Low Carbon News in India in October 2014
Solar-powered streetlights proposed for illuminating 10,000 villages in Telangana
The TRS government has proposed to illuminate 10,000 villages in Telangana with solar-powered streetlights in the next five years. For this, it plans to tap the solar energy in partnership with NIRD Rural Technology Park.
Minister for IT and Panchayat Raj K. T. Rama Rao, who visited the NIRD campus in Rajendernagar on Thursday after reading a report in these columns, was quite impressed with the initiatives taken by NIRD for the promotion of solar energy. Mr. Rao held talks with the NIRD director general M.V. Rao on the ways and means of tapping solar energy and taking advantage of it to offset the power shortage crisis facing the State. Mr. Rao requested the NIRD to develop a concept for Telangana so that solar energy could be tapped on a massive scale. The concept should cover entire gamut of solar lighting, maintenance and training of rural persons.
http://indiasolarmarket.com/2014/10/solar-powered-streetlights-proposed-illuminating-10000-villages-telangana/
Centre launches index to measure air quality
The ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) launched the national air quality index (AQI) on Friday. AQI, a method of informing people about the air quality in their cities, has six categories-good, satisfactory, moderately polluted, poor, very poor and severe depending on concentrations of eight main air pollutants.
The Centre’s move comes in the wake of international organizations, including the WHO, highlighting the poor air quality in India. The index will not only give people an idea of the air quality, but also the corresponding health impacts they are likely to face.
The index could also help rank how each city is doing in terms of air quality. This scheme, however, may take some more time to be operational. It will first be implemented in cities with more than a million population as well as state capitals in the next five years. Those with half million plus population will come under the AQI system in the second phase.
AQI is a method by which individual air pollution parameters of each pollutant can be translated into a single number or a set of numbers. For instance, an AQI of 301-400 denotes “very poor” quality and the corresponding PM 2.5 concentrations are 121-250 microgram per cubic metre. The scheme may initially kick off in 16 cities, which have automatic air quality monitoring stations. The rest may take longer.
The AQI doesn’t consider the total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) levels, which are basically all kinds of pollution particles in the air. Instead it considers only PM 2.5 (particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres) and PM 10 (particles less than 10 micrometres).
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Centre-launches-index-to-measure-air-quality/articleshow/44864082.cms
State, Central PSUs Join hands for Ultra Mega Power Plants
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has expressed its willingness to set up ultra mega solar power projects (UMSPPs) in joint venture with Central public sector units.
“The State Government would like to partner with NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) and other Central PSUs for furtherance of this ambitious project,” Energy Secretary Suresh Mohapatra wrote to Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
On September 22, Mahapatra had directed all district Collectors to identify 5,000 acres of land for setting up 1,000 mw UMSPPs in the State. The Ministry had asked the State Government last month to identify sites and appoint a PSU working in the field of power sector for setting up UMSPPs. As per the Ministry’s direction, any single solar power project with capacity exceeding 500 MW will be declared as UMSPP.
Meanwhile, the State Government has appointed Green Energy Development Corporation Ltd (GEDCOL), a fully owned subsidiary of Odisha Hydro Power Corporation Ltd (OHPC), as the nodal agency for implementation of the projects.
After identification of sites for the solar parks/mini solar parks, a final decision regarding infrastructure will be made, Mahapatra said.
The Centre is in the process of formulating a scheme for providing financial assistance to UMSPPs.
The Ministry is also trying to arrange loans from multilateral/bilateral international lending agencies to cover the project cost.
As the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) is ready to go for joint venture with State PSUs, the State Government is in the search of degraded non-cultivable land in big patches of at least 100 acres each for establishment of UMSPPs, Mohapatra said in his reply.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/State-Central-PSUs-Join-hands-for-Ultra-Mega-Power-Plants/2014/10/03/article2459959.ece
Govt seeks multi-billion dollar funds for solar power project
The government, which has set an ambitious target of growing India’s solar power capacity 40-fold in 10 years, is in the process of tying up a multi-billion dollar assistance from international funding agencies such as World Bank, German development bank KfW.
Solar power plays a major role in the government’s promise to provide 24×7 power in the entire country. At present, it has a miniscule 2,500-mw share in the total installed power generation capacity of close to 250,000 mw.
To take this to 100,000 mw of installed solar power over the next 10 years, it would need funds to the tune of Rs. 6 lakh crore or $100 billion. Immediately, the solar capacity would be doubled to 5,000 mw within 2014-15.
“Talks are on at the highest level in the government with leading international funding agencies to roll out this initiative…steps are also afoot to attract investors through a suitable policy for setting up solar power projects in India,” a senior government official told HT.
He said talks have been held with the World Bank, and negotiations are also on with German development bank KfW for a soft loan of over one billion euros ( Rs. 7,700 crore).
“A programmatic engagement is underway with funding agencies on solar sector supporting government’s initiatives announced in the budget on ultra mega solar power projects and solar parks,” officials said.
These would be done through a long-term partnership with Solar Energy Corporation of India, focusing on three dimensions: supporting ultra mega solar power plants through long tenure financing, beginning with 750 MW in Madhya Pradesh; large scale 100 MW rooftop decentralised solar power through partnerships with agencies such as Airport Authority of India, Railways and Warehousing Corporation of India; and by setting up five solar parks.
States such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have been identified to set up big solar power projects.
Tripathi has said the recent US visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi could see investment pouring into this sector. World Bank president Jim Yong Kim had met Modi on July 23, and 24×7 power supply was identified as priority area for World Bank support. Bank officials are already in touch with Indian officials
http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/govt-seeks-multi-billion-dollar-funds-for-solar-power-project/article1-1271162.aspx
DERC sets rules for users supplying green power
Power regulator DERC has formulated guidelines for the minimum transformer-level capacity that must be offered by consumers for connectivity to the renewable energy system and other procedural requirements. This comes a month after Delhi electricity Regulatory Commission started the process for letting power consumers become generators of renewable energy. The commission also declared tariffs for solar power generation which will be the average power purchase costs for the whole year.
Not less than 20% of the rated capacity should be offered so that the discom can connect the renewable energy system for net metering by the respective distribution transformer. This means that the transformer must have at least 20% connectivity. The commission said it would assess the DT level capacity through an independent agency to protect the consumers’ interest. “Solar power connectivity will be decided on the basis of the transformer’s capacity,” said an official.
The solar tariffs will be the average cost of power for the whole year that is procured from several sources, including thermal and gas. For FY 2014-15, the tariffs will be Rs 4.75-Rs 5 per unit. ‘The average power purchase costs are always declared at the beginning of the financial year and then trued up towards the year-end,” said chairman P D Sudhakar. Chances of consumers Delhi selling solar power to the grid, are not that high as solar generation will be possible only during very sunny days. “Most renewable energy generators will use the solar power for their own consumption. If they still export any power to the grid, the discom will pay the consumer on the basis of the tariff set as the annual average cost of power. The consumer will get due energy credits in their next power bill. At the end of the financial year, any pending energy credits will be paid to the consumer,” added Sudhakar.
With the final set of guidelines issued, consumers can now begin to become renewable energy generators. “The connectivity shall be provided on a first-come-first-served basis subject to a feasibility analysis, including operational and capacity constraints. For initial application, a fee of Rs 500 has been prescribed,” say the new guidelines. The net metering regulations outline how people can generate renewable energy on their premises and then reduce their electricity bills through the amount of power they supply to the grid. DERC officials said the idea was to make consumers independent power producers.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Delhi/DERC-sets-rules-for-users-supplying-green-power/articleshow/44271620.cms
Coal stocks at 56 thermal plants have less than 7 days’ fuel stock, says CEA
Coal stock position at thermal power plants remains critical as more than half of the generating stations have less than a week’s fuel stock.
As per the latest data (September 29) by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), 56 coal-based power plants reported critical fuel stocks of less than seven days. As many as 11 power stations were left with nil stocks on the day, the data said. Of the 56 stations, 33 had less than four days of stockpiles. These 33 stations include 10 power stations run by country’s leading thermal power producer NTPC.
As per the reasons given by CEA, all the power projects of NTPC and most of the 11 stations (with nil stocks) received less supplies from Coal India during the period.
Ministry of Coal, last week, reviewed the situation and said that the government will address the issue.
The minister had said that shortage of supplies was on account of less supply of wagons and transportation constraints.
According to an official, the coal production at the mines of Eastern Coalfields (ECL), Bharat Coking Coal (BCCL) and Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) is likely to improve only post the festive season.
Land acquisition problems, delays in getting environment and forest clearances and bottlenecks in coal transportation through railways have time and again affected fuel stocks at thermal power stations , he said.
http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/coal-stocks-at-56-therma-plants-critical-cea-ntpc-ccl-bccl/1/211070.html
MoU Signed For First Offshore Wind Power Project
An MoU for setting up a Joint Venture Company (JVC) towards undertaking the First Demonstration Offshore Wind Power Project in India along the Gujarat coast has been signed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), and Consortium of partners consisting of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Power Trading Corporation (PTC), and Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd (GPCL).
Union Minister of State (I/C), Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy described it as a great opportunity in the development of renewable energy resources in the country. The Minister also suggested for building partnership with Defence, Coast guard and Shipping to ensure seamless and time bound approval process.
The Joint Venture Company will undertake detailed feasibility study based on the inputs received from pre-feasibility studies and necessary steps for implementation of the first offshore demonstration wind power project.
The first planned demonstration offshore wind power project along the Gujarat coast will be of about 100 MW capacity. It has been proposed to provide subsidy for setting up of evacuation and transmission infrastructure of the offshore wind power to the main land including financial support for carrying out studies such as wind resource assessment, Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), oceanographic survey and Bathymetric studies.
The Ministry would also assist in obtaining clearances involved during the implementation of the project. This being a first demonstration offshore wind project in the country, will provide learning to move into this sector by taking up similar viable projects in future, enabling India to enter in the club of countries who are in the business of offshore wind power generation.
http://www.energysector.in/wind-news/mou-signed-for-first-offshore-wind-power-project
A Billion Dollars for Renewable Energy
It was mentioned that a multi-billion push for the renewable power sector is in the making for India. A ball for this will be set in motion with the signing of an MoU for a $1 billion loan agreement between the US Export-Import Bank and the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) for disbursal to grid-connected projects in India. This loan will be used only for sourcing of US equipment for (mainly solar) projects in India.
However, several reports claim that projects financed through these loans will have to use 30% of domestic (Indian) content. If true, this will be seen as an extension to Modi’s pet project “Make in India,” which aims to increase the manufacturing base in India. First Solar has welcomed this cooperation between the US and India, calling it a win-win for both developers and power consumers.
First Solar, which had grabbed a large part of orders during the first phase of India’s National Solar Mission, on account of a loophole (now closed) has lately been missing the action. The firm has worked with the US ExIm bank on a number of projects.
A host of other initiatives have been announced to foster an Indo-US cleantech partnership. This includes a Smart Cities Partnership, a new program to scale up renewable energy integration into India’s power grid, support for new cleantech innovation centers in India, cooperation to unlock private sector investment, and the formation of a new Clean Energy Finance Forum to promote investment and trade in clean energy projects.
In the warmup to Modi’s visit, India dumped the solar anti-dumping proposal it had on the table. In a recent interview with the UK-based Guardian, Piyush Goyal (Indian Minister for Energy) spoke bullishly on the growth of the Indian solar sector. He said that “for India to add 10 GW a year of solar, and six, seven or eight of wind every year is not difficult to envisage.” However he let loose the proverbial cat amongst pigeons saying that, “Coal will have to expand in a very rapid way. I would wish that the proportion of renewable energy was higher but my fear is that, even if I would want to do more, I may not be able to fund it. Coal I would be able to fund unlimited.”
http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/03/obama-modi-launch-india-us-clean-energy-partnership/
AP Govt to announce policy for wind, solar energy projects
The Andhra Pradesh Government is set to announce a separate policy to encourage wind and solar energy projects in the State.
The policy framework, now under preparation, will seek to address some of the key concerns in implementing the projects by outlining some of the subsidies and incentives.
The State utilities of the newly created residual State of Andhra Pradesh, which had signed for large parks with NTPC Ltd, SECI Ltd, NNVVNL etc, are aiming to develop about 10,000 MW of renewable energy portfolio by 2018-19.
The State has invited bids for procurement of about 2,400 MW of power and 500 MW of solar power.
Andhra Pradesh has also been chosen by the Union Power Ministry under the Power for All Scheme and for setting up of an Ultra Mega Solar Power Park with an installed capacity of 2,500 MW.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/ap-govt-to-announce-policy-for-wind-solar-energy-projects/article6457573.ece
Goa ‘very vulnerable to climate-change impacts’: Pachauri
While Goa is “very vulnerable” to a large number of climate-change impacts, it must lead the way in sustainable development and with vision and innovation emerge as a model not only for India but also for the rest of the world, said Nobel peace prize laureate Rajendra Kumar Pachauri on Saturday.
Pachauri was delivering the keynote address at the first Matanhy Saldanha memorial lecture on the subject ‘Environment: A gift to mankind to be sustainably used and conserved for future generations’.
Pachauri said Goa, being a coastal state, is vulnerable to the impact of climate change which is leading to sea level rise as a result of the melting of ice bodies across the globe. There is also thermal expansion of the oceans.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Goa-very-vulnerable-to-climate-change-impacts-Pachauri/articleshow/44872403.cms