Jammu & Kashmir Government to install solar power plants in 18 ITI’s…

 

Minister of State for Technical Education (Independent charge), Power, Information and Rural Development Department, Vikar Rasool Wani inaugurated 66.24 KW capacity Solar Power Plant constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.62 crore at Women’s Industrial Training Institute (ITI) at Pampore here today.

On the occasion,   Vikar said that Plant is first of its kind in Valley which is funded by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under Jawahar Lal Nehru National Solar Mission scheme and constructed by Tata Power Solar Systems Bangalore.

He said that Solar Power Plants will be installed in 18 more ITIs across the State at a cost of Rs 32.20 crore, which could provide 24 hours power supply to these technical institutions, an official statement said.

The Minister said that government is committed to make maximum use of this technology and various public institutions are being provided this facility. He said that the Solar Power Technology will go long way in overcoming power crisis in the State.

Referring to the steps taken by government for popularising skill development and also for inculcating scientific temperament among students ,  the Minister said that the government left no stone unturned in extending technical education facilities to both boys and girls by opening up of a chain of polytechnics and ITI’’s in all the three regions of the State.

He said that central govt as well as State govt are jointly working hard to make new generation technically sound so that they will not go behind government jobs only instead they will setup their own income generating units with financial and technical support of State govt.

Appreciating private sector in setting up of technical institutions in the State,   Vikar said that govt alone cannot solve the problem of providing livelihood with honour and dignity to the youth, adding that the private partners can play a pivotal role in making the society rich by extending their helping hand to the government.

The Minister was accompanied by Director Technical Education, Kashmir,   Jaipal Singh, Principal Women’ s  ITI Pampore,   Mohsin Ali Khan, representative Tata Power Solar System,   Javed Ahmad and other concerned officers.

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Tangedco keen on settling contracts for three thermal projects…

 

With the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests issuing environmental clearance for the 1,320-MW (megawatt) Ennore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) thermal power project early this month, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) is keen on settling contracts for three thermal power projects of 3,300 MW before the Election Commission announces the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections by late February or early March.

Else, the power utility may have to wait for three or four months before proceeding further on the tenders for the projects, sources say.

Of the three projects, the Udangudi and Ennore SEZ thermal power projects have the capacity of 1,320 MW each. Technical specifications provided by bidders for these projects are under scrutiny.

In both these projects, three Chinese firms and the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) have participated in the bids. In respect of the 660-MW ETPS (Ennore Thermal Power Station) expansion project, the authorities are negotiating with the lowest bidder, Lanco Infratech, which has submitted the price bid. The projects – Udangudi and ETPS expansion project – received the environmental clearance in October last and June 2009.

Among the specific conditions laid down by the Union Ministry in respect of the Ennore SEZ project are the formulation of a vision document, specifying perspective plan, within six months; harnessing solar power through roof-top installations; no transportation of imported coal by road and carrying out a long-term study on radio activity and the presence of heavy metals contents in coal through a reputed institute. No waterbodies including natural drainage system in the area should be disturbed due to activities associated with the setting up/operation of the power plant.

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India Draws Bids for Triple Solar Capacity Offered for Phase II of National Solar Mission…

 

India received bids for almost triple the 750 megawatts of solar capacity offered after enticing developers with grants for the first time that will cover part of the cost of the plants.

The state-run Solar Energy Corp. of India received 58 bids for 2,170 megawatts in the country’s first national auction of photovoltaic licenses in two years, Tarun Kapoor, joint-secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, said in an interview today in New Delhi.

The technical bids will be opened today to check whether companies meet the qualifications to build plants, Rajendra Nimje, managing director of Solar Energy Corp., said in an interview. The financial bids will be opened in about a month after the initial evaluation is finished, he said.

The tender offers improved revenue security to investors seeking a foothold in a market, where the cost of sun power may equal that of other sources within three years.

The government is set to provide as much as 18.75 billion rupees ($303 million) in grants for the projects. That will reduce construction costs, allowing the winning developers to sell the electricity they generate at about the same price as conventional power.

The tender may be the “least risky” of at least nine national and state-level auctions held so far in India, said Bharat Bhushan, New Delhi-based solar analyst for Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

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Cabinet clears SPV for Neemrana model solar power project…

 

A cabinet panel Monday approved the formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for implementing a model solar power project at Neemrana in Rajasthan.

"The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the formation of a SPV for implementation and operation of the model solar power project at Neemrana, Rajasthan as a 100 percent subsidiary of the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation," an official statement in National Capital said.

The government estimates an expenditure of about Rs.35.34 crore on the project, of which the equity component is Rs.13 crore and the debt component is Rs.22.34 crore.

The project, to be implemented in association with the Japanese government, proposes using cutting-edge technology from the Asian country, the statement said.

The power generated would be sold to state-run NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam at a tariff of Rs.8.77 per unit, it added.

"The tariff applicable to industrial consumers will be determined at the time of signing the Power Purchase Agreement by the SPV with users," the statement said.

The project demonstrates the integration of solar power with industrial diesel generator sets. The statement added among the benefits it is expected to yield is the "production of green power while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by cutting down diesel consumption."

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Tata Power's hydro plants get certification for integrated management systems…

 

Tata Power, India's largest integrated power company, today announced that its hydro generating stations at Bhira, Bhivpuri and Khopoli have received certification towards the successful implementation of QMS, ISO 9001:2008, EMS: ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS :18001:2007 systems, by TUV NORD Mumbai.

These certifications are awarded to organisations who have improved their health and safety performance and demonstrated sensitivity and responsiveness towards their customers, employees and the society at large.

Speaking on the accomplishment, Mahesh Paranjpe, head -Hydros, Tata Power, said, ''We are committed to operating our facilities in an environmentally sensitive and responsible manner and facilitate clean, safe and healthy workplace to provide value to our customers, employees and all stakeholders. We are dedicated to continuously improve the Quality, Environmental, and Occupational Health & Safety management practices in order to provide world class standards in all our facilities. The certifications are the outcome of the extraordinary team work exhibited by all the employees at the Hydro stations.''

Shares of the company declined Rs 0.8, or 1.02%, to settle at Rs 77.60. The total volume of shares traded was 243,624 at the BSE (Monday).

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Moser Baer sells solar PV worth Rs 100 crore in Japan…

 

Moser Baer Solar, a subsidiary of Moser Baer India, has crossed more than Rs 100 crore PV module sales in the Japan market during April-December 2013," the company said in a statement.

Moser Baer Solar has been exporting solar PV modules to Japan for last four years and the volume of shipments has increased significantly in last nine months, the statement said.

"Japan traditionally is amongst the world's most quality conscious markets and we are proud to have established an Indian brand in high technology space here. The opportunity is big and we look forward to further our commitments in Japan's journey towards promoting clean energy," Vivek Chaturvedi, Chief Marketing Officer, Moser Baer Solar said in the release.

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TPG Growth cuts stake in clean energy producer Greenko Group…

 

TPG Growth, an arm of global private equity major TPG, has sold around a quarter of its stake in clean energy producer Greenko Group plc nearly four years after its initial investment.

TPG Growth sold a little over 2 per cent stake over the last six months in London’s AIM-listed Greenko, reducing its holding to 5.96 per cent.

According to VCCircle estimate, the stake has been sold for $6 million to $8.5 million. A large chunk of the stake has been sold earlier this month as Greenko's scrip reached over 170 pence per unit.

In January 2010, TPG Growth led a $116-million round of funding in Greenko Group plc. The PE firm will pick up a little over 10 per cent stake for around $35 million. TPG's remaining stake is worth $26 million, according to Greenko's current trading price.

Shares of Greenko were trading at 178.75 pence, up 2.14 per cent on Monday morning in London.

Greenko Group plc reported a 74.6 per cent increase in operational capacity from 244 MW in March 2013 to 426 MW by end of September 2013.

The company, backed by a slew a private equity funds, reported an 18 per cent increase in revenues to €27.9 million for the six-month period. On a constant currency basis, revenues grew by 32.4 per cent.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 49 per cent to €24.6 million, despite being affected by adverse currency movements and lower generation from biomass assets, said the company. Adjusted profit after tax increased 151 per cent to €10.5 million from €4.2 million during the same period in 2012.

Greenko Group plc raised $150 million or £100 million from GIC

Singapore, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, last year. Greenko, one of India’s largest independent power producers in the renewable energy space, raised money through its Mauritius arm.

Other investors in Greenko include Aloe Private Equity, Standard Chartered Private Equity, GE Energy Financial Services and Capital Group.

Greenko has a portfolio of wind, run-of-river hydropower, natural gas and biomass assets. The company is now focused on building new utility scale wind farms and hydropower projects across India. Greenko's goal is to reach 1,000 MW of operational capacity in 2015 and approximately 2,000 MW in 2018.

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Govt plans to offer 4 coal blocks in first tranche of auction…

 

The Centre is planning to offer four coal blocks to power sector out of the proposed ten to be auctioned in the first lot through competitive bidding in the first tranche.

"We are planning to offer four coal blocks to the power sector and other six for non-power sectors," coal secretary S K Srivastava said.

He said that in another one month the government was hoping to concretise the road map for the auction.

The ministry was learnt to have shortlisted some 29 blocks that would be put for auction through competitive bidding route.

Srivastava said the government would auction the coal blocks after deciding on the sectors to be offered.

It was yet to finalise the sectors for which the other six blocks would be offered in the first tranche, he said.

The government, in the past, had expressed confidence in completing the auction by March.

The Coal ministry was also in the process of finalising new bidding rules and a draft Request For Proposal (RFP) for public feedback had already been issued.

The draft RFP said that if an allottee was found to have directly or indirectly engaged in a corrupt, fraudulent, coercive, undesirable or restrictive practice in the bidding, then it won't be eligible to participate in any tender or RFP for another five years.

Incidentally, the ministry was trying to incorporate strong clauses to prevent any corrupt practice.

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Maharashtra slashes power tariff by 20 per cent…

 

In a major pre-election initiative, the Maharashtra government on Monday slashed power tariff by 20 per cent across all sectors.

The move will provide relief to domestic, commercial, industrial and agricultural consumers, according to an announcement by the Chief Minister's Office.

The 20 per cent cut will be applicable for domestic consumers - around 1.30 crore in the state - using up to 300 units per month.

The move drew criticism from the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The decision will be implemented in the entire state including north-east parts of Mumbai which get power from the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB).

"A decision on the other areas of the city - like north-west and south Mumbai - which are serviced by private suppliers like Tata Power and Reliance Energy shall be taken next week," an official said.

The MSEB has a total of 2.14 crore consumers in Maharashtra, of which 1.56 crore are domestic users, a MSEB spokesperson said.

Of these 1.56 crore, a whopping 1.30 crore fall in the below 300-units per month range, making them eligible for the 20 percent slashed tariff.

Maharashtra also has 3.60 million agriculture consumers, 1.60 million commercial users, 300,000 industrial and 100,000 powerlooms.

Certain other consumers like the railways are no included in the above list, the spokesperson said.

The 20 per cent reduction in tariff would mean a loss of around Rs.706 crore per month for MSEB.

However, the government will provide subsidy of Rs.606 crore per month or Rs.7,272 crore per annum to the MSEB.

The remaining Rs.100 crore per month or Rs.1,200 crore per annum will be borne by the MSEB.

Since the past fortnight, Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam has launched protests demanding reduction in power tariff in Mumbai and other parts in the interest of ordinary consumers.

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Mega Plan to Generate Power from Sewage by Bangalore Sewerage Board...

 

In its efforts to minimise power bills, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is preparing a road map to generate 100 MW of power from over 1,000 MLD of sewage generated in the city.

BWSSB Chief Engineer S Krishnappa said, “As we are consuming around 60 million units of power every month, we are incurring a lot of expenditure on electricity bills.”

“According to our estimates, we can generate around 100 MW power from the sewage generated in the city. It will be sufficient to meet 75 per cent of our  (power) needs.”

14 STPs Identified for Project

Krishnappa said BWSSB has identified 14 sewage treatment plants (STP) where methane gas can be generated from the sewage.

As the STPs are in good condition, BWSSB can start generating methane by constructing a digester near them.

“The biggest challenge is to ensure that the methane generated in the digester is pure in nature. If not, the generator that burns methane will be destroyed very soon,” Krishnappa said.

BWSSB has already initiated the process to produce electricity from sewage at one of the STPs in Hebbal valley by entering into an agreement with England-based Mott MacDonald Ltd.

Mott MacDonald Ltd team leader, Ian P Taylor said, “We have already imported the machinery required to generate 1 MW of power and initiated the process to construct a digester near one of the STPs. We should be in a position to generate electricity soon.”

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