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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

Articles Renewable Energy

2 GW Chinese Solar Project To Be World’s Largest

written by Joshua Hill

China’s largest private investor group, China Minsheng New Energy Investment Co., is developing a 2 GW solar farm in the Ningxia region which will be made up of some 6 million solar panels.

A report from Bloomberg last week highlighted the massive solar project, which is being developed in phases by China’s biggest private investor group. The Ningxia solar project will eventually cover 4,607 hectares, and be made up of approximately 6 million solar panels. According to Bloomberg, it will be the largest solar farm the world has ever seen, requiring an investment of up to $2.34 billion.

Not only will the Ningxia solar project be the largest in the world, it will be larger or comparable to some countries’ total installed solar capacity.

bloomberg-1

As Bloomberg notes, the new project “is emblematic of China’s clean-energy ambitions.” As we saw earlier this year, China installed 22 GW of grid-connected solar in the first six months of 2016 alone, including a phenomenal 11.3 GW connected in June alone. This is on top of the 18.6 GW that was said to be installed in 2015. Bloomberg notes that China’s solar installations more than doubled to 50 GW in the two years through 2015, and everyone is predicting that China’s installed solar capacity is only set to soar over the next few years, thanks to a burgeoning economy, increasing population, and decreased solar costs — not to mention clean energy targets and worldwide pressure for countries like China (and India) to make cleaner energy capacity additions.

09/27/2016 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

Renewable Energy

India’s Orient Green Power Eyes 1 GW Wind Energy Capacity In 3-4 Years

written by saurabh

Chennai-based wind generation company, Orient Green Power, joint venture between Shriram EPC and Bessemer Venture Partners has announced plans to achieve 1,000 MW installed wind energy capacity over the next 3-4 years.

Taking advantage of Indian government ambitious wind energy initiatives, Orient Green Power is keen to increase its wind energy portfolio across the country with an estimated investment of Rs 1,000 crore (US$150 million).

According to S Venkatachalam, Managing director of Orient Green Power, the company has a huge scope to almost double its wind energy portfolio by targeting 1,000 MW over the next few years. Currently, company has an operational capacity of around 425 MW and 57 MW of projects at various stages of development.

Orient Green Power plans to add over 100 MW per year to achieve this target. Company also plans to add 47 MW of additional capacity to its existing 50.54 MW wind farm at Tadipatri in Andhra Pradesh.

The company had reported a loss of Rs 22.7 crore (US$3.4 million) in the first quarter of financial year 2016-17 mainly because utilities did not take power from the wind projects due to lack of grid availability in Tamil Nadu. To overcome the huge loss, company has sought restructuring of the debt under the 5:25 scheme launched by Reserve Bank of India last year which enables infrastructure loans to be extended up to 25 years which an option of refinancing after every five years.

Orient Green currently has operational wind assets in Tamil Nadu (308 MW), Andhra Pradesh (75 MW), Gujarat (29 MW) and Karnataka (1 MW) and 11 MW in Europe. It is also planning to expand in Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

09/24/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

SoftBank, SkyPower Global Eye Share In 1 GW Solar Power Park In India

written by saurabh

A number of Indian and foreign project developers are looking to set up projects under the planned 1 GW solar power park in the Indian state of Odisha.

According to media reports, interested developers include SoftBank-led SB Energy and Canada-based SkyPower Global. Among the Indian developers looking to set up projects are Azure Power, Panchvaktra Holdings, Orange Renewable and Shapoorji Pallonji.

Last year, the government of Odisha has announced plans to set up 1 GW solar power park spread over 5,000 acres of land. The state would acquire 20% of the electricity generated while the developers shall be free to sell the balance in open market, perhaps one of the reasons for such great interest shown by these companies.

Under the public partnership model, Green Energy Development Corporation of Odisha Ltd (GEDCOL), a 100 per cent subsidiary of Odisha Hydro Power Corporation would be the nodal agency for implementation of the solar park. GEDCOL would partner with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for development of this park.

Auction of projects that will form part of the solar power park will likely by conducted by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) which also recently auctioned 270 MW solar power capacity in the state.

09/24/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Indian Thermal Power Sector Feels The Pinch Of Renewable Energy Surge

written by saurabh

Experts in the Indian power sector feel that the huge capacity addition planned in the renewable energy sector could spell doom for the thermal power sector.

India plans to have an operational renewable energy capacity of 175 GW by March 2022. The Central Electricity Authority reports that thermal power projects are currently operating at plant load factor of 50% and once large-scale renewable energy projects the PLF could fall even further.

These are real concerns for several thermal power project developers and operators. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has announced plans to add upto 17 GW solar power capacity every year till 2022. The government has also given ‘must run’ status to wind and solar power projects which means that utilities will have to acquire electricity from these projects even if demand falls. In order to match the falling demand the utilities must first shutdown thermal power projects and make savings on coal and greenhouse gas emissions.

The central government is also trying to persuade states to strictly implement the Renewable Purchase Obligation that require utilities to acquire a set minimum percentage of their electricity from renewable energy projects; there is a separate RPO for solar power as well.

If RPO targets are implemented judiciously the procurement from renewable energy projects will increase significantly while procurement from thermal power projects will very likely fall. This will further impact the performance of thermal power plants.

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09/24/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

India’s Adani Green Energy Commissions ‘World’s Largest Solar PV Project’

written by saurabh

India’s largest solar power project developed by a single company has finally been fully commissioned.

One of its leading industrial conglomerates – Adani Enterprises – has announced that it commissioned a 648 MW solar PV project in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Adani Green Energy, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, reported that the power plant has started feeding electricity into the grid.

Adani Green Energy is believed to have invested a total of Rs 4,550 crore (US$680 million) in the project which was completed in a record time of eight months. In June this year, ABB India (which erected substations to connect the power plant with the grid) announced that 360 MW capacity was commissioned and linked to the grid.

The Kamuthi solar power park in Tamil Nadu will be spread across 5 different solar power projects. Power generated from park will be sold to Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation through a long-term power purchase agreement with duration of 25 years. Adani Group had signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Tamil Nadu to set up the solar power park in 2015.

The power is expected to be sold at Rs 7.01/kWh (US¢10.0/kWh) which represents a huge premium to the tariffs discovered in the recently concluded solar power auctions. Bids by Indian project developers seem to have stabilised around Rs 4.70/kWh (US$7.00/kWh).

The project is now the largest solar power project implemented by a single developer in India, and perhaps the world. In India, it overtook the 151 MW solar PV project developed by Welspun Renewables in Madhya Pradesh – the project, along with other assets of Welspun Renewables have now been acquired by Tata Power Renewable Energy.

India is also host to the Charanka solar power park, located in Gujarat. The solar power park has an installed capacity of 345 MW developed by several companies, including Adani itself.

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09/23/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Jordan To Auction Up To 700 MW Renewable Energy Capacity This Month

written by saurabh

Jordan plans to further expands its renewable energy infrastructure through a fresh auction of solar and wind energy projects this month.

According to media reports, Jordan’s Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources will launch 400-700 MW tender for solar and wind energy this month. This tender will be the third auction of solar power projects and second for wind energy projects.

In May 2015, Jordan allocated 200 MW of solar PV power projects in the second round auction, after a total of 33 companies had submitted technical proposals to set up power projects. However, only 24 of them submitted financial bids eventually. Four developers submitting the lowest bids would be selected to develop 50 MW capacity each. The lowest tariff bid has been submitted by a Greek company, SUNRISE Photovoltaic Systems, which placed a bid of just US¢6.13 per kWh. Saudi Oger, Fotowatio Solar Renewable Ventures and Hareon Solar also secured 50 MW project each.

In February 2015, the government auctioned 200 MW solar and wind energy capacity. It was the first ever-renewable energy in Jordan.

Jordan has set a target to install 600 MW solar PV capacity and 1,200 MW wind energy capacity by 2020 to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels. To reach the 2020 renewable energy target and further enhance clean energy infrastructure the country has established the Jordan Renewable Energy and Efficiency Fund which is financed by the government as well as international donors like the French Development Agency and the World Bank.

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09/23/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

India To Auction Another 150 MW At Gujarat’s Charanka Solar Park

written by saurabh

Solar Energy Corporation of India continues to take steps to further increase the capacity of one of India’s largest solar power park.

Another tender of 150 MW has been floated by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for the Charanka solar power park. The tender will offer the capacity in project size of 50 MW each.

The prospective project developers will be free to source the solar equipment and modules from Indian or foreign manufacturers. The solar power park already has an installed base of 345 MW while SECI has auctioned an additional 265 MW capacity recently.

In June this year, two projects of 40 MW capacity each were secured by government-owned Gujarat Industries Power Limited. The company sought capital cost support of Rs 67.99 lakhs/MW (US$101,810/MW) and Rs 69.75/lakhs per MW (US$104,446). The total capacity cost for the project is expected to be around Rs 5.30 crore/MW (US$793,640/MW).

Another 40 MW project was secured by renewable energy IPP Orange Renewables which quoted a bid of Rs 70.25 lakhs/MW (US$105,344/MW).

Two 40 MW projects have reportedly been allocated to Mahindra Renewables, part of the Mahindra & Mahindra industrial conglomerate. One of the projects is to be developed using Indian-made solar PV modules only. Interestingly, the company placed the same bids for both the projects – Rs 77.77 lakhs/MW (US$116,455/MW).

Last month, SECI auctioned 65 MW solar PV power capacity in the Charanka solar power park, Gujarat. Indian project developers ReNew Power Ventures and Mahindra Renewables secured 40 MW and 25 MW capacity, respectively. ReNew Power Ventures quoted a bid of Rs 7.01 million (US$104,700) per MW while Mahindra Renewables placed a bid of Rs 7.77 million (US$115,892) per MW. The developers shall be free to choose imported or Indian-made modules.

09/23/2016 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Vikram Solar To Expand Solar Module Production Capacity To 2 GW

written by saurabh

Vikram Solar, India-based solar module manufacturer has announced plans to expand its manufacturing capacity to 2 GW by 2019. The current manufacturing capacity of the company stands at 500 MW.

The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with German Teamtechnik to support its expansion plans. Under the MoU, Teamtechnik will supply equipment for solar module production and put them into operation as well as train operations managers, process engineers and service technicians at Vikram Solar.

Both the companies are also planning to collaborate in the area of materials research, process optimization and production technology in future, with the intention of improving solar panel efficiencies while continuing to reduce module costs.

The company’s collaboration with Teamtechnik for module capacity expansion will further supplement its existing collaboration with Fraunhofer ISE, Meyer Burger and Centrotherm.

Vikarm Solar plans to invest over INR 400 crore (US$6.04 million) for the expansion plan and expected to generate more than 3,000 jobs.

Gyanesh Chaudhary, MD & CEO of Vikram Solar said, “We are very happy to work with Teamtechnik. Their solutions have been shown to facilitate production of highly efficient solar modules while keeping costs particularly low. Another key factor in our decision was that their production technology can be expanded in order to integrate highly efficient technologies such as PERC and bifacial cells into the production process.”

Vikram Solar is the only Indian solar module manufacturer to be listed in the Tier 1 PV module manufacturer rankings maintained by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The company, earlier this year, announced that it expanded operations and services in 14 new markets in sub-Saharan Africa, including Botswana, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.

09/23/2016 0 comment

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