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1 October - 15 November 2008
General | Solar Energy | Hydel Energy | Wind Energy | Bio Energy | Nuclear Energy
Climate change meeting emphasizes solar energy
11 November 2008
Minister for panchayati raj, Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar, and minister for science and technology and earth sciences, Mr. Kapil Sibal discussed on the national action plan on climate change, drafted a few months ago after many consultations with various ministries.
The government, in June 2008, had announced the plan to deal with climate change. For this purpose eight missions were formed focusing on areas like solar energy, enhancing energy efficiency and so on. The plan also emphasized on the importance of solar energy by stating that photovoltaic cells are becoming cheaper with new technology.
The ministers also emphasized on the need for developing or transferring green technologies, which requires a lot of research work before actually initiating mitigating strategies.
Rules for Renewable energy investments
10 November 2008
According to the United Nations Environment Program report on global trends in sustainable energy investment, global investments in the renewable energy sector climbed to US$148 billion in 2007. Renewable energy is emerging as one of the fastest growing industry segments in the world.
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TERI organized seminar on climate change and eco technologies
05 November 2008
TERI has organized a seminar on the global environmental issue of climate change inaugurated by Dr. Karan Singh, Hon'ble Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha in the presence of eminent personalities from India and a delegation from Belgium headed by the King of Belgium, Albert II and Queen Paola.
Apart from talking about finding an urgent solution to climate change, Dr. Singh also talked about technological and policy solutions of making large-scale renewable energy available in India in his inaugural address.
Google plans to invest in energy sector
29 October 2008
Internet search and advertising leader Google Inc is increasingly looking at the energy sector as a potential business opportunity. Google has hired engineers who are conducting research in renewable energy. Together with their experience with and the help of electronic gadgets, Google plans to develop energy tools for consumers.
Google.org, the company's philanthropic unit is considering large investments in projects that generate electricity from renewable sources.
Haryana to invest US$ 5102 million to add 5,000 MW power
29 October 2008
The state of Haryana is planning to add 5000 Mega Watt (MW) of power by 2012 to the current capacity of 4,600 MW through conventional power with an investment of about US$ 5102 million. The state is also planning to increase the renewable energy contribution to 10 % in the state, for which it has signed six MOU’s for setting up various renewable energy projects with a total capacity of 714.8 MW. This addition is expected to bring investments to the tune of around US$ 48.9 million before December 2009.
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Texas Instruments chips to aid solar lighting products
8 November 2008
Global semiconductor major, Texas Instruments (TI), which has provided the technology for a solar-powered LED (light emitting diode) lamp, is saying that it is more economical in the long run. TI’s MSP430 microcontroller chip is set to become the key part of the solar LED lanterns. Being a low-power device, MSP430 has got an advantage in solar applications where optimal efficiency is the main factor. This device can be used to control LEDs as well as for charging the battery.
Solar power companies cheer green initiatives
06 November 2008
Solar power companies in India are feeling very optimistic with the newly elected US President, Mr. Barack Obama’s stand to build alternate energy sources and to extend tax incentives for solar power projects.
The tax breaks are expected to encourage private investment from photovoltaic companies. For instance, Moser Baer is planning investments to the tune of US $3.6 billion in research, development and manufacturing of products dedicated to generating solar power. Other companies like Tata BP Solar and Reliance Industries Ltd. are also going to benefit in their respective plans.
India to harness potential of solar energy
30 October 2008
Many domestic and international companies are coming up to set solar projects in India. Titan Energy Systems Ltd., Hyderabad India has been awarded the contract to supply, install and maintain a 2MWp grid-connected solar power plant by the West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation (WBGEDCL), a government of West Bengal initiative.
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The primary reason for the interest in solar power projects is the Solar Incentive Package Scheme (SIPS) of the central government, which has so far drawn interest from about 14 players proposing a staggering investment commitment of about US$ 28571.4 million. The Ministry for Non-conventional and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) Generation-Based Incentive (GBI) scheme has ensured a steady return framework for the solar technologies which has been further expanded by states such as Rajasthan and Punjab. SIPS and GBI together are expected to result in significant capex reduction with long-term revenue assurance that is expected to spur private investment in solar generation.
Haryana is leading in solar energy
26 October 2008
The Haryana Government has taken a lead in installation of solar water heating systems in social sector institutions as an innovative initiative aimed at benefiting socially deprived sections of the society. The scheme has drawn praise from all quarters including the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Govt plans incentives to boost solar energy
17 October 2008
After introducing incentive scheme for 50 mw for solar energy, the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), is now planning to lift this 50 mw ceiling to make the investors and states to think big and go for greater capacity installations. The solar mission has been working out a framework for creating facilities to generate 1,000 mw from solar energy in the next decade. The ministry has sent the proposal to the Planning Commission to lift this ceiling and offer incentives without limit to boost energy generation.
Solar energy can reduce the energy crisis in India
8 October 2008
As per a report by United Nations Human Development, India suffers a huge power deficit with over 400 million people in the country having no access to electricity. To overcome this crisis, government should concentrate on tapping the conventional sources of energy like wind and solar. By tapping solar energy, the country could have an immediate solution to its energy problems.
Only about 1, 748 MW power is produced from solar energy in India as of now while the country needs 130,000 MW of electricity every year. As far as renewable energy sources are concerned, they contribute about five % of the country's electricity whereas thermal power plants provide as much as 65% of the total capacity.
Hence, solar energy equipped with technology can easily become one of the most replenishing, pollution free and inexhaustible sources of energy in the country.
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Hydel power cheaper than nuclear energy
28 October 2008
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal signed an MoU for two hydel projects between HP government and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam - the 775mw Luhri project in Kullu district and the 40 mw Dhaulasidh in Hamirpur. On the occasion, Mr. Dhumal said hydel and other sources of power are still cheap and abundantly available in the country.
Commenting on the Indo-US nuclear deal, the minister said that the nuclear energy is expensive and the country will have to depend on foreign powers for its raw material. On the other hand, hydel power has tremendous prospects as water is vastly available for its generation and it does not depend on other things for extracting it.
Remote sensing identified over-reporting of facts in Teesta project
27 October 2008
The central government has asked the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad to identify the imbalance in irrigation potential created and actually utilized by the states, which is widening since the First Plan in 1951. The remote sensing technology has helped the center to identify over-reporting on irrigation potential of the Teesta Hydel Project by the West Bengal government and revealed large variations in field study.
India to receive US$ 800 million ADB loan to tap Himalayan hydropower
24 October 2008
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan amount of US$ 800-million to aid the state of Himachal Pradesh in India to expand its hydropower generation. The state is initiating a number of projects in the western Himalayas and plans to harness five major rivers to build hydropower plants that could together supply 808 megawatts capacity.
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Suzlon, Martifer negotiating on REpower stake sale date
4 November 2008
India's Suzlon Energy and Portugal's Martifer announced that the companies were negotiating a schedule for the Indian firm to purchase Martifer's 22.48 % stake in Germany's REpower. In a joint statement issued in India, the companies said that the initial agreement was for a payment in May 2009, but in August they had agreed to bring forward the purchase of Martifer's stake to mid-December.
Suzlon Energy’s Q2 net profit announced; down 95.2 %
31 October 2008
Wind turbine maker Suzlon Energy Ltd. announced its quarterly net profit, down at 95.2 % on foreign exchange losses. Suzlon’s net profit in the September quarter fell to US$3.4 million from US$ 72.7 million. The total income rose to US$ 456 million from 16.95 billion.
14,000 MW of additional wind power estimated by 2012
23 October 2008
The Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA) has appealed to the Centre and State Government to strengthen the grid to accommodate additional power from the possible addition of 14,000 MW of Wind power during the 11th plan. IWTMA has plans to bring in new technology to add more capacity. Over 216 locations have been identified for potential generation of wind power, ranging from 200 MW to 400 MW in different states.
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Centre planning to remove cap of 49 mw for private units
16 October 2008
Centre is planning to remove a cap of 49 mw for private units in the area of wind power generation. The removal of the cap is to ensure incentives to the private player in the wind power generation sector and to attract more players to the sector.
As per statistics, private investments on renewable energy had received over US$100 billion in 2007, with a chunk of it invested in wind energy. The Government has appointed a consultant to prepare the draft for the Renewable Energy Law, and the draft is expected to be submitted by the consultant in six months.
RRB energy receives over US$ 74.4 million orders
2 October 2008
RRB Energy, one of the leading wind electric generator manufacturers announced that the company has bagged orders worth US$ 76.2 million from independent power producers (IPP) for their wind farms in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
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Ispat Energy aims to produce bio-CNG
30 October 2008
Ispat Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of Ispat Industries Ltd, plans to produce bio-CNG. The company is planning to invest over US$ 204 million in the current fiscal for producing bio-CNG from pressmud, a byproduct of sugarcane processing. Biogas, which is extracted from pressmud, is further chemically treated to produce bio-CNG. The gas produced can be used as a fuel for transportation and industrial applications.
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Hinduja plans to invest in nuclear power plants
19 October 2008
The Hinduja group announced that the company is widening the scope of their investments in India to include nuclear power plants in collaboration with foreign partners. The group Chairman, Mr. S P Hinduja said that the economic strength of India or any other country should not be measured by the performance of stock markets.
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