. Union Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia was also present at the event.

The Raymond Vapi manufacturing plant achieved a commendable feat of saving of 30.23 lakh units of electrical energy in the last one year, the statement said.

"We have always been committed towards energy conservation and continue to make efforts in implementing innovative ideas to conserve energy," Harish Chatterjee, Vice President, Manufacturing, Textile Division at Raymond Limited said in the statement.

The company has facilities in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh and Jalgaon, Thane in Maharashtra.

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WBPDCL puts coal import on hold...

 

State-owned power producer West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) has decided to put imported coal on hold for its five thermal power plants.

"The recent board meeting has agreed to put coal import on hold from fiscal 2014-15 and focus on domestic supplies from Coal India and captive sources," a senior WBPDCL official said.

"We have decided not to import in normal circumstances.

But it is not banned, we will consider if situation demands," he added.

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GDF Suez picks up 74% stake in Meenakshi Group’s 700 MW AP Thermal power plant...

 

The Meenakshi Group has sold its 74 per cent stake in a thermal power project in Andhra Pradesh to energy major GDF Suez of France.

Hyderabad-based Meenakshi Energy and Infrastructure Holdings Pvt Ltd (MEIHPL), which is part of the Meenakshi Group, will retain 26 per cent in the project. MEPL comprises 300 MW of operational capacity and 700 MW under construction at Krishnapatnam port in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.

The Meenakshi Group believes that the partnership with GDF SUEZ will be mutually beneficial. The size of GDF SUEZ’s global portfolio will allow MEPL to benefit from a broad multi-disciplinary expertise and to take leverage from GDF SUEZ’s strong global governance. It is expected to provide a stable and solid framework that creates consistency and builds trust for stakeholders.

KPMG India acted as exclusive financial advisors for Meenakshi Group on this transaction.

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IFC Offers Odisha Government to support the formulation of State specific Renewable Energy Policy...

 

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has offered to support the State Government in formulation of  State-specific renewable energy policy with focus on solar and small hydro power. The IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has also extended support in formulating regulation for an accounting framework for small grid-connected renewable energy.

The international funding agency will facilitate private sector transaction leading to investments in renewable energy to achieve energy efficiency, programme manager of IFC Investment Climate Advisory Service Dhruba Purkayastha said in a letter to the Energy department.

The IFC officer has requested the State Government to make necessary amendments in the mutual agreement for incorporating these scope of works.

The State Government has launched Odisha inclusive growth partnership programme under cooperation agreement with the IFC.

Through a three-year partnership, the IFC is working with the Government to streamline regulation for investment, identify areas for improvement and tap  opportunities in the private sector.

The State Government has recently approved a proposal for installation of solar panels on rooftops of all government establishments in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack  under public-private partnership (PPP) mode. It has also directed the implementing agency to sign agreements with the IFC for the purpose.

Intimating the Government approval to  Odisha Hydro Power Corporation Ltd (OHPC), the Energy department has asked the State PSU to take necessary steps for signing  the agreement between Green Energy Development Corporation (GEDCOL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of OHPC and IFC for project financing. The solar project is aimed at reducing ever-increasing power bills in Government offices.

The other areas identified under the cooperation agreement include agri-business which aims to facilitate investments in food processing and warehousing, storage and cold chain facilities.

In agri-business, the IFC will enhance its focus on increasing rural incomes, building a commercial agriculture base for food security, creating sustainable farming opportunities and diversifying exports, official sources said.

The State Government has also sought assistance of the overseas funding agency to identify areas of tourism potential to develop them as tourism destination.

While in working areas of financial inclusion, the IFC will assist the State in streamlining the tax structure.

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Chemtrols Solar's 1 MW PV-Diesel Hybrid Solar Power Plant Wins InterSolar Award 2013...

 

India’s largest solar company has won the Intersolar Award 2013 for the Best MW Scale Project in India for the 1 MW PV-Diesel Hybrid Power Plant installed on the roof of the Spinning Mill of Alpine Knits at Palladum in Tirupur. This Grid-Connected Solar power plant has the distinction of having a unique DG synchronization capability, the first of its kind in India, and only the second in the World.

The 1 MW Solar plant was designed, engineered and constructed on a turnkey basis by Chemtrols Solar Private Limited, headquartered in Mumbai.

The 2013 prizes in the category “Solar Projects in India” were presented in an official ceremony during the recent Intersolar India at Mumbai. Intersolar – a two decade old German Organisation, is the world’s leading exhibition & conference series for the global solar industry and its partners, with events spanning four continents – Asia, Europe, North America and South America.

Commenting on this win, Mr. Anish Rajgopal, Director, Chemtrols Solar Pvt Ltd says, “The Alpine Knits project is a very unique and first-of-its-kind project that has resulted in large savings for its owner. Its more than satisfactory performance has already encouraged many more textile units in this area to opt for this solution. I am glad that Chemtrols Solar has been able to initiate a credible energy solution successfully.”

Shortage of power has been the major grievance of the Textile Industry in Tamil Nadu. Power accounts for about 30% of the total cost of production in a spinning mill. The textile industry in Tirupur has been crippled by power shortage since many years.

The Rooftop Solar plant synchronizes with the incoming 11KV utility grid and provides energy to the spinning mill for captive consumption during daytime. Importantly, even when the utility grid is not available during frequent power cuts, this solar plant has the capability to synchronize with the in-house 1.25MVA Diesel Generator to provide up to 65% of the energy required by the Alpine Knits factory. Using the unique ‘Fuel Saver’ developed by SMA Solar Technology AG of Germany.

Alpine Knits not only saves diesel and avails of accelerated depreciation benefits but also earns RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) that can be traded at the designated Power Exchanges in Delhi or Mumbai within a price band of Rs 9300 to Rs 13400 per REC, the price band mandated by CERC until March 2017. Alpine gets one REC for every 1000 units (KWH) of electricity produced by the Solar Power plant, the sale of which is estimated to result in an additional revenue of about Rs 2 crores per year.

About Chemtrols Solar:

Chemtrols Solar is a part of the 38 year old Chemtrols Group of Mumbai, a diversified group with interests in Process Control Instrumentation & Automation, Manufacturing and Solar Energy. Chemtrols Solar has over the past few years established itself as an innovative reliable & quality EPC services provider for PV power plants, and plans to execute projects to the tune of 50 MW in the year 2013. The company also offers various Off-Grid solutions for Rooftops, Telecom Towers, Off-Shore Platforms, Pipelines (For Cathodic Protection & Telemetry) and Rural Village Electrification.

To view the photographs, please click on the link given below

Anish Rajgopal – Director & Sharad Saxena – CEO of Chemtrols Solar with Intersolar Award 2013 for 1 MW PV-Diesel Hybrid Solar Power plant at Tirupur under utility scale project

Actual size photo of 1 MW PV-Diesel Hybrid Solar Power plant at Tirupur for which Chemtrols Solar won Intersolar Award 2013 under utility scale project.

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Coal India hikes prices of Western Coalfields produce by 10 per cent...

 

Coal India on Monday hiked prices of non-coking coal produced by subsidiary Western Coalfields by 10 per cent, which would earn it Rs. 140 crore in additional revenue this year.

Cola India Ltd (CIL) had raised prices of non-coking coal produced by all other subsidiaries in May which is expected to fetch an additional revenue of Rs. 2,119 crore this year.

"We had increased by 10 per cent (price of non-coking coal on Western Coalfields. Last time, during rationalisation in the end of February 2011, there was a substantial cut. In the process, it had had some impact," Coal India CMD S Narsing Rao told reporters after the board meeting that lasted for about seven hours.

"So, now we have increased it by 10 per cent on WCL (Western Coalfields)."

The price hike will take effect from Tuesday. On account of this increase, Western Coalfields will earn additional revenue of Rs. 139.84 crore for 2013-14," parent Coal India said in a filing to the BSE.

In another decision, the board approved revision of raw non-coking coal sizing charges and rapid loading charges with effect from December 17. This hike would fetch an additional Rs. 197 crore to the company this year.

"This will be applicable to all subsidiaries of Coal India Limited for regulated and non-regulated sectors," the filing noted.

The largest revenue contributor to CIL on account of price revision would be Mahanadi Coalfields which is expected to contribute Rs. 686 crore, followed by Rs. 664 crore from Northern Coalfields and Rs. 495 crore from South Eastern Coalfields.

Central Coalfields' contribution to the kitty would be about Rs. 248 crore, while Bharat Coking Coal would get Rs. 103 crore additional revenue and Western Coalfields Rs. 22 crore.

Coal India subsidiary Eastern Coalfields is the only arm which would incur a loss of Rs. 99 crore due to the price revision.

CIL accounts for over 80 per cent of the domestic coal production.

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Power rates may go up in Uttarakhand...

 

The Uttarakhand government is likely to increase electricity charges for the industry.

With the state facing four-eight million units of power shortage daily, Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), the sole power distribution company in the hill state, spends about Rs 9,000 crore every year to purchase power from open market at higher rates than it purchases from the state-run UJVN.

State Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said, “We are spending Rs  8,000-9,000 crore on purchase of power from open market. I have advised that there should be no curtailment of power in the state. When we purchase electricity from the market at higher rates, we can sell it to the industry at much higher rates.”

Since power shortage is a big issue in the hill state, the government is forced to purchase power from open market.

Addressing a gathering here on Sunday, BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi said he favoured harnessing the potential of river water for generating power. The state government had scrapped many hydel projects on environmental and religious grounds.

Bahuguna claimed hydropower projects with a capacity of 2,424 Mw were scrapped by the previous BJP government. “All these power projects were scrapped during the BJP regime which otherwise could have started generating power by now,” he said.

Source: Business Standard

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UPERC invites objections on extension to power plants...

 

With the state cabinet giving nod to 18-month extension to nine power projects, proposed to be set up through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) route, the ball is now in the court of Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) which will hear the case on December 26. The commission has invited objections from interested parties and stakeholders by December 18 when a hearing will be held.

On Monday, the commission started receiving petitions and objections into granting of extension to nine power projects. The UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhogta Parishad in its petition has challenged the extension given to the projects for the second time.

The parishad said even though the commission is scrutinising the first extension given in June 2012, the state government went ahead to give the second extension. "This proves that the state government has nothing to do with the commission. The second extension is contempt of commission,'' said parishad president AK Verma.

In January 2011, the Centre had stopped setting up of power plants under the MoU route saying that the cost of power from these plants would be high as compared to those proposed to be set up through competitive bidding.

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