REPower, Suzlon Arm, bagged 39 MW order from RWE Innogy for Poland Wind Project…

Power India found that REPower Systems, a subsidiary of Suzlon Group, has got an order for supply of 19 Wind Turbines (MM92 Model) having rated capacity of 2.05 MW aggregating to 39 MW from RWE Innogy for its Nowy Staw Wind Farm Project in Poland.

 

 

As said by Suzlon, the proposed wind farm project will be having spread across 15 sq km and scheduled to be commissioned in early 2013 and will have a potential to generate enough power to meet the needs of more than 50,000 homes every year.

 

Once commissioned, this will be REpower's largest project in Poland.

 

As said by Fritz Vahrenholt, CEO, RWE Innogy,

With Nowy Staw, we are expanding our wind portfolio in Poland by almost 40 MW. This will bring us a step closer to our goal of adding 50 MW of wind capacity in Poland every year until 2015. Our Polish wind pipeline is well filled. All in all, Innogy plans to have around 300 MW in operation in Poland by 2015.

 

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More Literature on this topic:

• http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/suzlon-group-subsidiary-repower-systems-bags-39-mw-order-in-poland/articleshow/13081553.cms
• http://business-standard.com/india/news/suzlon-group-bags-39-mw-order-in-poland/164753/on

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First Solar Project of 2.0 MW of Uttar Pradesh commissioned at Barabanki…

Power India found that first solar project of Uttar Pradesh having the capacity of 2.0 MW was commissioned at Sandauli Village, Barabanki and inaugurated by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

 

As said by the CM:

“The power sector continues to face a crunch, despite all claims. We still have villages which were though electrified long back, but never got power. The installation of a solar power plant marks a new beginning for the state”

The project has been developed by Technical Associates Ltd. (TAL), Lucknow based company under the Rooftop PV and Small Solar generation Program(RPSSGP) of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.

 

The plant which has costed around Rs. 35 Crore has been installed over an area of roughly 17 acres and consists of around 24290 solar PV modules.

 

Power Purchase Agreement for the said project has been signed with Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (MVVNL) for a period of 25 years.

 

Whilst the production cost of the said plant will approximately Rs. 12 per unit the MVVNL will buy it at the rate of Rs. 5 per unit. However, the plant in most cases will get subsidies from Central Government.

 

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More Literature on this topic:

• http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/First-2-MW-solar-power-plant-of-Uttar-Pradesh-switched-on/articleshow/13089185.cms
• http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20120507/1980141.html

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Noida Power Company signed a PPA for 240 MW with Essar Energy…

Power India found that with Noida Power Company Ltd (NPCL) entering into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Essar Energy for 240 MW Power, bring some relief to the Noida residents.

 

Under the said agreement, which was signed for a period of 25 years, Essar will supply power to NPCL from its under construction 600 MW Tori – II  Coal based thermal Power Project in Jharkhand from April 2014.

 

The agreement was signed between NPCL and Essar Power Jharkhand Limited, a subsidiary of Essar Energy, following a competitive bidding process.

At present, aggregate power demand in Greater Noida is around 180 MW, but is expected to rise sharply in the next few years due to increasing population.

 

NPCL informed that the 'delivered levelised tariff', at which power would be purchased from Essar, is so far the highest long-term tariff achieved through competitive bidding in India.

 

Power consumers would be at lesser risks of being subjected to higher tariffs over the years, because the unit cost price of electricity for NPCL would remain stable over a 25-year period.

At present, NPCL purchases power from Uttar Pradesh Power Company Limited (UPPCL) apart from other power generators in Gujarat, West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir.

The UP Power Transmission Company is at present working to upgrade the 132-KV substation in RC Greens in Greater Noida to increase its capacity to 220 KV.

"Low transmission capacity at the disposal of NPCL, which has been the major bottleneck in ensuring unhindered power supply, would be mitigated once this up gradation work is completed in the next few months. This coupled with adequate power at our disposal would ensure 24X7 electricity supply in Greater Noida," as said by NPCL official.

 

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More Literature on this topic:

• http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/New-agreement-gives-boost-to-power-supply/articleshow/13088352.cms

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C-WET started another phase of nation wide wind potential assessment at 100m and 120m heights…

Power India found that, the Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET), the autonomous R&D body under MNRE, has launched another phase of nationwide wind assessment project in accordance with recent CERC regulations and tariff orders for renewable energy project including wind.

 

Under the proposed phase, CWET will measure the wind energy potential across the nation at 100m and 120 m heights instead of 50m which was used in earlier phase.

• 100 meters height:  75 locations
• 120 meters height:  4 locations.

 

As said by Dr. S. Gomathinayagam, Executive Director, C-WET:

"The technology of megawatt class wind turbine has been changing all over the world. Anticipating taller towers with larger diameter rotors in the Indian market, we have now extended our assessment at greater heights in different areas to harness the potential of wind energy with the latest technology in India"

This phase will also look for land availability through Geographical Information System along with a 'land-use land-cover' map, indicating the type of land cover which provides easy access to the wind power producers. It will also mark suitable land areas that are available for wind farming, using geographical instruments and applications like 'Google maps'.

 

Currently, the project operates in 7 states -- Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, while there's a separate project for Odisha.

 

This project would calculate the potential of only on-shore wind sites.

 

For offshore, however, there is one project in Tamil Nadu near Rameshwaram, measuring the wind energy potential at 100-meter height.

 

CWET has also invited bids for supply of masts and civil works for installation of masts.

 

The Centre believes that this will attract a lot of new engineering, procurement & construction players and independent power producers in the wind energy sector. "This project will give direction to the industry and guide investors, policy makers and the government. Wind turbine manufacturers and power producers will have prior knowledge about the land, indicative wind at heights, hence helping them to choose a suitable technology," said Gomathinayagam

 

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More Literature on this topic:

• http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/c-wet-starts-new-wind-assessment-project/articleshow/13087837.cms
• http://www.cwet.tn.nic.in/Docu/tender_100m_guyed_lattice_9_may_12.pdf
• http://www.cwet.tn.nic.in/Docu/tender_civil_fundation_9_may_12.pdf

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Italian Gearbox maker, Bonfiglioli, planning to set up another plant in Chennai…

Power India found that Bonfiglioli Transmissions (the Italian gearbox maker) is planning to set up its second plant at Sriperumbudur near Chennai.

 

Bonfiglioli has already invested around Rs. 60 Crores in a facility and the another proposed facility along with an R&D unit will need investment amount of roughly Rs. 40 Crorers.

 

Bonfiglioli is a leading gearbox makers and designs, manufactures and distributes a complete range of gear motors, drive systems and planetary gearboxes for segments including industrial processes, automation, mobile and renewable energy applications.

 

The company is present in India since 1998 and has so far invested about Rs 650 crore.

 

As said by Sonia Bonfiglioli, Chairman & CEO of the Company:

“Despite the global economic slowdown, 2011-12 has been the year in our history. We continued to invest in new and emerging markets through the slump. The company invested close to Rs 150 crore in expansions in each of the last three years. Since India is our top market, we have been putting our money here. We have so far manufactured and sold over 22-lakh gear boxes and gear motors from our Chennai plant. Extending it further, the second facility and the R&D unit would not only cater to the growing domestic market but also to our global customers.

The second facility near Chennai would be dedicated to industrial products. The company has so far been making small- and medium-sized motors. The focus now would be on larger products for heavy-duty applications.

 

While it has already localised about 80 per cent of component sourcing in India, Bonfiglioli would strive to procure from domestic suppliers for the new applications.

 

 

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More Literature on this topic:

• http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/bonfiglioli-italy-sets-second-plant-chennai-406
• http://www.bonfiglioli.com/en/corporate/company/history

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Coal Ministry directed CIL Subsidiaries to supply coal through MOU route till FSA related issues are resolved…

  Power India found that the Coal Ministry has issued a directive to Coal India and its subsidiaries to supply coal through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) route to the power plants which have been commissioned this year till the issues related to Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) are resolved.

 

According to the Economic Times, this directive will benefit to the  as much as 8,800 MW of electricity generation capacity which are getting commissioned during the first three months of this year.

 

According to a statement of Power Ministry:

"The Ministry of Coal has issued a directive to coal companies to supply coal to power plants commissioned till March 31, 2012 as well as those to be commissioned during 2012-13 through the MOU route as the FSAs are getting delayed. With this directive, the commissioned plants would be able to generate power without facing disruption of coal supply.”

As per the release, the quantity of coal to be supplied to these power plants would be decided in consultation with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) till FSAs for these projects are signed.

Most of the power companies have expressed concerns on certain clauses, such as those related to penalty, in the revised FSA mooted by Coal India Ltd.

CEA held discussion with major power producers to gather their views on the FSA.

 

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More Literature on this topic:

• http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/coal-cos-directed-to-supply-fuel-to-power-plants-via-mou-route/articleshow/13082288.cms

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IFC to finance Rs. 750 Million equity to SunEdison…

Power India found that International Finance Corporation (IFC), is planning to invest around Rs. 750 Million equity to SunEdison along with possible funding of Rs. 2.9 Billion depending upon certain future conditions. 

 

The funds are intended to support the growth,development and construction of SunEdison’s PV power projects in South Asia, South East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

 

The above transaction will take place in a way that, IFC will acquire a 15% stake in SunEdison Energy Holding (Singapore) and Sun Edison Energy Holdings B.V., two holding companies incorporated by SunEdison LLC, in Singapore and the Netherlands, respectively.

 

As said by Pashupathy Gopalan, SunEdison’s Managing Director, South Asia and sub-Saharan Operations:

“SunEdison recognizes the potential of the South Asian and Sub-Saharan regions for solar power generation and is one of the leading solar energy platforms across the region. Driven by economic growth and an emerging focus on energy security in these regions, countries in the region are assessing and supporting alternative energy sources.

 

Anita George, IFC Director for Infrastructure in Asia also said:

“IFC is engaging across the entire solar PV supply chain to improve its economics. We are doing this by enabling pioneering projects under new regulatory support schemes and increasing economies of scale in downstream installations.”

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Coal Ministry backed the Power Producers’ demand of review of new FSA of Coal India…

Power India found that Coal Ministry has backed the Power Developers’ – Reliance Power, NTPC and India Bulls etc – demand for review of the new Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) Proposed by Coal India Ltd (CIL).

 

Most the Power Developers has argued that the FSA proposed by CIL is having too many escape clauses and heavily loaded against the Power Developers.

 

Some of them are enlisted here:

 

• All duties, levy to be pass through: All Duties and/or levies include liabilities arising out of the MMDR Bill have to be borne by Power Producers. This means whenever the MMDR Bill comes into effect, Coal India will increase prices proportionately. 
  
• Force majeure clause: The clause shields Coal India from supply of fuel as per LOA due to (1) Government of India or relevant state government’s refusal to grant or renew any required permit or mining lease or governmental approvals related to land acquisition and environment/forest clearance, (2) law and order problem, strikes and civil disturbances 
  
• Import of coal in case of domestic fuel shortage: CIL shall have, at its sole discretion, the option to supply the balance quantity of coal through import to be delivered at unload port at cost plus pricing including service charges of CIL. In the event, the quantity offered for imported coal is not accepted by the purchaser, no penalty shall be applicable for the shortfall to CIL. Power producers will have to pay imported coal prices. Hence, no pooling of prices will happen  
  
• Timely execution of power projects: The FSA directs power companies to complete all activities within 24 months of LoAs (with a grace period of 180 days). The purchaser shall have completed the construction, as per the implementation schedule specified in detailed project report/techno-economic feasibility report submitted during the validity of letter of assurance (LoA).This would be result in exclusion of power projects, which are delayed .
  
• Coal for long term PPAs only: CIL will provide coal only to those capacities that have long-term PPAs. Thus, coal will be available only to regulated entities 
  
• Penalty clause for CIL: The penalty for Coal India in the event of fuel shortfall will be minimal (0.01%)

 

Though some of the developers have inked the agreements because of fuel supply constraints, the general consensus is that Coal India is making use of its monopolistic situation, those from the industry said.

 

On the review of the FSA after five years, power developers say that this clause provides undue liberty to the seller as ‘aggrieved party’ to exercise the right to terminate the agreement. They say that the scope of review should be agreed upon upfront instead of leaving it open-ended. The developers want it to be modified in line with the previous FSAs executed in 2009.

 

With regard to the clause on compensation on short delivery/lifting, the developers feel the rate of compensation for the ‘failed quantity’ is too little a penalty for non-fulfilment of obligations. It is hardly a disincentive and will not discourage low fuel suppliers.

 

Till Monday, 10 FSAs were signed. Out of these, four each were signed with Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd and Bajaj Hindustan Ltd and two with Lanco Anpara Power Ltd.

 

“There is a list of around 50 power companies. However, FSAs would be signed with 38 of them. This is because, fuel supply pacts can be signed only with producers who have signed power purchase agreements with distribution utilities,” said a Coal India official.

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Chhattisgarh is set to become a national power hub…

Power India found that Chhattisgarh is one of the few States of India where Power sector is effectively being developed.

 

Based on the current production of surplus electric power, position of the State is comfortable and profitable.

 

The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board (CSEB) is in a strong position to meet the electricity requirement of the new State and is in good financial health.

 

Chhattisgarh provides electricity to several other states because of surplus production, and it's power hubs are Korba and Bilaspur.

 

In Chhattisgarh, NTPC has an installed thermal capacity of 2100 MW at Sipat, Bilaspur while CSEB's units have a thermal capacity of 1240 MW and hydro capacity of 130 MW. Apart from NTPC and CSEB, there are a number of private generation units of large and small capacity. The State Government has pursued a liberal policy with regard to captive generation which has resulted in a number of private players coming up.

 

As per a study made by the Power Finance Corporation Ltd New Delhi, the State has potential of 61,000 MW of additional thermal power in terms of availability of coal for more than 100 years and more than 2,500 MW hydro capacity. To tap this vast potential, substantial addition to the existing generation capacity is already under way.

 

 

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More Literature on this topic:

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/raipur/63844-chhattisgarh-set-to-emerge-power-house-in-the-country.html

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Telecom Tower companies soon to be powered by Renewable Energy to reduce operating costs…

Power India found that various Telecom Tower Providers are considering the alternate of renewable energy generation to reduce the operational costs of electricity.

 

As learnt from various sources, these companies are planning to invite proposal for setting up setting up independent renewable energy companies that will generate and supply green power to run towers. This move will help save the cost of diesel for running towers especially in areas where grid electricity is not available.

 

TAIPA, the industry association representing tower infrastructure providers across the country, is working on a “Request For Proposal” (RFP) this purpose.

 

As said by Director General, Umang Das:

• "The RFPs should be out by next week, followed by a pre-bid conference,"

 

TAIPA has further proposed to created a “Renewable Energy Service Providing Companies” (RESCOS) whose main objective will be to set up independent plans to sell power to the Tower companies or TELCOs.

The surplus power may sale back to the grid.

 

Power India beleve that the move is caused due to the erratic power supply to the Tower units most of which are in remote areas and due to which around 4,00,00 telecom towers are depended on diesel generators.

 

According to TRAI (Telecom Sector Regulator) the above said telecom towers roughly consume around 2 Billion litres of oil every year. The regulator has directed them to reduce their dependence on diesel and cut carbon emissions by running at least 50% of all rural towers and 20% of the urban towers on hybrid power by 2015.

 

Some of the Tower firms have been partially successful in their experiments with producing power from solar energy, fuel cells and other renewable sources.

 

For examply, Bharti Infratel, the tower arm of Bharti Enterprises, has been able to save 25.64 million litres of diesel after powering 12,000 tower sites with solar energy.

 

Further, the regulator has proposed changes in fee structure and wants to bring tower firms under the unified licensing regime, which will force them to pay revenue to the government. Other changes, such as the cut in FDI to 74%, have also deterred foreign investment and put a question mark over the shareholding patterns of companies such as the American Towers Corp India.

 

 

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More Literature on this topic:

• http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-05-08/news/31626625_1_indus-towers-tower-arm-telecom-tower

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