Low Carbon News in India in December 2013
Single-line connection: India’s first monorail set for opening in Mumbai in the new year
The monorail, a mass transit system few countries have, is coming to India for the first time, though two years late. Five years after construction started, Mumbai’s development authority MMRDA is set to open the first phase to the public in January. Of the 19.5-km corridor from, the first phase will run 8.8 kilometres. The completed route will be the world’s second longest, after the one in Japan’s Osaka.
Centre sets up National Institute of Solar Energy
The Central Government has set up an autonomous institute — the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) — under the administrative control of the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE).
The NISE, which will function as the apex centre for research and technology development and related activities in the area of solar energy technologies in the country. Its affairs would be managed by a governing council to be headed by secretary of the MNRE and an executive committee headed by the director general, according to an official statement released on Monday. The institute would assist the MNRE and perform various tasks under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), which targets deployment of 20,000MW of grid-connected solar power by 2022 in three phases. About 1685MW of solar power capacity had been installed during the phase I of the JNNSM against the target of 1100MW, the release said.
French firms acquire 50% stake in ACME Solar Energy
French renewable energy company EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN), the renewable energy arm of France’s state electricity utility Electricite de France SA, and natural resources saving group have picked up 25% stake each in ACME Solar Energy, an energy generation and management company, to set up large scale solar projects in India. ACME Cleantech, with a capacity of 17.5MW of solar generation, is currently developing projects in two states – a 25MW project in Madhya Pradesh and another 25MW in Odisha. The joint venture plans to set up an initial portfolio of 200MW of solar power projects in various phases.
EDF EN will give ACME Solar access to EDF EN’s proven engineering expertise, leading technology partners and its R&D facility in France, where EDF EN and ACME Solar will be jointly conducting research as how to lower the costs of solar power generation.
EREN will bring in its experience and expertise in project financing, developing and structuring solar projects. It will give ACME Solar access to photovoltaic modules and other products.
This partnership marks the entry of renewable energy leader EDF EN and EREN in India. EDF EN is a market leader in Europe and North America with a portfolio of 6,538MW in gross installed capacity of green electricity generation, including both solar and wind, the statement said. EREN is active solar and wind energy player in France, Greece, Italy and Israel.
Energy audits by Tata Power save 18 million units of power in Mumbai
A large corporate Indian entity – Tata Power has conducted more than 100 energy audits under ‘My Mumbai, Green Mumbai’ campaign, thereby ensuring that industrial and commercial consumers in the city save 18 million units of electricity. Tata Power has been running this programme for more than three years to support the consumers by offering the services at highly subsidized costs.
Under the program, customer’s premise is audited by a certified energy audit agency and recommendations are provided by the energy auditors for achieving further reduction in energy consumption. Tata Power has so far carried out these audits for over 100 consumers and cumulatively provided recommendations for the reduction of over 18 million units in the past three years. Among others are small and medium establishments such as malls, offices and factories that have reduced their energy consumption by over 10 to 15% since the audits have been conducted in their premises.
Energy audit is a program that determines inefficiencies in equipments/appliances/unit operations to establish a complete energy balance of the system. These audits are conducted by professional and specialist energy auditors accredited by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) which enables consumers to undertake a studied approach towards energy saving by mapping their unique power consumption pattern and identify several opportunities to save energy.
The energy report – India: 100% renewable energy by 2050
A sustainable, renewable-energy-based economy, where as much as 90 per cent of India’s total primary energy supply is based on renewable sources, could theoretically be achieved, according to a report released by WWF-India and TERI, at WWF-India, New Delhi. The study examines the possibility of a near 100% Renewable Energy Scenario (REN) for India by the middle of the century against a reference scenario in which the economy is likely to be dependent primarily on fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas. 100% Renewable Energy by 2050 for India is a sequel report to 100% Renewable Energy by 2050 released by WWF International in 2011 that researched the technical potential and long term economic viability of a renewable-energy-based future at the global level.
India Renewable Credit Demand Rises for Fourth Straight Month
Demand for clean-energy credits in India rose for the fourth straight month as companies seek to comply with renewable targets amid enforcement by government regulators.
There were 403,862 bids to buy wind, hydropower and biomass credits, up 31 percent from the previous month, according to data from trader REConnect Energy Solutions Pvt.
Buyer-side participation is expected to increase through to April as companies purchase credits to fulfill renewable obligations by the end of the financial year compliance period, REConnect said in an e-mail to clients. Demand has surged almost 10-fold since a low in August as regulators in several states -Punjab, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Goa began cracking down on companies flouting rules.
I-T dept to save over 1L units of electricity
Income-tax department in Surat city has set a target for conserving around 1 lakh units of electricity at its headquarters and other offices in the city during the ‘Energy Conservation Week’ starting Saturday. The energy conservation week is being observed for the second consecutive year. Last year, the department had saved around 1.13 lakh units worth Rs 6.8 lakh. Surat’s I-T department is the first in the country to take up the campaign on energy conservation.
A series of events have been organized during the week, including a seminar on strategies to improve energy efficiency in buildings, presentation on saving power in daily life, distribution of pamphlets and stickers on energy conservation, screening of documentary on saving energy, drawing and painting competition for kids on energy conservation, interactive session for I-T officers, daily wagers, security personnel on energy saving tips etc.
He said the energy conservation campaign will continue throughout the year and it is expected to yield positive results in terms of increased awareness among the I-T community towards energy conservation.
Energy efficient technology Seminar
Celebrating energy conservation week, executive committee of Institution of Engineers (India) and state centre, Raipur city conducted their 11th meeting at Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) head office here. The Chairman delivered a presentation on energy conservation. In his presentation, he explained the world scenario of per capita energy consumption by various countries, narrating the projected timeline of availability of fossil fuels to cater to the per capita energy consumption.
He explained if India achieves per capita energy consumption of 5,000 kWh per person each year, then coal would suffice only for next eleven years. But, if energy efficient technology, energy conservation activities and use of renewable energy, particularly solar energy is adopted in integrated manner, then only India would be in a comfortable position in coming future.
Use of energy efficient electrical gadgets and technologies along with installation of solar power plant in decentralized manner is the best solution to assist our country to develop financially with green technology, he added. He said the quantum of subsidies being provided through government of India on petroleum products which may by default reduce by adopting energy efficient measures and solar energy based technologies.
State Power Corporation signs agreement for solar power purchase
The UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has entered into an agreement with solar power developers for purchasing 110mw of power. Under the state solar policy the state government will be setting up 500mw of power solar power plants in the state.
The New Energy Development Authority (NEDA) had invited bids for setting up of power plants compositely to the tune of 200mw. The authority had also put in place a competitive bidding process for power tariff from these power plants. Against this, the authority received bids for 130mw. On Friday, the UPPCL signed the agreement for 110mw power.
Stakeholder Workshop on the Global Protocol for Community Scale Greenhouse gas emissions (GPC)
The World Resources Institute (WRI), C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) and ICLEI organized the GPC Stakeholder Consultation Workshop in New Delhi on 11 December