Low Carbon News in India in May 2015
Renewable energy gains momentum in India: US
The US has praised India for its “considerable momentum” towards clean energy, saying that over 10 per cent of the country’s electricity will come from renewable energy by 2022.
“India has put forward a target of 175 gigawatts of renewables by 2022, which would mean well over 10 per cent of their electricity would come from renewable energy by that year,” Rick Duke, Deputy Director White House Office of Energy and Climate Change said.
“So we see considerable momentum coming out of that joint statement,” Duke said in response to a question on US-China joint announcement at a discussion on US Climate Commitments convened by World Resources Institute.
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/renewable-energy-gains-momentum-in-india-us/
MoU between India and Seychelles on renewable energy cooperation
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Renewable Energy Cooperation between India and Seychelles in March, 2015, during the visit of the Prime Minister to Seychelles. The objective of the MoU is to strengthen, promote and develop renewable energy cooperation between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The MoU will also help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of renewable energy.
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/pmreleases.aspx?mincode=28
New Solar Passive Building of the National Institute of Solar Energy
Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy, inaugurated today “ Surya Bhawan” the New Solar Passive Building of the National Institute of Solar Energy situated in Gurgaon, Haryana. The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) is the apex National Centre of research and development in Solar Energy under administrative control of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India. It coordinates solar energy research & technology related work in the country under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM).
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/pmreleases.aspx?mincode=28
Delhi government plans big push to green energy
To encourage consumption of clean and renewable energy in the national capital, Delhi’s AAP government is planning to promote the usage of energy from such sources and will urge citizens to install “net meters” at their residence places and business enterprises.
A senior government official said the government wants to encourage use of renewable energy sources like solar power, which is aimed at minimising dependence on conventional power sources like coal. “The administration is planning to promote clean energy initiatives and fund research in the area. Delhi has a massive potential to produce power from alternative sources, and we are keen on tapping that potential.”
To promote renewable energy, DERC had recently come out with its roof-top solar “net metering” policy and has claimed to have received 500 queries and more than 50 applications in this regard. Its has formed centralised teams to process all the applications and ensure proper installation of the meters, etc.
The city has a renewable purchase obligation (RPO) of 0.2 per cent for 2013-14 — it has to meet 0.2 per cent of the demand through renewable energy. By 2016-17, the RPO will touch 0.35 per cent. The official said that with power distribution utilities selling about 25 million kW in 2013-14, there is a need for 50,000 kW of solar energy, necessitating 35.5 MW of installed capacity.
http://www.asianage.com/delhi/delhi-government-plans-big-push-green-energy-880
India Increases Renewable Energy Capacity By 13%, Beats Target
India’s renewable energy market is showing the first signs of revival as the installed capacity jumped by 12.9% during the 12 months to 31 March 2015, latest data released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy shows.
India added 4,089 MW renewable energy capacity in financial year 2014-15, a capacity addition of 8.5% more than the targeted figure of 3,770 MW. It was also possibly one of the rarest moments in India’s renewable energy sector when all three leading sub-sectors overachieved on the allocated targets.
2.3 GW wind energy capacity was added as against a target of 2 GW. Government had planned to add 1.1 GW of solar power capacity, 12 MW capacity in addition to this target was added during the last financial year. Solar power technology also surpassed biomass-based power generation as the third-largest renewable energy source in terms of installed capacity in India. Solar power capacity now has a share of 10.5%, up from 8.3% at the end of FY 2013-14.
The capacity addition target of 250 MW for the small hydro power technology was also achieved. In India, hydro power projects with less than 25 MW installed capacity are considered renewable energy projects. Capacity addition target was overachieved in bagasse-based cogeneration where projects worth 360 MW were added as against a target of 300 MW.
Biomass-based power generation missed the capacity addition target, adding only 45% percent of the targeted value. Just 4% of the capacity addition target was achieved in waste-to-power category.
http://cleantechnica.com/2015/05/07/india-increases-renewable-energy-capacity-13-beats-target/
Essel, JA Solar JV to Set Up Rs 950-Cr Facility in India
Essel Group on Monday said it has entered into an agreement with China’s energyfirm JA Solar to launch a joint venture for manufacturing solar cell and modules in India. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up the JV company with an approximately 50:50 partnership and equity arrangement was signed between Essel Infraproject Ltd (EIL), the flagship infrastructure arm of the Essel Group and JA Solar (JAS), it said.
The JV company will set up a manufacturing facility in India with an estimated capital expenditure of $150 million (Rs 950 crore) out of which $30-45 million (Rs 190 to Rs 285 crore) will be by means of equity funding. It will focus on using the latest cutting edge photovoltaic (PV) technology to manufacture solar cells, panels and modules in India. The facility is expected to turn out 500 MW of power per annum.