PowerGrid to launch aerial surveillance of networks...

 

Patrolling high-voltage electricity transmission networks by road and manually operating sub-stations are passé. Beginning this month, the Rs 12,700-crore PowerGrid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) will roll out a scheme for air-surveillance of its vast 1,02,540 circuit km electricity transmission network and remotely control the 173 sub-stations.

 

The aerial patrolling, which costs Rs 4,500 a km, will replace the existing system of patrolling by road.

“We expect to start air-surveillance on the Delhi-Agra line by December 10,” R.P. Sasmal, Director (Operations) of PGCIL, told media persons here on Monday.

The scheme will next be launched in the Agra-Gwalior section, passing through the Chambal ravine. PGCIL hopes to deploy at least three helicopters for surveillance of the nearly 15,000 circuit km network, spreading over the National Capital Region, by December 23.

MAJOR CHALLENGE

The company will hire a contractor who will hire two-seater helicopters, fitted with high-resolution and thermo vision cameras, and recruit pilots. PGCIL will pay the contractor for every km covered.

Finding suitable pilots is a major challenge, Sasmal said. They ought to be skilled enough to fly at very low altitudes, so that the cameras can keep tracking the transmission lines.

A PGCIL engineer will accompany the pilot to help map the transmission line. Once the helicopter returns to base, the company will scrutinise the images to identify sections that need a repair.

“If the project is successful we will expand the scope of air-surveillance to another 50,000 circuit km network,” Sasmal said.

GIS MAPPING

To further the scope of new-age surveillance systems, the company has also started GIS (geographic information system) mapping of its network.

“Our transmission network has grown 4.5 times since 1992. With a Rs 1,00,000-crore capital expenditure outlay for the Twelfth Plan (20012-17) period, the network is set to expand further.

“Naturally, the age-old systems were proving inadequate to keep a watchful eye on the health of such a vast electricity transmission network,” Sasmal said.

As part of its automation programme, PGCIL will also start phasing out manually operated substations, beginning this month. In the new scheme of things, the substations will be fitted with CCTVs and remotely controlled from a distant base, using the IT backbone.

The company will have maintenance staff at designated locations to respond to any emergency. “We are now strengthening our fibre-optic network connecting the substations. This is to ensure adequate redundancy in the communication link.

“In the next six months 50-60 sub-stations in the northern region will be remotely controlled from Manesar in Haryana,” said Sasmal. The project is expected to cover all the company’s substations in one-and-a-half years.

Source

Read More...

Govt Sitting on Over Rs 4 lakh-cr Power Projects...

 

At a time when the UPA government is desperately looking for investments to bring the economy back on the growth trajectory, the same government is sitting on approvals for as many as 70 power projects (both in public as well as private sector) entailing a total estimated investment of `4,43,458.39 crore.

Most of the power projects, according to the Ministry of Power (MoP), are getting delayed for want of different clearances from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) or allocation of mines and fuel linkages.

“Necessary clearance, be it environment or forest or costal, should be granted before the project takes off as is the practice in developed nations. Timely approvals prevent project delays and cost overruns,” a sector expert said requesting anonymity.

The MoP note lists six projects worth `39,009 crore (see map), which include Sagar Super Thermal Project (1980 MW) to be built by Universal Crescent (P) Ltd in West Bengal. It is yet to get environmental as well as Costal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances. MoEF in its response said, “In view of the observation of the Expert Appraisal Committee (Thermal) that the site is not suitable for a power plant, grant of CRZ clearance has not been considered.” The MoP has, however, asked MoEF to expedite the matter.

Similarly, the Raj West 1080 (8x135) MW plant to come up in Barmer district of Rajasthan is also delayed as the mining linkages are yet to be granted. Here, all eight units have been commissioned. But the private developer is wwaiting fuel linkages besides green clearances.

Similarly, SKS Power and Generation Chhattisgarh, a 1200MW (4x300) coal-based power plant at Raigarh district in Chhattisgarh, is getting delayed as the state government is yet to provide the necessary licences for coal mining.

“The issue has been taken up by MoP with the Chhattisgarh government on 26.09.2013 and 18.10.2013. Comments from the state government are awaited,” the MoP said in the note to CCI. MoP has asked the CCI to take up the matter with the Chhattisgarh government.

The 1050 MW (2x525) plant being commissioned by Hinduja National Power Corporation at Visakhapatnam is also stuck for want of CRZ clearance. MoP has asked CCI to direct MoEF to grant the CRZ clearance to the project, which is likely to be commissioned next year, at the earliest.

The Machhakata Coal Project in Odisha being developed jointly by the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company and the Gujarat State Electricity Board is facing a series of issues, including land acquisition.

The MoP has asked the Odisha government to facilitate land acquisition, approval for mining lease, forest and environment clearance. The ministry has also urged the state government to quell the resistance by local residents.

The 1000 MW coal-based power plant, Meenakshi Energy (P) Ltd, in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh is also awaiting necessary clearances. Phase 1 of the project is operational, while the 700 MW phase II is yet to be commissioned.

The project got environmental clearance in July which has now expired; the developers are waiting for its renewal. The MoP has asked CCI to direct MoEF to grant an extension to the project immediately.

Source

Read More...

NTPC Hydro to be amalgamated with NTPC Limited...

 

 

NTPC Limited has informed the Exchange that Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Govt. of India vide order dated November 21, 2013 has accorded sanction of the Central Govt. to the Scheme of Amalgamation of NTPC Hydro Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited with NTPC Limited.

 

Consequent to the amalgamation of the Companies and the Scheme becoming effective, NTPC Hydro Limited shall stand dissolved without the process of winding up.

Source

Read More...

L&T Construction has won Rs. 1471 Crores orders for power & other infrastructure projects...

 

L&T Construction has won new orders worth Rs 1471 crores across various business segments in November & December 2013.

In Power Transmission & Distribution Business, orders valued Rs. 686 crores  have been received in both domestic & international markets.

A major  international order  was bagged by Larsen &  Toubro Saudi Arabia LLC, a fully owned subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Limited for construction of a 132 kV transmission line and connection of Al-Dawadmi S/S to the 132 kV Riyadh Network.

The  order  includes  construction  of  a  78  km  new  132 kV  Double  Circuit   Overhead Transmission Line; 7 km of re-conductoring an existing 132 kV OHTL with Special Non-Gap Conductors of high current carrying capacity; 132 kV EHV Cabling of approximately 4 RkMs; Protection,  SCADA  and Telecommunication  works associated with  Al-Dawadmi S/S.  The scope involves complete  engineering, supply, installation  and commissioning of 132 kV towers, conductors, insulators, OPGW, and fittings.  The project  will  be completed in 22 months.

On the domestic front, a turnkey order was won from Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Limited  for setting up a 400 kV Double Circuit  transmission line between Veltoor to Yemmiganoor.

Another order  was won from  Power Grid Corporation of India Limited  for  setting up a 765/400  kV   GIS  Substation.   The   contract     includes   onshore  supply,    installation, construction of civil buildings ft commissioning works.

L& T Construction also secured an order from Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation Limited for establishing a 230/110/33kV  GIS Substation in Chennai on a total turnkey basis that is meant for transmitting Power to the prestigious Chennai Metro Rail Project.

The Buildings & Factories Business  has bagged new orders worth Rs. 461 crores.
 
The new order was received for  a construction of cement plant in Chittapur, Karnataka from a reputed customer. The scope includes plant's  structural fabrication  and erection works along with its associated activities.

Additional orders have also been received from various ongoing projects.

The Water  & Renewa'ble Energy business has bagged an order worth Rs. 142  crores from Karnataka Urban Water Supply a: Drainage Board for providing, laying, jointing, testing  a: commissioning of  waste water  network  under  the  2nd stage Waste Water Scheme to Tumkur City.

The Heavy  Civil Infrastructure  Business  bagged additional  orders valued Rs. 182 crores from its ongoing jobs.

Source

Read More...

GMR Infra seeks gas plant's fixed cost from AP discom for 388.5 MW Gas Project...

 

GMR Infrastructure has sought Rs 480 crore for recovering fixed costs for its 388.5-megawatt (Mw) gas-based power plant from the Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company, sources said.

The power plant at Vemagiri in the state has been idling for lack of gas from Reliance Industries's KG-D6 block since the start of this financial year.

It's plant load factor (a measure of capacity use) has been zero for months now, leading to losses. Consequently, GMR Infra is seeking recovery of fixed costs such as capital costs and maintenance from the state distribution company (discom), which buys power from it.

While the discom could not be reached for comments, GMR said denied to comment on the development.

Many off-take contracts allow for recovery of fixed costs if the buyer fails to purchase power from the project. Reasons for not buying power can range from lack of demand to the finances of the discom. In such cases, the discom pays to ensure the power plant does not go into losses.

Source

Read More...

Time to improve technology in coal-based industries: BHEL chief...

 

The time has come to look for ways to improve technology in coal-based industries as India is having more than 70% coal-based power stations, a situation that would continue for at least the next 10 years, said A V Krishnan, the executive director of BHEL Trichy.

Participating at the two-day conference on clean coal, carbon capture and storage technologies that has been organized by the Trichy Regional Engineering College Science Technology Entrepreneurs Park (TREC-STEP) in partnership with BHEL, Krishnan said that in a country like India where more and more coal-based power stations were bound to come up in the coming years, lessening the carbon-related emissions was of paramount importance.

Krishnan said different technologies needed to be used for different coals. For instance, he said that BHEL was successfully using the newly-developed integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology that would greatly improve the efficiency level, that is to say a measure of how much heat energy embedded in coals was converted into electricity. Funded by the European Union, the project aims at disseminating the latest carbon capture and storage technologies among the Indian thermal power players as the anticipated growth in energy demand is expected to widen the usage of coal in energy sector in the coming years. To reduce the consumption of goal, and emissions (carbon, hydrogen, sulfur related), the IGCC would be one of the future technologies for green power generation, Krishnan said. In fact, BHEL has taken it up as a project and working hand in hand with TREC-STEP for the last three years, visited a number of power plants in the country to study what kind of technology was used at present, and what would be better-suited for the Indian conditions.

Speaking on the sidelines, John Topper, CEO of International Energy Agency (IEA) Coal Research Ltd and Environmental Projects Ltd, UK, said that 41% of the global power came from coal and its usage would increase significantly if the current government policies continued. "Most of the additional coal need would be felt in Asia with China and India dominating the scene. Moreover, India is currently number two in coal use and is projected to be number one importer soon surpassing China," Topper said. Coal will be used as it is relatively cheap and plentiful, but the darker side of it was that long-term use of coal will have consequences over environment and climate change, he warned.

Marion Wilde, policy officer, European Commission (EC) directorate general for energy, Belgium said the joint declaration on energy adopted at the EU-India summit in February 2012 renewed firm commitment on both sides to enhance cooperation on energy field, one of the priority areas for mutually beneficial joint activity on the development and deployment of advanced coal mining and clean coal technologies.

Source

Read More...

Gujarat farmers have replaced 'Horse Power' with Solar Power...

 

Solar power panel helps a farmer to run submersible pumps at his five farms in different places in Palsana taluka of Surat district at affordable cost. Solar energy has emerged as an alternative to conventional power connection in farm sector.

Instead of fitting panels at five places, Jitendra Patel, a farmer in Umbhel villages, has got a panel fitted to feed a 5 horse power (HP) pump in the trailer of his tractor.

He said, "This panel helps me run my pump and draw water from anywhere I want during daytime. I just need to take it to the spot. I no more need to depend on the conventional electricity which is supplied in the night to water my farms."

Patel has incurred a one time expense of Rs 8 lakh on the solar panel. Against this, the yearly electricity bill is Rs 10 lakh.

Many farmers of Dudhala village in Amreli district in Saurashtra, too, use solar energy. They have been irrigating their 1,600 bighas of land with the help of solar power.

"At least 10 farmers have fitted solar panels in their farms in Amreli. We had fitted six rooftop panels for the farmers to run 5 and 3 HP pumps," said Iswar Dholakiya of Goldi Green Technologies that manufactures and supplies solar roof top panels.

Farmers across the state are forced to depend on night supply of electricity to run their pumps. This sometimes damage crops because excess water is pumped out because of darkness.

"For farmers, initial investment in this technology is a concern. Still many have gone for it when they found that it was cheaper in the long term than the conventional electricity," district agriculture officer G C Acharya said.

Dhiru Patel of Kamrej has also installed a rooftop solar energy panel in his farm. This helps run his two pumps of 3 HP capacity. "We ask farmers to go for roof top solar energy panel as it is cheaper and not troublesome," Acharya said.

Source

Read More...

AP Discoms propose ‘shocking’ tariff hike...

 

The Andhra Pradesh power distribution companies are proposing another power tariff hike with effect from April next year. If the hike is cleared by the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC), Kiran Kumar Reddy will go down in history as one chief minister who hiked electricity tariffs thrice in three years.

Sources said stung by APERC's refusal to allow them to levy fuel surcharge adjustment ( FSA) from customers, the discoms are preparing another round of tariff hike to the tune of Rs 8,488 crore. If the state government offers similar amount of subsidy that it had extended last financial year, the burden on the power consumers would be around Rs 2,200 crore, which would mean a hike of about 10%. For the current financial year, despite a subsidy of Rs 5,530 crore extended by the state, the discoms passed on the burden of Rs 6,500 crore on the consumers which resulted in a 27.8 % hike in tariff.

APTransco chairman and managing director Suresh Chanda submitted the revenue requirement proposals related to transmission of power to the APERC on Saturday. Discoms, which were supposed to have submitted their proposals to APERC by November 30 had sought an extension of one month. They have been given time until December 10. "Discoms will present their proposals by this weekend," said a senior official in the energy department.

According to sources, tariff hike for the next year is likely to be between 10 to 27% for different categories. However, this will be finalized by APERC after it holds public hearings in January 2014.

Although discoms have indicated Rs 11,600-crore revenue gap for the year 2014-15 , the utilities were asked to prune some of their expansion projects to reduce the overall revenue gap. The state government's nonpayment of full subsidy amount to Discoms for supplying free power for agriculture constitutes a major deficit. Consequently , the total losses of the four discoms have now touched an all-time high of Rs 27,000 crore.

AP Generation Corporation (APGenco) also asked for a price revision for the power supplied from its thermal and hydel stations. State owned APGenco supplies more than 60% power to the state at the cost plus method thus reducing the burden on the state exchequer. For the years 2014-19 , APGenco requested APERC a 4% tariff hike citing rising fuel and maintenance costs.

Source

Read More...

Tata Power forms JV with Indonesian firm for development of power projects...

 

India's Tata Power has reportedly partnered with an Indonesian conglomerate company Astra International to form a joint venture in Indonesia, with each owning 50 per cent of the venture. The new venture has been set up to produce electricity. Astra, through its unit Astratel Nusantara, will set up the JV with Tata Power.

According to several reports, Astra is bidding for a 200-megawatt power plant in Indonesia. "We are one of the pre-qualification winners of the tender," Jakarta Globe quoted Astra International deputy director Paulus Bambang as saying.

Commenting on the partnership, Paulus said the company decided to partner with Tata Power because Astra did not have the necessary expertise in the field of electricity generation.

Tata Power expands global reach

Recently, Tata Power signed an MoU with the Government of Vietnam for developing a thermal power plant that will run on imported coal in the Soc Trang Province of Vietnam. India's largest integrated power company Tata Power was awarded the Long Phu 2 Power project by the Vietnam government based on the pre-feasibility studies earlier this year.

In accordance with the MOU, Tata Power will carry out feasibility studies for developing this power project on build, own and transfer basis. The Long Phu 2 Power project is Tata Power's first coal based project outside India.

Other international projects under implementation include the company's recently signed an agreement with Clean Energy Invest AS (Clean Energy) and IFC InfraVentures(IFC) for developing a 400 MW hydro project in Georgia for sale of power primarily to Turkey. Tata Power is also currently implementing a 126 MW Dagachhu Hydro Project in Bhutan.

Some of the other global projects under implementation include the company's agreement with Clean Energy Invest AS and IFC InfraVentures for developing a 400 MW hydro project in Georgia for sale of power primarily to Turkey. Tata Power is currently implementing a 126 MW Dagachhu Hydro Project in Bhutan; and has also successfully achieved financial closure of its 95 MW Tsitsikamma and 134 MW Amakhala Emoyeni Wind Projects in South Africa.

Tata Power, along with consortium partners Origin Energy and PT Supraco, won 240 MW Sorik Marapi Project, a geothermal project in Indonesia.

Source

Read More...

Power crisis looming large in Andhra Pradesh...

 

Power sector in the Andhra Pradesh is facing a piquant situation that holds the potential of turning into a crisis in the coming months thanks to the local agitations and transport problems in Odisha.

Power generation from the 2000 MW (4X500 MW) NTPC Simhadri power plant in Visakhapatnam has almost stopped for want of coal from the Talcher coal fields in Odisha.

The State gets dedicated supply of 1,000 MW from the central generating station while a portion of the balance power would be allocated depending on the need.

While a shortfall of 800 MW is already being experienced, senior officials are apprehensive that the Central Government may shut down operations of one unit (500 MW) if the situation continues in the coming days.

A major part of the NTPC plant’s requirement is being met from Talcher coal fields which supply 28,000 tonne of the total 35,000 tonne requirement.

The shortfall is, however, not felt as of now as the demand had come down significantly due to monsoon and copious rains in the recent cyclones that filled the reservoirs to the brim enabling the utilities to generate 5,000 million units hydro power this year compared to the normal generation of 2,000 MU.

Current demand

The current demand, according to officials, was around 210 MU that could be met from a judicious mix of thermal and hydel generation at least for the next one month.

But the situation could change as the demand was likely to increase steeply as rabi season peaks and summer months approach. Energy Department special chief secretary M. Sahoo directed the officials to maintain sufficient water in the reservoirs to meet the requirement.

Chief Secretary P.K. Mohanty, who also chairs the State Energy Conservation Mission, addressed letter to NTPC authorities to take steps to sort out the issues and ensure that there was no disruption in coal supply to the NTPC plant.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy too had decided to write a letter to the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry seeking additional allocation of natural gas from the ONGC fields off the State’s coast for gas-based power plants to meet the requirements.

The Chief Secretary asserted that the Government was committed to provide seven-hour free power to farm sector in the rabi season too.

Source

Read More...