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Renewable Energy

Softbank-led SB Energy Commissions 350 Megawatts Solar Project In India

written by saurabh

A joint venture of Softbank, Foxconn Technologies and Bharti Enterprises has announced that it commissioned world’s seventh largest solar power project in India.

SB Energy recently announced that it commissioned a 350 megawatts solar power project in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The project was completed 51 days ahead of its scheduled commissioning date.

The power project is expected to generate enough electricity to meet the demands of more than 700,000 Indian households.

SB Energy was the sole winner of the 350 megawatts solar power tender launched by India’s largest power generation company NTPC Limited for a solar power park in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. The auction took place in December 2015 and was awarded to SB Energy at a tariff of Rs 4.63/kWh (7.12$/kWh), the lowest in India at that time.

SB Energy plans $20 billion investment in India’s solar power market to developer at least 20 GW capacity. The company had recently signed an agreement with the government of Andhra Pradesh to set up 2 GW solar power and 1 GW wind energy capacity.

The company has also expressed desire to set up a 1,000 megawatt solar power park in the state of Odisha.

04/15/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Record 6 Gigawatts Wind Energy Capacity Likely To Be Added In India In 2017-18

written by saurabh

The Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association expects the current financial year to see the highest-ever wind energy capacity addition.

Chairman of the Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA) recently stated that a record 6,000 megawatts wind energy capacity is expected to be added in financial year 2017-18 which will be 11% higher than the 5,400 megawatt capacity added in 2016-17, also a record.

The Association expects the industry to beat capacity addition target for a third consecutive financial year as the government has continued with its push and support for the renewable energy industry.

India added 3,423 megawatts wind energy capacity in 2015-16 against a target of 2,400 megawatts. In 2016-17, more than 5,400 megawatts capacity was added, beating the target of 4,000 megawatts by 35%. According to the Association, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has set a capacity addition target of 4,500 megawatts for 2017-18.

India recently conducted its first-ever wind energy auction which yielded the lowest-ever tariffs of Rs 3.46/kWh (5.2¢/kWh). Four companies – Mytrah Energy, Green Infra (owned by Sembcorp), Inox Wind and Ostro Energy were awarded 250 megawatts capacity each while Adani Green Energy secured rights to develop 50 megawatts capacity.

The Indian government is expected to launch similar auctions in the future and state governments may also adopt the route of competitive auctions to increase wind energy capacity instead of relying on feed-in tariff mechanism.

04/14/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

India Adds Highest-ever Wind Energy Capacity, Beats Target By 35%

written by saurabh

India witnessed yet another record year for wind energy capacity addition in financial year 2016-17, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy recently reported.

The Minister for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal recently told the Indian Parliament that a record 5,400 megawatt wind energy capacity was added during the financial year 2016-17 (April 2016 to March 2017). This is 35% more than the envisaged target of 4,000 megawatts set at the start of the financial year.

The states of Andhra Pradesh (2,190 megawatts), Gujarat (1,275 megawatts) and Karnataka (882 megawatts) dominated the capacity addition, Goyal added. These figures may change as the ministry continues to compile the final capacity addition numbers.

India had also managed to beat the wind energy capacity addition target for financial year 2015-16. A total of 3,423 megawatts wind energy capacity was added that year compared to the target of 2,400 megawatts. Wind energy contributed nearly half of the total renewable energy capacity added that year in the country.

A strong capacity addition number was expected in the wind energy sector as some crucial financial incentives were set to expire at the end of the financial year 2016-17. It is not immediately clear if the projects commissioned in 2016-17 will be eligible for those incentives but the last month of the financial year saw a huge jump in capacity addition.

Between April 2016 and February 2017, a total of 2,374 megawatts of wind energy capacity was added. In March 2017 alone the capacity addition jumped to 3,026 megawatts.

04/14/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Solar Power Bids In India Have Fallen 73% Since 2010

written by saurabh

Bids in the India’s solar power market have crashed sharply ever since the government launched the National Solar Mission, data released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy shows.

According to the Ministry, average solar power tariffs in India have fallen by 73% since 2010, as Mercom reports. This has been the result of increased competitiveness and sharp decline in module and other solar equipment prices.

The first auction in December 2010 under the central government policy of National Solar Mission saw developers bidding between Rs 10.95/kWh (17.00¢/kWh) and Rs 12.76/kWh (20.00¢/kWh). A total of 150 MW solar PV capacity was auctioned with a weighted average bid of Rs 12.16/kWh. The auction saw participation mostly from Indian companies that did not have much experience in installation of solar PV projects.

At that time of the 2010 auction, India’s installed solar power capacity was less than 20 megawatts, now it stands at over 12,000 megawatts. When the National Solar Mission was announced in 2009 the target was to have 22,000 megawatts of operational capacity by March 2022. This target was upgraded to 100,000 megawatts in 2014.

Tariff began to slide even more quickly following this decision with several Indian as well as foreign project developers looking to set up large-scale solar power projects. The Indian government also distributed capacity addition targets among its own companies and organisations to boost growth. The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy announced plans to set up solar power parks with cumulative capacity of 40,000 megawatts. These solar power parks are the real drivers of record-low tariffs.

The recently completed auction of 750 megawatts solar power park in the state of Madhya Pradesh will receive funding at 0.25% from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The solar power park auction yielded India’s lowest-ever tariff of Rs 3.30/kWh (5.1¢/kWh).

04/12/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Indian Railways Can Source 25% Of Its Energy Needs From Renewable Energy Sources

written by saurabh

A study funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has identified that renewable energy sources could contribute to as much as 25% of Indian Railway’s energy needs by 2025.

The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) has found that Indian Railways could set up 5 gigawatts of solar power capacity, through rooftop and utility-scale projects, to significantly increase its consumption of renewable energy over the next few years.

The study by CEEW shows that 3,900 megawatts of utility-scale projects and 1,100 megawatts of rooftop projects can be installed by the Indian Railways with an estimated investment of $3.6 billion. Last year, the Indian Railways joined hands with UNDP to execute plans to set up 5,000 megawatts of solar power capacity.

The Indian Railways has managed to identify the solar power resource in two states so far – Gujarat and Rajasthan – where 25 MW of rooftop and 50 MW of ground-mounted capacity is to be commissioned in the first phase of the programme. In the second phase 60 MW rooftop and 660 MW ground-mounted capacity will be installed in nine other states. During the third phase, 400 MW rooftop and 3,800 MW ground-mounted capacity in rest of the country.

The Indian Railways has already announced a plan to set up 1 GW of solar power capacity over the next few years and is currently working on a plan to implement this capacity. The large-scale solar PV projects are likely to come up on the vast area of unused land available with the Railways. This capacity will be set up with support from the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy through financial assistance from the National Clean Energy Fund.

The Indian Finance Minister, in his union budget speech for FY2017-18, had announced that 7,000 railways stations across the country will have rooftop solar power systems. A pilot project has already covered 300 stations and this number is expected to increase to 2,000 soon.

04/08/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

India Generates Over 1 Billion kWh Solar Power In A Month For The First Time Ever

written by saurabh

As India continues to add new solar power capacity at a rapid pace the amount of electricity generated from these assets is also increasing to levels never seen before.

The Central Electricity Authority of India recently reported that in February 2017 India’s solar power capacity generated a total of 1.355 billion kWh of electricity, marking the first time ever when the monthly solar power generation exceeded 1 billion kWh mark.

Compared to the same month last year the power generated in February 2017 was 80% higher. The overall power generated from the entire renewable energy capacity increased only 17%. All renewable energy technologies except bagasse-based cogeneration reported a substantial increase in power generation.

The largest jump in solar power generation was reported in the southern region which saw sharp increase in the installed capacity. Several southern states, like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka saw several projects commissioned over the last few months following a string of auctions. Solar power generation in the southern states increased from 175 million kWh in February 2016 to 649 million kWh in February 2017. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka reported four times jump each in the power generation. Tamil Nadu, home to the largest solar power project in India, reported 173% increase in power generation.

Solar power generation in India is set to increase at an even more rapid pace as the country is expected to add record amount of capacity over the next few months. A recent report forecasted that India will surpass Japan to become the third-largest solar power market in the world this year.

India recently crossed the 10 gigawatts installed solar capacity mark. The Indian government expects to add 20 gigawatts over the next 15 months.

04/06/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Finnish Company Fortum Commissions One Of India’s Cheapest Solar Power Projects

written by saurabh

Finland-based Fortum Corporation recently announced that it commissioned its largest solar power project. The project, located in the Indian state of Rajasthan, is also among the cheapest solar power projects in the country.

In a recently issued press release Fortum declared that it commissioned a 70 megawatt solar PV project under India’s National Solar Mission. The project is located in the western state of Rajasthan – one of the leaders in solar power development in the country. The project is part of the Badhla solar power park owned by NTPC Limited, the largest power generation company in India.

Fortum had secured this project through competitive auction held in January 2016. The tariff of Rs 4.34/kWh (6.7¢/kWh) quoted by the company was the lowest in India at the that time and only 8% higher than the global record low bid at that time.

With the operationalisation of this project, Fortum now owns 85 megawatts of solar power capacity in India. The company is also working on a 100 megawatts project in the southern state of Karnataka which is expected to be commissioned in the first half of this year. Power generated from this project will be sold at Rs 4.79/kWh (7.4¢/kWh) for a period of 25 years.

Last year, the company also announced plans to invest €400 million in India’s solar power market to develop more projects.

04/04/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Enel Starts Construction On Largest Solar Power Project In The Americas

written by saurabh

Enel Green Power Mexico has started construction on what will be the largest solar power park across Americas.

Through a recently issued press release, Italy-based Enel Green Power announced that its Mexican subsidiary has started construction of two projects with combined capacity of 754 megawatts. These two projects will form the Villanueva solar power park which will be the largest project in Americas as well as the largest owned by Enel globally.

The two projects – 427 MW1 Villanueva 1 and 327 MW1 Villanueva 3 – will also surpass in size the largest projects in Brazil and Chile. The solar power park is expected to begin generation in H2 2018. An estimated 1,700 GWh electricity would be generated from the park every year enough to meet power consumption of over 1.3 million households. The projects shall also offset more than 780,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Enel Green Power will invest $650 million on these projects.

Enel had secured the rights to develop these two projects in the first-ever renewable energy tender announced by Mexico in March 2016. The company entered contracts to supply clean energy for a 15-year period and clean energy certificates for a period of 20 years.

The company was also awarded another solar power project – 238 megawatts – Don José in the auction. Construction in this project has also begun. Don José will generate 539 GWh electricity every year, enough to meet power demand of 410,000 households and offset more than 245,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

Enel already operates 728 megawatts capacity in Mexico – 675 megawatts of wind and 53 megawatts of hydro power capacity. Apart from the 992 megawatts solar power capacity under construction through Villanueva solar power park and Don José project, the company is also building 293 megawatts of wind energy projects. Thus, once all under-construction projects are commissioned Enel’s Mexico capacity would balloon to over 2,000 megawatts.

04/02/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

India’s Azure Power Commissions 130 Megawatts Solar Capacity

written by saurabh

One of India’s major solar power developers Azure Power announced operationalisation of three utility-scale projects just ahead of the start of the new financial year.

Azure Power announced that it commissioned three solar power projects of combined capacity 130 megawatts in the southern state of Karnataka. These projects include one of 50 megawatts capacity and two of 40 megawatts capacity each.

All three projects are tied up in long-term power purchase agreements spanning 25 years with power utilities owned by the state government. Electricity generated from the projects will be sold at Rs 6.51/kWh (0.10¢/kWh).

Azure Power is also working in partnership with Hanwha Q Cells in the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh towards the development of a 50 megawatt project.

Azure Power now claims to have the largest operational solar power capacity in Karnataka, a record that is not expected to last for too long as several developers are either developing or vying for large-scale projects within even larger solar power parks.

The company has been an active participant in various competitive auctions held under India’s National Solar Mission and was among the first companies to set up projects under this ambitious program. Azure Power is also listed at the New York Stock Exchange. The company has pledged to install 11 gigawatts of solar power capacity in India over the next few years.

04/01/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

EDF Joins Masdar For 800 Megawatts Dubai Solar Project

written by saurabh

EDF Energies Nouvelles will work with Masdar Group on the 800 megawatt phase 3 of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in the United Arab Emirates.

Masdar Group, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures and Gransolar Group have been joined by EDF Energies Nouvelles just weeks after construction on the third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai began.

The Masdar Group–led consortium was confirmed as the winner of the 800 MW solar power tender that was floated by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) last year. The phase III tender set a record for lowest-ever solar PV tariff globally at that time. The Masdar-led consortium beat the phase II winning bid of 5.84¢/kWh with a bid of 2.99¢/kWh. Masdar Group and DEWA signed the power purchase agreement for the project in November 2016.

Phase two of the solar power park with 200 megawatts capacity has already been commissioned. Tender for 200 megawatts phase four of the solar park will be opened in June this year; this phase will be based on concentrated solar power technology.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will have an eventual capacity of 5 gigawatts. The initial planned capacity was 1 gigawatt which was subsequently increased to 3 gigawatts, and now 5 gigawatts. Bids of the first 1 gigawatt of capacity have already been awarded.

03/28/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

GreenWish Doubles Solar Power Plans In Nigeria To 200 Megawatts

written by saurabh

Investment company GreenWish Partners has doubled its planned capacity addition in Nigeria’s solar power market.

GreenWish Partners now plans to set up 200 megawatts solar power capacity in Nigeria after entering into long-term agreement for power sale with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading company (NBET). The company is expected to invest $280 million to bring the capacity online.

The company plans to set up a 100 megawatt project in Enugu and two projects of 50 megawatt capacity each in Kaduna and Jigawa. The projects will be funded through 30% equity and 70% debt finance. All three projects are expected to be operational by the first quarter of next year. The 200 megawatt capacity is expected to generate enough electricity for 2.5 million people and offset 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

The company had signed agreements with NBET last year to set up 100 megawatt capacity in northern Nigeria. The agreements were part of the more than 1,000 megawatts agreements signed by various independent power producers to set up utility-scale solar power projects across Nigeria.

GreenWish CEO Charlotte Aubin-Kalaidjian stated that the conducive regulatory support and market conditions in Nigeria make it an apt destination for investment in solar power. Only 50% of the Nigerian population has access to electricity and the power sector is heavily dependent on fossil fuels.

Last year, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission approved feed-in tariff regulations for renewable energy sourced electricity. As per the provisions of the regulations, electricity distribution companies will be required to source at least 50% of their total procurement from renewable energy sources. The Commission has also mandated that the balance 50% electricity would have to be sourced from Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company.

03/28/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Dubai To Allocate 200 Megawatt CSP Project In June

written by saurabh

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) will allocate 200 megawatt concentrated solar power project in June this year.

The 200 megawatt CSP project will be part of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The solar park already has 213 megawatt operational capacity based on photovoltaic technology. Construction on 800 megawatt third phase of the solar power park has also begun recently.

DEWA has issued tender for the fourth phase in January this year. It expects bids to be around 8.00¢/kWh. In comparison, the third phase 800 megawatt capacity was auctioned at record-low tariff of 2.99¢/kWh. The CSP project is expected to be commissioned in 2021. An additional 800 megawatts CSP capacity will be added to the solar park by 2030.

The solar power park will now be increased to a capacity of 5 gigawatts. The initial planned capacity was 1 gigawatt which was subsequently increased to 3 gigawatts, and now 5 gigawatts. Bids of the first 1 gigawatt of capacity have already been awarded.

Under the recently announced Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 plan, Dubai targets 44% energy from renewable energy sources, 38% from gas, 12% from ‘clean fuels’ and 6% from nuclear energy. Almost $17 billion will be invested to expand the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

03/28/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Chinese Company Planning 200 Megawatts Solar Project In Philippines

written by saurabh

A Chinese company has expressed interest in setting up a massive solar power project in Philippines.

According to media reports, an unnamed Chinese firm plans to set up 200 megawatts solar power project in the Samar province of Philippines. Officials from the Chinese company are expected to visit the south-east Asian country soon to finalise plans about the project.

Government representatives and officials of local power company have pledged to help the country get regulatory approvals and land lease agreement. After getting all these approvals the company expects to start construction this year.

The planned 200 megawatts solar power project is expected to boost energy self-sufficiency for the Samar province which is overwhelmingly dependent on geothermal power. The project is also expected to help reduce cost of electricity in the province.

Over the last few months several project developers have expressed interest in setting up large-scale solar power project in Philippines. After the Renewable Energy Law was approved in 2008 a surge in renewable energy capacity addition was seen in the Philippines. The government had announced a feed-in tariff scheme wherein projects were offered ¢0.21 per kWh. The tariff scheme attracted overwhelming response from project developers, forcing the government to expand the capacity under the program from 50 megawatt to 500 megawatt.

03/28/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

India To Become World’s Third Largest Solar Power Market This Year

written by saurabh

India is set to overtake Japan as the world’s third-largest solar power market this year, a Taiwanese research firm has predicted.

According to EnergyTrend, the global solar PV demand is expected to remain stable at 74 gigawatts this year while India is expected to see sustained growth. The research claims that growth in China’s solar PV demand is expected to reduce slightly as the government has a lower capacity addition target compared to the last year.

Solar power in the world’s second largest market – United States of America – may fall out of favour given the political scenario. Meanwhile, in Japan the government is expected to continue to reduce feed-in tariffs, possibly leading to the dent in investments.

India, on the other hand, is expected to contribute 14% to the global solar PV demand as the government continues to push for a very ambitious installed capacity target of 100 gigawatts by 2022. The target translates into 90 gigawatts capacity addition over the next five years.

India recently crossed the 10 gigawatts installed solar capacity mark. EnergyTrend expects the south Asian country to add another 10 gigawatts this year. The government, on its part, expects to add 20 gigawatts over the next 15 months.

A total of 14 gigawatts capacity is reportedly under construction or at the design stage. A large portion of this capacity is expected to be commissioned during the upcoming financial year, stating 1 April 2017. An additional 6 gigawatts capacity is also scheduled to be auctioned soon.

03/28/2017 0 comment

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