ABB seeks to play a key role in smart grid deployment in India...

 

Smart grids are being deployed in electricity networks to bring about a change in the energy delivery system.

Such grids seek to bridge the demand-supply gap by reducing transmission and distribution losses and through integration of renewable energy sources into the grid networks.

Zurich, Switzerland-based ABB is engaged in transmission projects globally and in India. It sees an exciting future ahead in deploying smart grid solutions.

Subir Pal, Country Marketing Head, ABB India Ltd, in an interaction with Business Line explains how smart grids are set to make a difference. Excerpts:

Smart grids are being taken up in a big way in Europe, the US, and other markets. What is happening in India?

Different countries have their own drivers that call for the implementation of smart grid technologies.

The US has an ageing infrastructure long overdue for renovation while European countries such as Germany need a strong backbone that can integrate renewable resources sustainably into the power distribution system.

For India, the main drivers are reducing the gap between demand and supply during peak hours, reducing transmission and distribution losses and sustainable integration of renewable energy.

The Indian Government set up the India Smart Grid Task Force (ISGTF) and India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) to help prepare a roadmap for smart grid rollout. In August, the Ministry of Power adopted the roadmap.

Last year, the Ministry of Heavy Industries adopted the ‘National Electric Mobility Plan 2020’, which aims to facilitate the rollout of 6 million electric vehicles in India by 2020.

The Ministry of Power has also approved 14 smart grid pilot projects to test various functionalities of smart grid technologies. However, these pilot projects are yet to take off.

Have States begun to deploy these solutions in India? Are you working with any of them?

Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd is finalising the world’s largest Wide Area Monitoring System (WAMS) project which, once completed, will be able to predict grid disturbances and take corrective action to tackle instability in the system. ABB plans to participate in this project.

ABB is executing one of the most powerful high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems in the world, here in India.

Once completed, this HVDC link will be able to bring in 6,000 MW of clean hydro power all the way from Assam to Agra, across a distance of over 1,700 km. HVDC is extremely efficient over such long distances — the energy saved due to reduced losses would be equivalent to electricity generated by a 250-MW power plant per year.

ABB has also delivered one of the largest supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) energy management systems and data handling projects in the world.

This integrates Karnataka’s power transmission and distribution systems, energy audit and customer billing systems into a single platform.

The solution monitors the power network of the entire State, provides accurate and real-time information on power supply and revenues, and enables operators to identify and correct faults quickly.

Will the adoption of solar rooftop and grid connected solutions spur the deployment of net metering?

Net metering, coupled with a feed-in-tariff policy, will encourage the adoption of solar rooftop and result in bi-directional flow of power.

Since most of this will happen in the distribution part of the grid, there is a need to strengthen it so as to absorb the fluctuations in the flow of electricity. This, in turn, will spur the use of advanced technologies in the distribution network.

What role is ABB playing in deployment of smart grids in India?

ABB has been part of several smart grid projects globally. We are leveraging our experience to meet India’s unique requirements.

As a member of the India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF), ABB has been working towards the adoption of smart grid technologies and contributing towards the roadmap now adopted by the Ministry of Power.

It is the co-chair of the Working Group on Cyber Security as we believe that any solution has to be secure and resilient to deliberate attacks as well as non-malicious failures. ABB is a key player in the upcoming smart grid pilot projects through its solutions for outage management, improving power quality, micro grids, communication, renewable integration and distribution automation.

How does the smart grid help cut transmission and distribution losses?

India has a peak demand-supply gap of about 10 per cent. While installing gas and hydro power generation to provide peak power is one option, it is a long-term solution. Energy efficiency and demand-side management can solve this problem to some extent in the short term. An open electricity market, complemented by technology support, can make demand elastic with respect to generation. Inefficiencies in the transmission and distribution system can be addressed by using more efficient equipment, enhancing the power carrying capability of the transmission and distribution system, adequate reactive power compensation and reducing outage times and losses through the energy delivery chain.

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Telcos may seek PwC help meet DoT’s green target...

 

The telecom industry is set to broaden the mandate of PricewaterhouseCoopers and ask it to recommend ways to help operators reduce carbon emissions, and not just examine the feasibility and need for viability gap funding of powering 3.5 lakh mobile towers with alternative energy.

The industry is likely to urge PwC's Indian arm to suggest steps to help operators meet the telecom department's "gogreen" targets set in January 2012. "PwC India's terms of reference is likely to be broadened by seeking its suggestions on reducing carbon emissions," said a senior executive representing Tower & Infrastructure Providers Association (Taipa), the industry body for telecom tower companies.

"Apart from examining initiatives undertaken by telcos, PwC India may be asked to examine the viability of alternate technologies like batteries as a cost-effective tool for reducing carbon emissions," the official added. At present, DoT and the ministry for new & renewable energy do not regard batteries as a green energy source as they are storage devices.

PwC India may also be asked to also assess whether India's green telecom policy is aligned with global standards on containing carbon emissions as specified by Geneva-based International Telecom Union (ITU).

India's go-green laws require mobile phone companies to migrate 50% of all cell towers in rural areas and 20% in urban areas to hybrid power by 2015. Hybrid power has been defined as a mix of grid supplies and renewable energy based on solar, wind, biomass or fuel cells.

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India, Australia to hold 3rd round of talks on nuclear deal...

 

India and Australia are to hold the third round of negotiations to finalise a civil nuclear agreement that could enable the sale of Australian uranium to India, in Delhi during the week beginning November 25, it was announced on Friday.

A statement issued by the Australian Foreign Ministry after talks between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries, Salman Khurshid and Julie Bishop in Perth, states that they have agreed that the conclusion of a high-quality Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement would underpin a further significant expansion of the trade and investment relationship to mutual benefit.

Bishop also briefed Khurshid on the Australian Government’s commitment to open trade and investment policies and welcomed further Indian investment into Australia, the statement adds.

The Ministers also confirmed that the inaugural cyber security dialogue would be held in the first half of 2014, and reiterated the two countries’ commitment to work together to address threats such as terrorism and transnational crime.

 

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GVK Power gets approval for Kevin's Corner mine in Australia...

 

Australian Federal Government has granted environmental approval for GVK's Kevin's Corner Project in Queensland, the city-based infrastructure major said today.

In late 2011, GVK had acquired a 100 per cent stake in the Kevin's Corner project and a 79 per cent stake in the Alpha Coal and Alpha West Coal projects from Hancock Prospecting Pty. Ltd.

GVK Reddy, Founder Chairman and Managing Director, GVK Power and Infrastructure Limited, said the company commends the Federal Government on its thorough environmental assessment process and its decision to approve this significant project that will create immense employment opportunities.

"This approval comes as a major milestone towards our goal of becoming the premier and most reliable coal supplier to the world thus enabling better lives. It further strengthens our commitment to deliver world-class infrastructure projects in a timely and responsible manner," Reddy said.

Following a rigorous and thorough assessment process by two levels of government spanning five years, Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt gave an approval decision to construct and operate Kevin's Corner Coal Mine, 50 kms north of the town of Alpha in Queensland, GVK said in the release.

In a timely and considered decision, the Minister finely balanced the protection of environment with the need for economic investment and job creation, it said.

The Kevin's Corner Project is an advanced coal project and has a mine life in excess of 30 years with a capacity to produce up to 30 million tonne per annum of export quality thermal coal.

 

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C​hemical Industries Association urges Govt to set up offshore wind power projects...

 

The Chemical Industries Association has urged the Government of India to work towards setting up offshore wind power plants in India. Offshore wind farms are those constructed in water bodies to harness wind power.

"India is facing an impending energy crisis due to the necessity to import around 110 million tonnes of coal, around 185 milllion tonnes of crude oil and 16 billion cubic meters of natural gas every year. Considering that India production of these resources has almost become stagnant, the country's import of these products will almost double in the next 7-8 years. India has to urgently look for appropriate indigenous energy sources and offshore wind power is an appropriate energy source opportunity," the Association has said in an appeal to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of costal states.

"India has around 7000 kilometers of coastline which provide enormous opportunity for the country to set up several off shore wind power projects. States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat have big opportunities for setting up off shore wind projects," the president of the Association, P K N Panicker said.

"While India has installed capacity of around 18,000MW of on shore wind power, the capacity utilization is only around 40% every year due to lack of wind speed during several months. Even if the country increases onshore wind capacity, this would continue," the appeal said.

Europe is focusing in a big way on offshore wind power projects with capacity of around 6,000 MW built over the last few years. India should immediately seize this offshore wind power opportunity and take steps to build 1 lakh MW of offshore wind projects in the next 15 years, the appeal said.

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Power utility keen to cut residential users' tariff...

 

The state power distributor-Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL)-is keen on exempting residential users from paying renewable energy (RE) charges.

The utility, which supplies power to Thane, Navi Mumbai and parts of the eastern suburbs, wants to impose the levy on "polluting" industrial units. A petition with regard to the RE charges was heard by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission, which in its order this week stated that "the petitioner may raise the issue during the tariff determination of MSEDCL". "Following the regulator's order, we will present a proposal for exempting RE charges and reducing tariff for residential consumers in the aggregate revenue requirement," a MSEDCL spokesperson told TOI. The aggregate revenue requirement for a multi-year tariff plan is likely to be submitted by December after which public hearings will commence.

Industry associations have strongly opposed the proposal. "It is unfair to create a separate category of polluting units. All industries receive a certificate from the pollution control board and industries are already make efforts to minimize effluence," said SL Patil of Thane Belapur Industries Association. and keep it within the permissible limits. Imposition of cost of RE power on industries shall increase their tariff. "It would be great injustice and many industries in Maharashtra will either close down because of unaffordable power or shift to other states,'' he pointed out.

Power expert Ashok Pendse also questioned the state power distributor's rationale.

"We are not buying renewable (non-conventional) energy because of pollution, but it is being promoted because in years to come, the conventional resources such as coal and gas are going to get depleted. It is irrational to impose RE charges on industries," he said. "The tariff for RE sources is very high. The average cost of purchasing renewable energy has increased Rs 3.81 per unit in 2009-10 to Rs 4.32 per unit in 2012-13. Due to the higher cost of RE power purchase, the average cost of MSEDCL also rose from Rs. 3.30 per unit to Rs. 4.25 per unit," a MSEDCL official said.

"This has direct impact on ARR and subsequently affects the overall tariff, specially the tariff of low end common consumers of MSEDCL,'' the official stated. "Since the burden of RE purchase is borne by the common consumers, we want to change the scenario and pass it on to the industries responsible for pollution and climate change,'' he added.

The industries associations are likely to raise objections when the ARR comes up for public hearing, sources said. "However, we are taking the step in the general interest of the low-end consumers, who are burdened with hefty electricity bills,'' a MSEDCL spokesperson added.

MERC has asked Tata Power company to treat all residential consumers, with an average consumption of upto 300 units in the last 12 months, as direct consumers from November 1. This means that consumers in the 11 clusters will be paying less tariff. Tata will have to procure necessary power for these consumers and also create infrastructure and provide customer care facilities in near future.

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NanoPV Voltech to set up 75-MW plant near Chennai...

 

NanoPV Voltech Solar Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between US-based NanoPV Solar Inc and the Voltech group of Chennai, expects to open a solar module manufacturing plant near here in December.

The facility, with a capacity to make 75 MW worth of modules a year, is being set up at an investment of Rs 100 crore.

The solar module can be used as a component of a larger photovoltaic system to generate and supply electricity. The Voltech group has nothing to do with Voltec Solar, the Alsace, France-based producer of high quality photovoltaic solar panels.

NanoPV was founded in New Jersey, US, in 2005 by Anna Selvan John, who hails from Chennai. John is also the President and CEO of the Indian joint venture.

The 75MW plant will produce crystalline silicon modules. The company has plans to make solar cells also, John told Business Line on Friday. Modules are made up with cells.

He added NanoPV has developed a hybrid cell technology which can convert 21 per cent of sun’s energy falling on the cells into electricity.

At a later stage, these hybrid cells will be manufactured at the Indian plant.

NanoPV Voltech’s subsidiarieshave won rights to set up two solar power projects—of 10 MW and 14 MW—in Tamil Nadu, through a bidding process of the state utility, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corp Ltd (Tangedco).

The Chairman of the Voltech group, M Umapathi, told reporters here on Friday land for the projects was ready and the company had even organised the necessary “bank guarantee”. “We are waiting for Tangedco to sign the power purchase agreement.”

The 24-MW solar projects will be captive customers for the manufacturing plant. Apart from this, NanoPV Voltech has also won contracts for setting up a a6 MW solar plant from other winners of the Tangedco bid.

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India will not halt nuclear programme...

 

India will continue its nuclear programme without any interruption, irrespective of decisions taken by other countries, said R.K. Sinha, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy on Wednesday.

Referring to Germany and Japan, which plan to end their dependence on nuclear energy, Dr. Sinha said India had no reason to follow these countries.

“We have been pursuing our nuclear programme on our own. We are in the process of establishing new nuclear power plants across India, without being dependent on any foreign country. There is no question of following them and halting our nuclear programme,” as said by Dr. Sinha. He said the Japanese government may decide to return to nuclear power in future, after completing security inspections.

On the proposed 9900 MW Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant to be set up in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, Dr. Sinha said the techno-commercial agreement with the French company Areva was yet to be signed and negotiations had not been concluded.

Areva will be providing six European Pressurised Reactors to this project, the work on which is expected to begin by October 2015.

“The issues such as deciding the cost of electricity and the liability are pending. But we are confident that the issues will be resolved and we will not miss the deadline,” he said.

Earlier, Dr. Sinha delivered an address at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre here on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the late Homi Jahangir Bhabha.

He said improved uranium supply from domestic and international sources had led to the growth of nuclear power generation.

“As a result of using advanced techniques, we have been able to identify new resources of uranium. In the last year our reserves have registered an increase of about 5 per cent,” he said.

On the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, he said commercial operations of one unit would start by December 2013.

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Voltech to expand presence in solar markets of Nigeria...

 

Voltech, a testing and commissioning of electrical system company, announced a joint venture with Bonjul Management Services to expand its solar energy business in Nigeria.

This was the city-headquartered company's 17th overseas entry, besides its presence in Middle East, Europe, Africa and in other Asian countries, Voltech Group Chairman and Managing Director M Umapathi told reporters here.

The MoU for this project was today signed by officials from both the companies.

A representative from Julius Abuda, Managing Director, Bonjul Management Services, Nigeria was present to exchange the MoU.

Voltech also bagged orders from ABB Ltd, Powergrid Corporation of India Ltd, TANGEDCO, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), JSW, among others.

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NHPC reaches to create favourable room for resuming 2000MW Subansari hydro electric project...

 

NHPC Ltd has started reaching out to public to create favourable environment for resuming the 2000MW Lower Subansari hydro electric project along Assam-Arunachal project which is facing stiff opposition from anti dam protestors.

In an exercise to reach out to public, NHPC conducted a seminar in Guwahati on Thursday where several speakers drawn from various disciplines tried to dispel misgivings about the safety of the dam.

Union Minister of State for Power Jyotiraditya Scindia in a letter to Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi recently stated delay in resumption of works will result in increase in tariff that has ultimately to be borne by the public and asked the Assam Chief Minister for efforts to facilitate a tripartite talk involving the NHPC, the government of India and the agitating groups so that the issue can be resolved at the earliest.

Peasant organization, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) staged dharna against the NHPC's public consultation process.

KMSS leader, Akhil Gogoi has sought a comprehensive ecological study of the Brahmaputra and its basin. "A cumulative impact study on the downstream of river dams in the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra. Both the studies must give special attention to the ecology and geological features of the Brahmaputra basin."

A.B Pandya, member, Central water commission informed that cumulative impact assessment study is underway and expected to be completed by this December. "Once submitted the report will be placed in the public domain."

The ministry of power has accepted the recommendation of expert panel which suggest modification in the dam designs.

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