Indian Power Sphere

Two 600 MW units of MPPGCL Project in MP to be inaugurated by Primer Minster on March 5.

2015-03-03T17:39:00.001+05:30

Two 600 MW unites of Shree Singaji TPP in Khandwa district to be dedicated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 5.

Further, the foundation stones of two additional 660 MW units of the same plant will also be laid.

Shree Singaji Thermal Power Plant is a coal-fired project located near Dongaliya village in Khandwa. The project is owned by MPPGCL.

Source

Tata Power commissions first 63 MW unit of Bhutan hydro plant

2015-03-03T17:33:00.001+05:30

Tata Power has commissioned the first unit of its 126 MW Dagachhu hydro power plant having a capacity of 63 MW in Bhutan.

Dagachhu project is a joint venture between Tata Power and Druk Green Power Corporation, owned by Royal Government of Bhutan and National Pension and Provident Fund of Bhutan.

With the commissioning of the first unit of this plant, Tata Power's overall hydro power generation capacity now stands at 513 MW and the total at 8,684 MW.

Dagachhu Hydro Power Corporation has entered into a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement with Tata Power Trading Company Ltd (TPTCL, a company of Tata Power) for sale of power from the project. The power generated from the project shall be sold by TPTCL in the Indian power market.

Source

OPG Power to commission 300 MW power plant on 28th Feb

2015-02-26T22:51:00.001+05:30

OPGS Power Gujarat Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of UK-based OPG Power Ventures Plc, will commission its 300 MW coal-fired power plant on Saturday at Bhadreswar in Kutch district of Gujarat, managing director and chief executive officer Arvind Gupta said in a press conference on Thursday.

Work on the project, located in a special economic zone developed by the Adani group in Mundra, started three years ago and around 300 acre land was acquired from private owners in Kutch

Source

Mytrah Energy secured Rs 853 Crs loan for its 150 MW wind projects

2015-02-26T12:05:00.001+05:30

London-based Mytrah Energy Ltd has secured an Rs 853 Crs long-term loan from an unnamed Indian bank to finance 150 MW of wind projects.

The company expects to completed the said capacity in the coming 12 months, before India's 2016 wind season kicks off.

According to the company, the proposed capacity will be completed within 12 months.

With the new wind farms, Mytrah’s nominal capacity will top 690 MW.

So far, the firm has installed 543 MW of wind parks across six Indian states and it has 3,500 MW of projects in the pipeline.

Last week, Mytrah agreed to construct a 220-MW wind park in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh within 18 months under a deal with the local government.

India aims to boost its installed renewable plant capacity to a total of 170 GW by 2022, up from 34 GW at present.

Source

Third Unit of NTPC’s Vallur TPP to start commercial operation

2015-02-26T11:34:00.001+05:30

The third 500 MW unit of NTPC’s Vallur Thermal Power Plant will soon commence commercial operation. Tamilnadu’s share from this plant will be around 358 MW.

The third unit has completed the mandatory 72 hours continuous full capacity operation between December 7 and 10 for achieving commercial operation declaration.

However, the declaration of commercial operation was delayed due to breakdown of a coal conveyor and commissioning of the additional coal grab system in the Ennore port to unload coal from the ships.

The three units of Vallur, which is a joint venture of the NTPC and Tangedco, together will supply 1074 MW out of its total capacity of 1,500 MW. The first and second unit is already under commercial operation since November 2012 and August 2013.

After obtaining the mandatory environmental clearance for the project, the first unit of the 2X500 MW NLC Tamil Nadu Power Limited (NTPL), a joint venture of the Tangedco and the NLC, has been test synchronised with the grid on February 18.

Source

Suzlon commissioned 350 Wind Projects in Brazil

2015-02-25T21:06:00.001+05:30

Suzlon Group has commissioned wind energy projects having a total capacity of 350 MW in Brazil.

This projects are located in the high wind states of Rio Grande do Norte and Ceara in Brazil.

The installations include 150 wind turbine generators.

These projects will contribute to reducing Brazil's carbon footprint by eliminating approximately 0.54 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per annum.

The 350 MW projects completed are expected to light up one lakh households in Brazil with clean energy.

Suzlon entered the Brazilian market in 2008 and has since created a cumulative installed capacity of approximately 750 MW.

Source

Mytrah Energy received contract for 220 MW Wind Power Project by AP Government

2015-02-17T21:47:00.001+05:30

Mytrah Energy ltd has received a 220 MW Wind Power project from the Andhra Pradesh Government.

The project will be installed in Kurnool district and is expected to be commissioned in 18 months.

Mytrah energy currently has an operating portfolio of 543MW across seven wind rich states.

In addition, the company has 300MW projects under construction and 3,500MW of identified projects in the pipeline.

Source

NTPC hopeful of starting Katwa thermal project in few months...

2014-01-28T10:10:00.001+05:30

Power major NTPC has expressed the hope that construction of the 1,320-Mw Katwa thermal power plant in the West Bengal would begin construction in a few months.

NTPC Chairman Arup Roychowdhury, who met state's power minister Manish Gupta today, indicated that the company hoped to get the board's nod for the project by February-March.

Gupta, who described the meeting as a courtesy call, said that NTPC assured to begin construction of the plant soon.

Coal linkage was one of the issues before the power major. The captive coal block meant for the project was deallocated by the coal ministry. The state power department would place a proposal to offer coal linkage from its captive blocks before the Cabinet for its consideration in February, Gupta said.

NTPC proposed to construct two thermal units of 660 Mw on 557 acres which it has in its possession. NTPC has also received positive feedback from land owners for 150 acres it required for the ash pond.

A few months ago, NTPC had said that unless 150 acres was not arranged by the state government it was not possible to go ahead with the project.

Source

Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board asks Essar to shut down Singrauli plant...

2014-01-28T10:03:00.001+05:30

Essar Energy’s Mahan-I 600MW coal-fired power plant in Singrauli district has been ordered to stop all operations by the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB).

During the monsoons in September last, MPPCB’s regional office in Singrauli reported that large quantities of fly ash — an effluent discharged during the combustion of coal — was flowing from the plant into the Garha stream and surrounding areas. In reply to a notice sent to Essars’s local subsidiary — Essar Power MP Limited — the company said that a new ash dyke to store the ash was under construction and that illegal discharge of ash outside the factory had taken place due to unexpectedly heavy rainfall.

Not satisfied with their response, the MPPCB ordered it to stop all operations on January 13. The company has also been asked to build a permanent ash dyke, install a continuous ambient air monitoring station, a sewage treatment plant and a tree plantation. Only on completion of these works can the company apply for permission to restart operations.

Essar has two 600MW power plants in Mahan. While Mahan-I started Commercial Operations in April, 2013, Mahan-II is under construction. Both plants intend to draw coal from the Mahan coal block, which has proven reserves of 150 tonnes of coal, where mining has not yet started as clearances have not yet been granted.

The forest in Mahan is home to 14,000 people, including Agria, Kol, Khairwar, Gond and Panika tribes. Objections were raised by the Union Ministries of Environment and Forests and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs over endangering biodiversity and violation of forest rights

Despite this, the Rs. 6,500 crore joint venture of Essar and Hindalco to mine in Mahan was granted clearance due to “huge exposure to nationalised banks.”

Greenpeace’s Media Officer in Singrauli, Avinash Chanchal told that the factory continues to violate rules. “Their ash dyke is just across the road from a settlement. It poisons the water table and pollutes the air causing lung problems.”

Greenpeace and the Mahan Sangharsh Samiti hoisted a banner over Essar’s offices in Mumbai last week which read “We Kill Forests.”

Essar House Limited filed a defamation suit against the activists on Monday. While company sources said it is for Rs. 500 crore, Greenpeace said it was a Rs. 1,000 crore suit.

Source

Solar Plant in BHEL to be Commissioned in 2 Months...

2014-01-28T09:53:00.001+05:30

The 5 MW solar power plant being set up at the Boiler Auxiliary Plant (BAP), attached to the BHEL, at Ranipet, would be commissioned in the next two months, executive director of the plant Veeraraghavan said.

He said this while addressing a gathering on Republic Day on Sunday. Veeraraghavan said that the BHEL at Ranipet had commissioned the first ammonia gas conditioning System at TISCO, Jojobera, in collaboration with Heavy Water Board (HWB), Mumbai. In association with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), the BAP developed a brand new technology for simultaneous extraction of polluting sulphur oxide and nitrous oxide from boiler flue gas. This technology was unveiled by the President of India on 15 November, 2013, he added.

The official noted that five Quality Circles of BHEL Ranipet had won gold medals in quality conventions held in Madurai, Chennai and Kolkata between September 2013 and December 2013.

Further, he said, 365 employees of the plant had registered as eye donors in an eye donation camp held by the BAP. The BAP had also bagged an order for supply of a 4000- cubic metre Water Treatment Plant from OPAL, Dahej. This was the largest capacity pre-treatment system order that BHEL Ranipet had bagged so far, he said.

As part of Corporate Social Responsibility, projects worth `35 lakhs were planned by the BAP for this year that included constructing a toilet and associated facilities for the vendors at the weekly Wednesday market in the township, building compound wall and providing a reverse osmosis drinking water facility for the Government Girls Higher Secondary School at Sholingur and constructing a kitchen with store room for the midday meal scheme at SRK- BHEL School.

Source

Stella Maris goes green with solar power plant…

2014-01-26T20:12:00.001+05:30

Stella Maris College became part of a growing breed of educational institutions in the city opting for green energy with the recent inauguration of a 50-kilo watt solar power plant on its campus.

Jasintha Quadras, principal of the college, said the roof-top solar plant was installed by Omega Natural Polarity Private Limited at a cost of Rs. 50 lakh.

The plant would cater to six per cent of the total power requirement on the campus, she said.

State mandate
The initiative was part of the State government’s solar policy, mandating colleges to take up renewable energy.

The solar plant is a grid-type system without battery facilities linked directly to the electricity grid. Having 200 solar panels, the power plant will be operational during the day, powering lights and fans in the college.

Daily monitoring
The entire system, with web interface, will be monitored for the daily usage of power. The college has already undertaken 12 environmental initiatives including light-emitting diode cluster lights, solar-powered streetlights, source segregation, vermi-composting and waste water re-cycling plant.

Source

NLC production to jump to 11,195 MW in a decade…

2014-01-26T19:38:00.001+05:30

The implementation of new power projects would increase the production capacity of Neyveli Lignite Corporation to 11,195 MW from the present 2,740 MW within a decade, B Surender Mohan, Chairman cum-Managing Director of NLC said today.

In his Republic Day address, Surender Mohan outlined the progress of new power projects. The 2 x 250 MW TPS-II Expansion projects would commence commercial operation in the current fiscal.

Units I and II of the (2 x 500 MW) joint venture project 'NTPL' at Tuticorin is expected to be commissioned in February 2014 and May 2014 respectively, he added.

As regards the 2 x 500 MW Neyveli New Thermal Power Project, Unit I is likely to be commissioned in August 2017 and Unit-II in February 2018.

"4,000 MW coal based Sirkali Thermal Power Project in Nagapattinam is under our active consideration. We are pursuing the matter with Tamil Nadu government to get in-principle approval for land allocation," the NLC chief said.

Also, 51 MW Wind power farm is being set up at Kaluneerkulam in Tirunelveli District and the bid process is on for a 10 MW Solar Power plant at Neyveli.

Several other projects like the 3 x 660 MW Ghathampur Thermal Power Project in Uttar Pradesh, and 1 x 250 MW Bithnok Thermal Power Project in Rajasthan are gaining momentum, he informed.

Source: Business Standard

Tata Power's Mundra UMPP comes under ADB panel scanner…

2014-01-24T21:50:00.001+05:30

Finding prima facie instances of non- compliance with its norms, ADB's review panel has decided to carry out a compliance review of Tata Power's 4,000-MW ultra mega power project in Gujarat.

Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Compliance Review Committee has said the company failed in consulting most of the affected communities before the project started.

In its report, the panel said there is "prima facie evidence of non-compliance with ADB policies and procedures and prima facie evidence that this noncompliance with ADB policies has led to harm or is likely to lead to future harm".

"Given the evidence of non-compliance... the CRP concludes that the non-compliance is serious enough to warrant a full compliance review," it said.

Meanwhile, Tata Power in a statement said Mundra UMPP strictly abides by stipulated norms for its operations, including environment, community engagement and ecological impact.

"We are happy to cooperate with ADB on any information/ support that may be required while conducting the review," the firm said.

CGPL would always be open to any constructive and transparent process to establish its credentials, it added.

The ADB panel's report follows a complaint filed by Bharat Patel, General Secretary of Machimar Adhikar Sangharsh Sangathan and two other members of the association.

ADB has committed a loan of USD 450 million from its ordinary capital resources without government guarantee to CGPL, of which USD 200 million is syndicated to Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) through a risk participation agreement.

Mundra project is being implemented by Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd (CGPL).

Source

SJVNL's Maharashtra wind energy project starts generation…

2014-01-23T12:06:00.001+05:30

Public sector hydropower major Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd's (SJVNL) maiden wind energy project in Maharashtra has started generation, a senior company official said in Shimla Wednesday.

"Fifteen of the 56 wind power turbines of 47.6 MW Khirvire project in Ahmednagar district have started generating energy," SJVNL deputy general manager Vijay Verma told agency.

The project, with an annual energy generation of 85.65 million units of electricity, would be fully commissioned by March this year, he said.

For its commissioning, SJVNL has entered into an agreement with Spanish company Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica.

SJVNL is a joint venture between the central and the Himachal Pradesh governments. The former holds 74.5 per cent stake, while the remaining 25.5 per cent is held by the state government.

However, the central government sold 10 percent equity in May 2010.

SJVNL's maiden project in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh started generation in 2004-05.

Source

Arunachal village to tackle power crisis with solar energy…

2014-01-21T18:39:00.001+05:30

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh Environment & Forest department has distributed solar energy equipment to about 25,000 households in Mayudia village. The package includes one solar panel, one chargeable multipurpose battery unit, one table lamp and an emergency light.

‘It would be of great help to our villagers who have been suffering due to the power crisis. Despite such limitations, they are actively supporting wildlife conservation in Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary,’ village headman Napi Umpo said. The people of Tiwari Gaon, a fringe village adjacent to Mehao Sanctuary, have been supporting the bear conservation and rehabilitation project and Hoolock Gibbon Translocation project for the safety of wildlife.

The distribution was done during ‘Interaction for Conservation Awareness & Distribution of Solar Equipment’, an event organized by WTI in collaboration with Department of Environment & Forest, Arunachal Pradesh, with support from Europaeische Tierschutzstftung (ETS).

‘The community living around any protected area is the first layer of the protection shield. In order to consolidate the shield, we need to understand the psychology and the needs of the people. The distribution of solar sets will further bridge the conservation support and confidence for the ongoing Asiatic Black bear rehabilitation project and Hoolock Gibbon Translocation Project in Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary,’ said Sunil Kyarong, deputy director and regional head, Wildlife Trust of India.

Source

Tangedco keen on settling contracts for three thermal projects…

2014-01-21T12:35:00.001+05:30

With the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests issuing environmental clearance for the 1,320-MW (megawatt) Ennore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) thermal power project early this month, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) is keen on settling contracts for three thermal power projects of 3,300 MW before the Election Commission announces the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections by late February or early March.

Else, the power utility may have to wait for three or four months before proceeding further on the tenders for the projects, sources say.

Of the three projects, the Udangudi and Ennore SEZ thermal power projects have the capacity of 1,320 MW each. Technical specifications provided by bidders for these projects are under scrutiny.

In both these projects, three Chinese firms and the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) have participated in the bids. In respect of the 660-MW ETPS (Ennore Thermal Power Station) expansion project, the authorities are negotiating with the lowest bidder, Lanco Infratech, which has submitted the price bid. The projects – Udangudi and ETPS expansion project – received the environmental clearance in October last and June 2009.

Among the specific conditions laid down by the Union Ministry in respect of the Ennore SEZ project are the formulation of a vision document, specifying perspective plan, within six months; harnessing solar power through roof-top installations; no transportation of imported coal by road and carrying out a long-term study on radio activity and the presence of heavy metals contents in coal through a reputed institute. No waterbodies including natural drainage system in the area should be disturbed due to activities associated with the setting up/operation of the power plant.

Source

Mega Plan to Generate Power from Sewage by Bangalore Sewerage Board...

2014-01-20T11:53:00.001+05:30

In its efforts to minimise power bills, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is preparing a road map to generate 100 MW of power from over 1,000 MLD of sewage generated in the city.

BWSSB Chief Engineer S Krishnappa said, “As we are consuming around 60 million units of power every month, we are incurring a lot of expenditure on electricity bills.”

“According to our estimates, we can generate around 100 MW power from the sewage generated in the city. It will be sufficient to meet 75 per cent of our (power) needs.”

14 STPs Identified for Project

Krishnappa said BWSSB has identified 14 sewage treatment plants (STP) where methane gas can be generated from the sewage.

As the STPs are in good condition, BWSSB can start generating methane by constructing a digester near them.

“The biggest challenge is to ensure that the methane generated in the digester is pure in nature. If not, the generator that burns methane will be destroyed very soon,” Krishnappa said.

BWSSB has already initiated the process to produce electricity from sewage at one of the STPs in Hebbal valley by entering into an agreement with England-based Mott MacDonald Ltd.

Mott MacDonald Ltd team leader, Ian P Taylor said, “We have already imported the machinery required to generate 1 MW of power and initiated the process to construct a digester near one of the STPs. We should be in a position to generate electricity soon.”

Source

Korean power firm ties up with Jinbhuvish for Rs 3450-cr Maharashtra power project…

2014-01-17T22:39:00.001+05:30

Korean South-East Power Company (KOSEP), a subsidiary of Korean state-owned power generator Korea Electric Power Corporation, today signed an initial agreement with Mumbai-based Jinbhuvish Group for technical support for its Rs 3,450 crore project in Maharashtra.

The 600 Mw power plant, being set up in Yavatmal district, is likely to be commissioned in 2016. KOSEP holds a 40% equity stake in the coal-based project. Lenders for the venture include Rural Electrification Corp (REC) and Power Finance Corp (PFC) and PTC India Financial Services (PFS).

“The Yavatmal venture is one of the few thermal projects in India being set up in a JV with foreign investment. All major clearances have been received and the construction activities will commence soon,” Jinbhuvish Group Chairman Manish Mehta said.

Seoul-headquartered KOSEP owns and operates thermal projects with a combined capacity of 8,396 Megawatt, around 12% of total electricity sales in Korea.

Source

NTPC Board okays Rs 12,532 crore investment for Odisha plant…

2014-01-17T22:05:00.001+05:30

State-run NTPC's Board today approved an investment of Rs 12,532.44 crore for setting up 1,600 MW thermal power project in Odisha.

"The Board of Directors of NTPC have accorded an appraised current estimated investment approval for Darlipali Super Thermal Power Project, to be implemented in Odisha at an estimated cost of Rs 12,532.44 crore," NTPC said in a statement.

This approval is subject to environmental clearance. This approved investment is more than the earlier estimated cost of the project due to increase in land compensation, a company official told PTI.

The project requires approximately 1,600 acres of land. It is linked to the Dulanga coal mine, with seven million tonnes capacity, in Odisha.

The company recently signed an initial agreement with the Geological Survey of India to set up a geothermal power project at Tattapani in Chhattisgarh.

NTPC's current installed generation capacity is 42,454 MW. The company plans to add about 20,000 MW by 2017.

It has about 1,500 MW of hydro power capacity under construction and operates about 4,000 MW of gas-based power plants in the country.

Source

Power Grid to invest Rs 472 cr in two projects…

2014-01-16T22:12:00.001+05:30

Power Grid Corporation of India will invest more than Rs 472 crore in two projects.

The investment plans were approved by the transmission utility's board of directors at their meeting held on January 13, PGCIL said in a regulatory filing today.

The two projects are estimated to cost Rs 472.58 crore.

An investment of Rs 374.63 crore will be made in 'Phase-I of Unified Real Time Dynamic State Measurement (URTDSM) Project', which is expected to be completed in 27 months.

Besides, the state-owned company will invest Rs 97.95 crore in 'Transmission System associated with contingency plan for evacuation of power from IL&FS (2x800 MW)'. This project is expected to be commissioned within 18 months from the date of investment approval.

Shares of the company rose nearly 1% to Rs 98.30 in afternoon trade on the BSE.

Source

GVK seeks MoEF nod to use HSD for gas-based power project…

2014-01-15T17:19:00.001+05:30

With gas supplies from KG-Basin coming to a standstill, Gautami Power Ltd, a GVK group company has sought permit from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to use High Speed Diesel (HSD) instead of natural gas at its plant in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

This comes after a committee under the MoEF opined that usage of HSD for power generation will not be as eco-friendly as natural gas and directed the company to obtain views of Ministries of Power, Petroleum and Natural Gas on the issue.

"The Committee deliberated on the proposal and noted that the quantity of HSD to be utilised for power generation is quite substantial. The usage of HSD in such quantities will not be as eco-friendly as natural gas.

The Committee therefore desired that the PP shall obtain the views/comments of Ministry of Power and Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas on the use of HSD for the project before taking a decision," the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the MoEf said in its meeting last month.

It was also noted that Government is subsidising HSD for certain specific-end users only such as for transportation, the EAC further said. The gas-based power project has natural gas allocation of 1.96 MMSCMD by MoPNG from KG Basin for operating the plant on full capacity.

As the gas supplies for the project have come down due to reduction in gas production in the KG D6 fields, it is requested to amend the environment clearance for using HSD (green diesel) with sulphur content not exceeding 0.05 percent as an alternate fuel instead of emergency fuel. The plant operated on full generation for the years 2009, 2010 and 2011 using gas supplied from KG D6 gas fields. However, since October 2011, the total gas supply from KG D6 has been reducing from the original level of 60 MMSCMD to less than 15 MMSCMD and supply to power sector was stopped since March 2013.

As per the existing policy of the Government, power generation using indigenously sourced HSD is allowed.

The Ministry of Power and MoPNG has already accorded NOC for HSD as fuel for GVK's Jegurupadu Phase II Power Project (220 MW) in East Godavari district last year. Many gas-based power plants including that of GVK's are sitting idle due to non-availability of gas.

GVK Power stock price

On January 15, 2014, GVK Power & Infrastructure closed at Rs 10.20, down Rs 0.23, or 2.21 percent. The 52-week high of the share was Rs 15.36 and the 52-week low was Rs 5.52. The latest book value of the company is Rs 15.84 per share. At current value, the price-to-book value of the company was 0.64.

Source

10MW power plant in collaboration with Nabard and JREDA to light up 200 Hazaribag houses…

2014-01-14T09:16:00.001+05:30

The 10MW mini-power plant, set up in collaboration with Nabard and Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Authority (JREDA) at Bengwari village under the Keredari block of Hazaribag district, was launched on Monday.

The chief general manager of NABARD, K C Panda, inaugurating the plant, said: "Nabard provided Rs 6 lakh and JREDA Rs 1 lakh, apart from technical assistance for setting up the plant. With this, more than 200 houses in the village will be electrified."

Residents of the remote village expressed their gratitude to NABARD and JEDA, an NGO for providing power, denied to them since Independence.

The plant will generate power with the help of coal and wood, which are available in plenty in Keredari. It may be mentioned here that the coal blocks in Keredari and Chatti Bariatu in Keredari block have been allotted to NTPC for the production of coal to generate power. But the company is yet to start its work due to a long-standing dispute with the villagers over land acquisition as well as payment of compensation.

Panda said: "Nabard is willing to provide financial assistance for setting up of more such mini-power plants if villagers come forward to be trained in running such plants." A team of villagers led by M K Mahto of Bengawari were sent to Rajasthan to obtain technical knowhow on running and operating the mini-power plant. The technical expert of JREDA, P P Verma said: "Now the villagers will have to ensure that the plant is run by trained villagers." He, however, added that whenever the villagers require any technical assistance, JREDA will provide it to them.

Source

Wind turbine maker Gamesa bucks the trend, projects sales of 600 MW…

2014-01-13T21:54:00.001+05:30

The Indian wind industry is headed for a tepid close to the year 2013-14. Capacity additions in the year may not exceed 1,700 MW — the same as last year. Nor is there much hope for 2014-15, as the wind season begins in early summer and with the elections round the corner, not much action is expected to take place.

As is typical in India, everybody speaks of the ‘long term future’ of the wind industry in the country, what with the recently-launched National Mission on Wind.

Spanish wind turbine major Gamesa seems to have done well in this dull environment, going by the figures provided by the company.

Till December 2013, Gamesa had sold wind turbines worth 145 MW, but since 455 MW are under ‘advance stages of implementation’ — activity typically picks up in the last quarter of the year — the company expects to close the year with 600 MW of sales compared with 115 MW in 2012-13.

Gamesa India’s Chairman and Managing Director Ramesh Kymal told Business Line that the company expects sales of 800 MW in 2014-15, given that it has under its control sufficient land to install 4,000 MW more.

“We do not own all the land, but we have agreements in place that give us rights to put up projects,” Kymal said, adding that the lands are in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The company has also stepped up indigenisation to 85 per cent of its 2 MW turbine launched two years ago. All components, except control panels and brake systems, are bought locally.

This localisation, Kymal said, does not give Gamesa an immediate cost advantage, but would serve the company well in the long run.

Gamesa’s production has just moved from a manufacturing unit north of Chennai to a recently-built factory south of the city in the village of Mamandur. There is scope to develop a vendor park near the new location. Gamesa, one of the top five wind turbine manufacturers in the world, has invested Rs 1,500 crore in India in the last four years it has been here.

Source

Reliance Power commissions boiler at Sasan plant…

2014-01-13T21:44:00.001+05:30

Reliance Power has announced that the equipment for the third 660 MW unit at the 3,960 MW Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project in Madhya Pradesh has started functioning.

"The boiler, for its third 660 MW unit at the 3,960 MW Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project, has been commissioned," the company said in a statement. The first 660 MW unit of the Sasan UMPP had been commissioned in March 2013 while the second unit was synchronised to the grid in December 2013.

Meanwhile, coal production has already commenced from the 20 million tonnes per annum capacity Moher and Moher-Amlohri coal mines, allotted for the Sasan plant. Shares of the company were trading at Rs 67.50, up 1.43 per cent on the BSE. Reliance Power stock price On January 13, 2014, Reliance Power closed at Rs 67.35, up Rs 0.80, or 1.20 percent.

The 52-week high of the share was Rs 98.50 and the 52-week low was Rs 58.55. The company's trailing 12-month (TTM) EPS was at Rs 1.75 per share as per the quarter ended September 2013. The stock's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was 38.49. The latest book value of the company is Rs 59.98 per share. At current value, the price-to-book value of the company is 1.12.

Source

Parali thermal plant of Mahagenco closes down one unit due to coal shortage...

2014-01-13T14:22:00.001+05:30

Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd (Mahagenco) has closed down the unit No 5 of the 1330 mega watt Parali thermal power station (TPS) due to shortage of coal. The other units of the thermal plant based in Beed district of Maharashtra, are not able to run with full capacity due to non-availability of coal.

Mahagenco has stated in a release today that the Parali TPS has coal availability enough for only one day.

"We are following up with the coal suppliers MEL, MECL and WCL about increasing the coal supply. Last year, the thermal plant had to be kept shut for six months due to shortage of water," stated the release.

Source