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Renewable Energy

World’s First Airport To Run Solely On Solar Power Set To Double Plant Capacity

written by saurabh

The 15.5 megawatts solar project that powers the Cochin International Airport in southern India will soon see an expansion, thus adding to the airport’s distinction as the world’s first to be powered solely by solar power.

Cochin International Airport Limited, the company that operates the airport in the southern Indian state of Kerala, had announced in 2015 that it commissioned a 12 megawatt solar power project following a successful pilot that included just 400 solar panels.

The 12 megawatts project included 46,000 panels and generated more electricity than was required by the airport. The project was subsequently expanded to a capacity of 15.5 megawatts, with the excess electricity being sold to the grid. Meanwhile, electricity demand at the airport is expected to increase with the launch of a new terminal.

The airport operator will increase the capacity of ground-based solar power project from 15.5 megawatts to 21.5 megawatts. An additional 2.7 megawatts capacity shall be installed atop parking lots. The company shall install around 8,500 solar panels covering 0.225 million square feet of parking lot that will have a capacity of 1,400 cars. The parking lot shall also have the facility for charging electric cars.

Several Indian airports are looking to utilise surplus land to set up utility-scale solar power projects. The Indian minister for civil aviation had announced that as many as 143 airports around the country will install a total of 148 MW of solar capacity over the next few months.

03/27/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Hanwha Q Cells, Kalyon Enerji Win 1 Gigawatt Solar Park In Turkey At 6.99¢/kWh

written by saurabh

A consortium of Hanwha Q Cells and Kalyon Enerji has secured the rights to develop the largest solar power project in Turkey.

According to media reports, consortium of the two companies secured 1,000 megawatts solar power project in the Karapınar region of Turkey at an impressive bid of 6.99¢/kWh. The project will also have a 500 megawatts solar equipment factory nearby. In October last year the Turkish government had announced plans to launch this tender.

The total project cost is expected to be $1.3 billion with work expected to begin in three months. The solar equipment factory is expected to be online in 21 months. Solar panels used in the project will be sourced from this factory itself.

The solar park is expected to cover 2,000 hectares of land and will generate 17 TWh electricity every year, enough to power 600,000 homes. The first phase of the project is expected to be commissioned in 2018.

The tariff quoted in the reverse auction shall be valid for a period of 15 years. Hanwha Q Cells-Kalyon Enerji had to compete with three other consortia; Limak – CMEC – Hareon Solar, Çalık Enerji – Solargiga, and AKC and Güneş.

Turkey has set a target to acquire 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 targets to set up 34 GW worth of hydro power, 5 GW worth of solar power, 1 GW worth of geothermal power, and 1 GW worth of biomass-based power capacity, all by 2023.

03/26/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Tata Power Solar Doubles Module Production Capacity To 400 Megawatts

written by saurabh

One of the largest solar panel manufacturers in India has doubled it production capacity to 400 megawatts.

Tata Power Solar issued a press release stating that it has increased its solar panel production capacity from 200 megawatts to 400 megawatts. The company has also increased its solar cell production capacity from 180 megawatts to 300 megawatts.

The company is perhaps looking to expand its operations and capacity with an eye on the rapidly expanding Indian solar power market. The Indian government has set aside a substantial amount of capacity to be implemented using Indian solar panels.

The company will also look to export solar panels to other countries. Tata Power Solar recently became the first Indian manufacturer to ship 1 gigawatts of panels worldwide.

Tata Power Solar is rated tier-1 module manufacturer by BNEF. They have shipped 1 GW modules to over 30 countries, of which more than 60% was shipped in the last five years.

Tata Power Solar operates the largest solar power project in India that uses domestically manufactured solar panels. The 100 megawatts project is part of the Anantapur ultra mega solar power project. The project now has an installed capacity of 250 megawatts.

Tata Power Solar also holds the record of commissioning the world’s largest rooftop solar power project of 12 megawatts capacity.

03/22/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

ACWA Power Commissions 200 Megawatts Solar Project In Dubai

written by saurabh

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority recently announced that the second phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park has been commissioned.

The 200 megawatts project of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park takes the total capacity of the park to 213 megawatts. The project was allotted to a consortium of ACWA Power and TSK at then-lowest tariff of 5.98¢/kWh.

The project was officially launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The project consists of 2.3 million solar panels supplied by First Solar. The project is spread over 4.5 square kilometres and will generate enough electricity to power 50,000 homes and offset 214,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

ACWA Power secured debt financing loan worth $344 million for the project. The 27-year loan will be provided by Abu Dhabi’s First Gulf Bank and 2 Saudi banks — the National Commercial Bank and the Samba Financial Group. Paddy Padmanathan, Chief Executive Officer, ACWA Power had announced at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2015 that the company would secure debt financing at a low interest rate of just 4%.

The solar power 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.

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.

Phase III of the solar power park, with capacity of 800 megawatts, was awarded to a consortium of Masdar Group, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures and Gransolar Group. The project was awarded at 2.99¢/kWh. Power purchase agreement for this phase has been signed and construction is underway. The project will likely be commissioned by 2020.

DEWA has also issued a tender for 200 megawatts concentrated solar power capacity which will form phase IV of the solar power park. The project will be awarded in June this year and is expected to be operational by April 2021.

03/22/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Fresh 750 Megawatt Solar Power Tender Announced In India

written by saurabh

India’s largest power producer NTPC Limited has launched a fresh tender for the country’s largest solar power park.

NTPC Limited is offering six blocks of 125 megawatt capacity each to project developers at the Pavagada solar power park in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. The solar park is being developed as a joint venture between Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation Limited and Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited.

The tender terms will allow project developers to procure solar power panels from Indian or foreign manufacturers. With land already acquired and freedom to choose cheaper modules, the tariffs for this auction are expected to be in line with the trends seen in the last few months.

Pavagada solar power park will have an eventual capacity of 2,700 megawatts. First phase of the solar power park, with 500 megawatts capacity, will likely be operational by June this year.

NTPC Limited had auctioned 500 megawatts capacity among six project developers. The highly competitive auction saw allocation of the projects at tariffs Rs 4.78/kWh to Rs 4.80/kWh. The power generated from these projects will be shared by the distribution utilities of Karnataka.

Solar power parks are expected to the backbone of India’s National Solar Mission which targets 100 gigawatts of operational capacity by 2022. The initial target for contribution by solar power parks was 20 gigawatts which was recently increased to 40 gigawatts by the government.

03/22/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Canadian Solar Signs 80 Megawatts Solar PPA In India

written by saurabh

Chinese solar panel manufacturer Canadian Solar has announced that it signed a power purchase agreement in India for the sale of electricity generated from a large-scale project.

Canadian Solar secured rights to develop an 80 megawatt solar power project in a competitive auction organised by the Solar Energy Corporation of India. The project will come up in the western state of Maharashtra.

The project was part of an auction that allocated a total of 450 megawatt capacity through viability gap funding mode.

In viability gap funding the government offers financial support to bidders for setting up projects. Canadian Solar is eligible to Rs 4.43/kWh tariff for a period of 25 years. The company will also receive $30,379 per megawatt support for the project.

Shawn Qu, chairman and chief executive of Canadian Solar, said: “We are pleased to secure our first 80MW(ac) of solar power projects with SECI, a bankable and reputable off-taker operating under the Government of India. This investment adds to our India pipeline that stands at 110MW(ac) and represents a significant milestone for Canadian Solar in one of world’s fastest growing renewables markets.”

Apart from developing its power projects Canadian Solar also owns stake in two solar power projects of 15 megawatt capacity each in Telangana. The projects are being developed by Suzlon Energy which also secured the projects in competitive auction.

03/22/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

First Solar Likely To Sell 200 Megawatt Capacity In India

written by saurabh

World’s largest thin-film solar power panel manufacturer First Solar is expected to sell 200 megawatts capacity in India as it looks to return focus back to its core business.

According to media reports, First Solar could sell 200 megawatts capacity in India at a value of $200 million. The company has 260 megawatts spread across the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. These projects were awarded to the company in reverse auctions.

First Solar has supplied over 17 gigawatts of solar panels globally, including 1 gigawatts in India. The company is among the largest suppliers of solar panels to Indian developers.

In early 2015, First Solar made a commitment to set up 5 GW of solar power capacity in India over a period of 5 years. In 2014, the company announced plans to install a 45 MW solar power project in the southern Indian state of Telangana. The project entered long-term agreement for the sale of electricity at a tariff of Rs 6.49/kWh (9.9¢/kWh).

First Solar has not actively participated in recent solar power auctions in India which have been extremely competitive. Perhaps this is the reason the company is looking to stay clear of this non-core business. With tariff falling to record-low of Rs 3.30/kWh, the projects offered by First Solar will be highly attractive to project developers.

This will be the third major acquisition in the Indian solar power market in recent times. Tata Power Renewable Energy acquired 1,100 megawatts capacity from Welspun Energy. Greenko Energy Holdings acquired assets from SunEdison India.

03/21/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Construction Begins At 150 Megawatts Solar Project In Philippines

written by saurabh

Construction has begun at the largest solar power project in Philippines, and perhaps south-east Asia.

Solar Philippines recently announced that it began construction at 150 megawatts solar PV project at Concepcion. The project will consist of nearly half a million solar panels spread across 150 hectares. The project shall use locally manufactured solar panels and will also use batteries to supply electricity round-the-clock.

Leandro Leviste, Solar Philippines president and chief executive, said that this will be the first solar power project in Philippines which will be built at a cost lower than that of a coal-based power plant. Developers of the project want to prove that the cost of solar power generation has already decline to levels where it can be used to meet base load.

The Concepcion solar power project will initially sell electricity in the open market while continuing to negotiate with utilities for a long-term power purchase agreement. Solar Philippines is also working on a 50 megawatts solar power project which will sell electricity to Manila Electric Co. through a long-term agreement.

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.

03/20/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

4 Gigawatt Solar Power Tender In Algeria Coming Soon

written by saurabh

Algeria will soon float a massive tender to set up more than 4,000 megawatts of solar power capacity.

According to media reports, Algeria’s Ministry of Energy will soon launch tender for 4,020 megawatts of solar PV capacity. The tender is expected to be floated by this month’s end or latest by early next year.

The tender is part of the Algerian government’s renewable energy policy announced in 2015. The government is expected to split the tender into three phase of around 1,350 megawatts capacity each. Projects allocated through these tenders shall be located in Hautes Plaines (High Plains) in northern Algeria as well as southern Algeria.

Special purpose vehicles will be set up the government to implement these large-scale power projects. Algerian companies and government institutions shall hold 51% stake in these special purpose vehicles while the balance will be owned by international investors. Of the 51% stake to be held by domestic investors and companies, 40% shall be held by Algerian government-owned oil company Sonatrach and 11% will be controlled by Sonelgaz and other public or private Algerian companies. Each project will be funded through 30% equity and 70% debt finance.

Algeria has set a long-term target to have 13,500 megawatts of solar PV power capacity by 2030. Thus, additional solar power tenders can be expected in the future. The north African country also plans to set up 5,000 megawatts of wind energy and 2,000 megawatts of concentrated solar power capacity by 2030.

03/18/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

India’s Solar Power Capacity Grows 4-fold In 3 Years To 10 Gigawatts

written by saurabh

All-out efforts by the Indian government to boost renewable energy generation in the country have reached another milestone as the operational solar power capacity crossed 10 gigawatts.

The Minister of power, coal and renewable energy Piyush Goyal recently stated that the installed solar power capacity in India has crossed 10 gigawatts. The milestone was achieved after a 45 megawatts project was commissioned at Badhla solar power park in India. The solar power park will host one of the cheapest projects in the country.

In May 2014, when the present government came to power, the installed solar power capacity was 2,600 megawatts. The new government increased the targeted installed solar power capacity from 22 gigawatts by 2022 to 100 gigawatts. Several millions dollars were announced in financial support while state governments were encouraged to increase the share of solar power in their power mix. This led to a massive increase in solar power auctions, competition and sharp fall in tariffs.

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.

The government expects installed solar power capacity to grow to 20 gigawatts over the next 15 months.

Way behind target

While achieving 10 gigawatts solar power capacity is no mean feat, especially if one considers that the capacity was just 2.6 gigawatts three years back, the capacity addition lags well behind the target set by the government itself.

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) had set a target to add 12 gigawatts solar power capacity between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017. On 10 March 2017, the cumulative installed solar power capacity in India stood at 10 gigawatts, meaning that only around 3.2 gigawatts was added since 1 April 2016.

03/15/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Chile Gives Go-ahead To South America’s Largest Solar Power Project

written by saurabh

Chile has given green light to the construction of the largest solar power project in South America.

According to media reports, SolarReserve has received go-ahead for construction of a 450 megawatts concentrated solar power project. The project shall use solar power tower technology and will be located in Chile’s Tarapacá region.

The approval for construction came after the Environmental Evaluation Service issued an environmental qualification resolution. The project will consist of three power towers of 150 megawatt capacity each with 13 hours of full load energy storage.

The project is expected to generate over 2,600 GWh of electricity every year which will power around 800,000 households in Chile. The project will also make significant contribution to the country’s economy. Around 1,200 jobs are expected to be created from the construction and operation of the project while 40-60% of the equipment to be used in the project will be manufactured in Chile.

Once commissioned the project will overtake the 292 megawatts solar PV power project being construction by Enel Green Power In Brazil to become the largest solar power project in South America.

Chile has seen a remarkable growth in solar power development of the last few months. Last year Chile achieved 1 GW of installed solar power capacity with several major project developers, including Acciona, Enel Green Power, Pattern Energy, EDF and Marubeni, and SunPower, which are working on large-scale solar power projects.

And although the Chilean Congress approved the Electricity Transmission Act which will establish a new interconnected transmission network shall be established, alongside a new independent operator, the fact that the SolarReserve project has 13-hour storage capacity gives it a crucial competitive edge over other projects.

03/13/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Qatar To Start Construction On 200 Megawatts Solar Power Project

written by saurabh

A joint venture between Qatar Electricity and Water Company and Qatar Petroleum will start work on the largest solar power project in Qatar this year.

According to media reports, construction work on a 200 megawatt solar power project will begin in June this year and is expected to be fully operational by 2020. The project can be expanded to a capacity of 500 megawatts.

The project will be developed by Siraj Power, a joint venture of Qatar Electricity and Water Company and Qatar Petroleum. Siraj Power, which has a capital base of $500 million, is owned 60% by QEWC while Qatar Petroleum owns the balance 40%.

Qatar has already announced plans to set up 1,800 MW solar power capacity by 2020 which is expected to contribute up to 16% of the total power generation. The country has expressed intention to hold auctions for solar power projects on multiple occasions, however, these intentions have not yielded any substantial results so far.

Under a long-term program, Qatar plans to set up 10 GW of solar power capacity by 2030. Interestingly, however, these targets – or any other renewable energy targets, for that matter – are not listed under Qatar’s commitment to the United Nations through the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC).

Image by vectoropenstock.com for Cleantechies

03/12/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Phase I Of 2,700 Megawatts Solar Power Park In India To Be Ready In 4 Months

written by saurabh

The first phase of one of the largest solar power parks in India is set to be operational in the four months.

Pavagada solar power park will see the 500 megawatts capacity operational by June 2017. The state government plans to increase the capacity of the solar power park to 2,700 megawatts by the end of next year.

The solar park is being developed as a joint venture between Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation Limited and Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited. The location of the solar power park is apt given its extreme arid conditions.

NTPC Limited, on behalf of the joint venture, auctioned 500 megawatts capacity among six project developers. The highly competitive auction saw allocation of the projects at tariffs Rs 4.78/kWh to Rs 4.80/kWh. The power generated from these projects will be shared by the distribution utilities of Karnataka.

Tenders to set up additional capacity at the solar power park are expected to be floated soon. These tenders are expected to reap sharply lower tariff bids compared to those seen in the first phase. Land for the solar park has already been been acquired which means that project developers will not have to pay anything for land.

03/10/2017 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Abu Dhabi Set To Close $872 Million Funding For 1,177 Megawatts Solar Project

written by saurabh

The Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority is set to close a funding deal for the cheapest solar power project next month.

According to media reports, ADWEA will secure funding worth $872 million to set up 1,177 megawatts of solar power project. The project has already been allocated to a consortium of Marubeni and JinkoSolar. The project will come up in eastern Abu Dhabi over an area of 7.8 square kilometres. Final agreements for the project are expected to be signed very soon with commissioning scheduled for 2019.

Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority will arrange for 60% finance through debt (likely at very low interest rates), Marubeni and JinkoSolar will provide for 20% of the funding each. Abi Dhabi had awarded the project at record tariff of 2.42¢/kWh last year. The tariff was the lowest-ever quoted for a solar power project globally at that time.

Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) also allocated 200 megawatt capacity to ACWA Power through auction at one of the cheapest tariffs in the world. The company managed to secure the project at such cheap rates as it had access to debt funding at very low rates.

03/09/2017 0 comment

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