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saurabh

Indian State Of Tamil Nadu Issues 500 MW Solar Power Tender

written by saurabh

One of the leading Indian states in terms of installed solar power capacity, Tamil Nadu, has announced another large tender.

State-owned power utility Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) has issued a tender for setting up 500 MW of solar PV power projects. The tender was floated just weeks after the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission had given an approval for the same.

Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) had approached the commission to let it auction this capacity as it would not be in a possible to meet the assigned target to acquire 5% of electricity from solar power projects for financial year 2017-18.

According to government estimates, an installed capacity base of 2.5 GW will be required to meet the 5% solar RPO target in 2017-18. TANGEDCO, however, expects that only 1.6 GW solar power capacity would be operational by that time, thus leaving a shortfall of 900 MW.

A tariff bid ceiling of Rs 5.10/kWh has been set for the purpose of competitive auction. TANGEDCO expects that the winning bids would be much lower, possibly closer to the national record low of Rs 4.35/kWh (US¢6.50/kWh).

However, participating developers may be apprehensive about the utilities record on procurement of solar power. Developers of some operational renewable energy projects had complained to the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy that the state utility had asked them to curtail generation due to lack of sufficient transmission capacity.

10/24/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Storage-backed 50 MW Solar Capacity Planned For India’s Andaman & Nicobar Islands

written by saurabh

The Indian government is looking to boost solar power in the remotest parts of the country, and in this endeavour an agreement has been signed for installation of a number of solar power projects in the islands of Andaman and Nicobar.

India’s largest power producer, NTPC Limited, has signed agreements with the administration of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy at the central government to set up solar power capacity of 50 MW across the islands.

The solar power projects will be set up at various locations across the capital Port Blair and will also be equipped with storage equipment. The solar power projects would prove a boon to the islands which are significantly dependent on fuel import from the mainland.

Setting up solar power projects at the islands is essential as they cannot be connected to the dedicated power transmission network being set for delivering power generated from large-scale renewable energy projects across the Indian states; the islands are thousands of kilometres away from mainland India.

The projects shall also be real test of India’s new energy storage program, which the government intends to integrate with its ambitious plan to set up ultra mega solar power projects of up to 4 GW capacity each.

10/24/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

First Solar To Complete 200 MW Dubai Solar Power Project By 2017

written by saurabh

The second phase of the iconic Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar power park will be complete next year, First Solar recently reported.

US-based solar modules manufacturer and developer First Solar announced that it will commission the 200 MW solar power capacity at the Dubai solar power park next year. The company is working under contract from Saudi Arabia-based ACWA Power which secured the right to develop the project through a competitive auction.

First Solar will reportedly provide 2.36 million modules that will be installed over an area of 450 hectares.

First Solar had also worked on the first phase of the solar power park which has an installed capacity of 13 MW. Auction for 100 MW second phase of the solar power park was won by a consortium of ACWA Power and TSK at record tariff bid of US¢5.84/kWh. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority then offered another 100 MW capacity to the consortium.

The initial installed capacity target for Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park was set at 1 GW by 2019. However, last year, DEWA announced that it would boost the park’s capacity to 3 GW by 2030, with a total estimated investment of $3 billion.

The solar power park is central to DEWA’s target to source 7% of Dubai’s total power output from renewable energy sources by 2020, and 15% by 2030.

10/23/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

India’s Inox Wind Secures Wind Turbine Orders Worth $300 Million

written by saurabh

One of India’s listed wind turbine companies just landed some huge order to set up projects before some crucial financial incentives expire at the end of the current financial year.

Inox Wind reported to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) that it recently multiple orders worth Rs 2,000 crore ($300 million) to set up large-scale wind energy projects across three states. The projects shall have cumulative installed capacity of 350 MW.

The company reported that all the projects are from repeat customers which include large independent power producers and corporates. The company will supply and erect wind turbines at the project sites and will also be responsible for maintenance and operation.

All the projects shall be commissioned by March 2017, just before the scheduled changes in generation-based incentives and accelerated depreciation – two of the most significant financial reforms that have driven the Indian renewable energy market over the last few years.

Inox Wind has received several large-scale orders over the last few months and has invested in expanding its manufacturing base to cater to those orders. Last year, the company increased production capacity of its turbine manufacturing facility in Madhya Pradesh from 800 MW to 1,600 MW per year.

10/21/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

ACWA Power Plans 340 MW Wind Power Project In Turkey

written by saurabh

Saudi Arabia-based power project developer ACWA Power is set to enter renewable energy sector in Turkey.

ACWA Power has announced plans to set up a large-scale wind energy project in Turkey. The proposed project will have an installed capacity of 340 MW. The company already has an operational gas-based power plant near the capital Ankara.

Expansion into Turkey’s renewable energy market is inline with the company’s similar operations and plans in other parts of the world. ACWA Power is working one of the largest solar power complexes in Morocco. The Noor-Ouarzazate solar complex is expected to have an installed capacity of 2 GW once it is fully operational by the end of the decade; ACWA Power is working on some large-scale projects as part of the complex.

ACWA Power is also operating a 50 MW concentrated solar power project in South Africa. The company is operating under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The Bokpoort project has more than 9 hours of storage and can operate during the night as well.

AWCA Power, in partnership with Masdar Group, has also announced plans to set up 1.5 GW solar power and 500 MW wind energy capacity in Egypt.

Last year, Turkey had invited bids for 3 GW of wind energy capacity. Energy Market Regulatory Authority received applications from prospective developers to set up over 42 GW of wind energy capacity, nearly 14 times the available limit. The country aims to have 20 GW of installed wind energy capacity by 2023. It has also set a target to procure 30% of all its electricity needs from renewable energy sources by 2023. The Turkish government is also looking to promoting other renewable energy technologies with target to set up 34 GW hydro power, 5 GW solar power, 1 GW geothermal power, and 1 GW biomass-based power capacity by 2023.

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10/21/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Eni Plans 420 MW Renewable Energy Capacity In Egypt

written by saurabh

Italian oil and gas company Eni has announced plans to develop a portfolio of renewable energy projects in Egypt, starting with 50 MW solar PV power plant.

The first project of 50 MW solar PV will be built in Sinai, near Eni’s Abu Rudeis facilities. The project will be jointly developed by Petrobel, an equal joint venture between Eni-owned IEOC and state-owned Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) under fast-track mode. The project will be sanctioned next month and expected to be commissioned by December 2017.

“With this initiative, the Egyptian authorities have confirmed their strong commitment towards the environment, based on the double positive effect of reducing the emissions from power generation and utilizing a green fuel in the auto transportation system,” Eni said, in a statement.

Eni already has a strong presence in Egypt since 1954 and operates through its subsidiary IEOC. Company is the owner of massive Zohr gas field and expected to start production next year, currently produces about 210,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in Egypt.

This project would be part of Eni’s green energy program which aims to develop 420 MW of renewable energy projects mostly solar power generation by 2022.

The announcement is the first since Egypt announced reduction in the feed-in tariffs for solar power projects. The Ministry of Electricity and Energy recently announced that it reduced the feed-in tariffs for solar power projects. Projects with size of 500 kW to 20 MW will now have feed-in tariffs of US¢7.8/kWh, down from US¢13.6/kWh while projects of size 20-50 MW will see feed-in tariffs fall from US¢14.0/kWh to US¢8.4/kWh.

The Egyptian government also announced plans to change rules and regulations pertaining to the second phase of solar power expansion. The government will now allow international arbitration to address disputes.

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09/30/2016 1 comment

Renewable Energy

China Sees Its Lowest-Ever Solar Power Bid At 7.8¢/kWh

written by saurabh

China has seen its solar power bids fall to a record low in a recent auction held in the province of Inner Mongolia, which is rich in solar energy resources.

According to media reports, the Chinese government conducted an auction for 1 gigawatt (GW) solar power capacity in the Inner Mongolia province. A total of 50 solar power project developers and module manufacturers successfully participated in the auction, which saw the record-low tariff of 7.8¢/kWh.

This tariff bid is comparable to some of the costliest thermal power projects in China, indicating that higher competition in the country would expedite grid parity for solar power projects – as has been the case in other developing markets.

Inner Mongolia is not only rich in solar resources but has ample land resources for the development of large-scale solar power projects, which could explain the low tariff bids.

Inner Mongolia has seen curtailment of wind energy generation over the last few years due to lack of adequate transmission capacity. However, earlier this year, the National Development and Reform Commission mandated grid companies to purchase electricity from wind and solar power projects so as to let them function a set minimum hours in a year.

China’s lowest-ever solar price bids are still higher than the lowest tariffs seen in other parts of the world. For example, Abu Dhabi recently saw a world-record-low solar bid of 2.42¢/kWh while Chile allocated solar power contracts at 2.91¢/kWh a bit earlier.

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09/30/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

India’s NTPC To Complete 1 GW Solar Power Park By March 2018

written by saurabh

India’s largest power generation company – government-owned NTPC – is on track to complete one of the largest solar power parks in the country.

NTPC Limited is working on 1 GW solar power park at Ananthapur, Andhra Pradesh in southern India. The company has already allocated and commissioned 250 MW at the solar power park and expected to commission the balance 750 MW by March 2018.

The 250 MW capacity is already operational and was commissioned earlier this year by Tata Power Solar (100 MW), Lanco Solar, BHEL and Sterling and Wilson (50 MW each).

The Anantapuram ultra mega solar power project is planned to have a total capacity of 1.5 GW spread across two sites within the Anantapurum district. The second phase of the solar park will have 750 MW capacity. Both the phases will be located at district Kunta. The balance 500 MW capacity shall come up at Galiveedu.

Apart from this solar power park, NTPC is working on several other similar projects in states across India, including Karnataka and Telangana where solar power parks of up to 5 GW capacity are under construction.

09/30/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

GE Renewable Energy Set To Commission Part of 200 MW Wind Project In India

written by saurabh

GE Renewable Energy has announced a major milestone in development and deployment of new wind energy solutions in India.

In a press release, GE Renewable Energy stated that it completed erection of 30 units of 1.7-103 wind energy turbines at Aspari I wind energy park in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The total capacity of 51 MW is part of the planned 200 MW wind energy park being developed by Mytrah Energy, one of the leading independent power producers in India’s renewable energy sector.

GE Renewable Energy will erect an additional 17 units of 1.7-103 turbines are the wind energy park. The company shall also install 52 units of 2.3-116 turbine.

The wind energy park will also be enabled with GE’s new Energy Forecasting application, part of its Digital Wind Farm ecosystem. The forecasting system will likely help Mytrah Energy more easily predict power generation from wind turbine units. This would not only help the company meet is obligation to forecast power generation, as per the new energy forecast regulations issued by the government, but also to increase revenue generation.

India’s national wind energy target is part of a broader pledge to achieve 40 percent non-fossil fuel generation capacity by 2030. The Aspari project will also support the state government’s commitment to add 9 GW of additional renewable power capacity across Andhra Pradesh over the next five years.

09/30/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

BELECTRIC Wins 104 MW Solar Power Order In India

written by saurabh

Solar power developer BELECTRIC has won a major contract to set up several utility-scale solar power projects.

Engineering, procurement and construction contractor BELECTRIC recently announced that it secured a contract to set up 104 MW solar power capacity in the southern Indian state of Telangana. The projects are owned by a consortium of Spain-based Solarpack and US-based Think Energy Partners.

BELECTRIC will set up six solar power projects, however, these projects do not seem to have been secured through competitive auction rather through direct negotiations with the state government. Power generated from these projects will be sold to local utilities under long-term agreements.

All projects are expected to be commissioned by Q1 2017 and will generate more than 160 million kWh electricity every year offsetting around 80,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, BELECTRIC claimed.

Telangana has a large number of solar power projects under construction as part of the ultra mega solar power projects scheme launched by the Indian government. Additionally, the state government also launched the largest-ever solar power tender in India last year when it allocated 2 GW capacity.

09/28/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Solar Power Dominates In Mexico’s Second Renewable Energy Auction

written by saurabh

The preliminary results of a much-awaited Mexico’s second power auction were declared last week.

According to the state power regulator and grid operator, auction was highly competitive with average price of renewables and clean energy certificates (CEL) declared at USD 33.47/MWh.

Solar dominated the Mexico’s second power auction with more than half of the total amount of energy awarded to solar PV projects. Under the auction, 4.8 TWh of energy (54%) and 4.9 million clean energy certificates (53%) were provisionally awarded to solar PV projects.

In total, 9.3 TWh and 8.9 million clean energy certificates were awarded to solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric projects. Wind energy projects constituted 43% of total energy awarded and 41% of clean energy certificates.

The average price of USD 33.47/MWh for clean energy is “among the lowest prices reached at the international level” according to Mexico’s Secretary of Energy (SENER). The price is 44% lower than the ceiling price of USD 60/MWh set by state utility CFE, the sole buyer of power.

At auction a total of 457 bids were submitted by 57 new companies including 66 bidders participating via pre-qualification certificates. The provisional winners constituted the companies like Alten Renewable Energy Mexico, AT Solar, Bluemex Power, an Engie Solar Trompezón consortium, Canadian Solar, a Fotowatio consortium, OPDE and X-Elio Energy.

The preliminary results will be validated by CENACE and SENER and on 30th September, government will announce the actual capacity it wishes to procure from solar, wind and other renewable sectors.

During first power auction held in March this year, Mexico had awarded 1,720 MW of wind and solar projects.

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09/28/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Tariff Bids For Domestic Content Solar Projects In India Falls To Lowest-ever

written by saurabh

Even as India lost review of an earlier WTO decision that found mandatory use of Indian-made solar equipment against international norms, leading project developers in the country placed lowest-ever bids for projects based on domestic content requirement.

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) auctioned off two solar power projects at one of the largest solar power parks in the country. Tata Power Renewable Energy and Adani Green Energy secured rights to develop projects of 50 MW capacity each. The projects shall form part of the Pavagada solar power park in Karnataka.

Both the projects are required to use only Indian-made solar power equipment, including modules. The companies placed bids of less than Rs 5.00/kWh (US$7.5/kWh), the lowest-ever for projects auctioned under the Domestic Content Requirement scheme.

The Pavagada solar power park is still in its very initial stages of development. While a total capacity of 5 GW has been proposed, plans for only 2 GW have been shared in the public so far.

NTPC auctioned 500 MW capacity for the solar park. The capacity was allocated to six developers who are free to choose Indian or imported solar power modules for their projects. Adani Power, Tata Power Renewable Energy and Fortum India secured 100 MW capacity each at tariff of Rs 4.79/kWh (US¢7.9/kWh).

09/28/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

India Auctions 450 MW Solar Capacity Under Capital Cost Support Scheme

written by saurabh

Solar Energy Corporation of India has auctioned another batch of projects under the Viability Gap Funding scheme.

A total of 450 MW solar power capacity was auctioned by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) in the western state of Maharashtra. The auction took placed under the Viability Gap Fund (VGF) program wherein bidders quote minimum capital cost support they would need to set up the power projects.

In the current auction, tariff was fixed at Rs 4.43/kWh (US¢6.6/kWh) with power purchase agreement with SECI for a period of 25 years. A total of seven companies were allocated capacity between 10 MW and 130 MW.

The lowest bid was placed by a company names Vijay Printing Press which secured a 10 MW project at a tariff bid of Rs 4.42/kWh and did not sought any financial support. All other winners secured projects at the fixed tariff of Rs 4.43/kWh and sought capital cost support between US$28,503/MW and US$29,988/MW.

The largest capacity, of 130 MW, was secured by a company named Solar Edge Power and Energy at US$28,503/MW. Interestingly, two foreign companies also secured large capacities. UK-based Lightsource won rights to develop 50 MW capacity while Canadian Solar will develop 80 MW capacity.

Lightsource had announced last year that it will invest in India’s solar power market following an agreement signed by the company with the Indian government. The company had announced plans to set up 3 GW of solar power capacity at a total investment of $3 billion.

09/26/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

EDF Plans To Set Up 2 GW Renewable Energy Capacity In India

written by saurabh

EDF Energies Nouvelles has announced that it sees India as a major renewable energy market for its further expansion.

Talking to an Indian daily, EDF Energies Nouvelles Chief Executive Antoine Cahuzac stated that his company aims to invest US$2 billion in the rapidly growing renewable energy market of India. Cahuzac explained that India matches EDF’s criteria for long-term and aggressive investment.

Tremendous scope for electricity demand remains in India. Additionally, renewable energy capacity still forms a small minority of India’s installed power base and thus large scope of expansion in the solar and wind energy sector remains. India is also blessed with significant solar and wind energy resources. Thus, India is an apt destination for investment by EDF, Cahuzac added.

EDF also stated that it would most likely invest in India as part of a joint venture. Cahuzac stated that several project developers in India have paced very aggressive bids for solar power projects over the last few months. These developers may be bidding keeping in mind the sharp fall in solar module prices and improvement in module efficiency. However, the government must also make sure that these project developers deliver on their projects despite these aggressive bids.

Several foreign investors have been attracted to the Indian renewable energy market due to attractive regulatory and financial environment. India has set a target to have an installed renewable energy capacity of 175 GW by March 2022, including 100 GW solar power and 75 GW wind energy capacity.

09/26/2016 0 comment

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