Under the ‘Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects‘ scheme, the Indian government has approved 57 solar parks, with an aggregate capacity of 39,385 MW across 13 states, said Mr. R.K Singh, Minister of New and Renewable Energy. Out of this, as many as 9 solar parks have been identified in Rajasthan.

The aggregate capacity of this project would be 7,036 MW. Moreover, the approved list of solar projects includes:

• Bhadla-II Solar Park (680 MW),
• Bhadla-III Solar Park (1000 MW),
• Phalodi-Pokhran Solar Park (750 MW),
• Fatehgarh Phase-1B Solar Park (421 MW),
• Nokh Solar Park (925 MW),
• Pugal Solar Park Phase-I (1000 MW),
• Pugal Solar Park Phase-II (450 MW)
• RVUN Solar Park (1310 MW).

In the written reply to Lok Sabha, the power minister also states that the centre has taken multiple steps to promote renewable energy in the country. FDI of up to 100% is allowed in the renewable energy sector, with no prior government approval needed. Moreover, the centre has waived ISTS charges for the interstate sale of solar and wind power for projects that are to be commissioned by June 30, 2025.

Moreover, Rajasthan has become a highly desirable location for establishing renewable energy (RE) projects, particularly in the solar energy sector. With a capacity of over 16 GW, Rajasthan is the top solar-powered state in India. Moreover, this desert state is targeting 11,000 MW of renewable energy capacity additions in the new Rajasthan Budget 2023.

Source: ornatesolar

The estimated annual revenue from each MRF solar pant is Rs 29 lakh, bringing the total revenue to Rs 87 lakh. The MC would receive a yearly payment of Rs. 26 lakh. Nitin Kumar Yadav, Crest’s president and home secretary, served as meeting’s moderator while the project was discussed and ultimately approved. Senior administrators from various departments of the administration, including the environment and finance, as well as the MC, attended the meeting. The robotic facility was the first of its kind, so officials received a technical briefing on how it would be installed and run.

“It will be challenging to manually clean the MRF centres, as others do, due to their height. To enable automatic cleaning of the solar panels, a robotic facility must be made available “a senior official said.

The municipal corporation plans to install solar panel rooftops in every one of its buildings in the upcoming fiscal year with the goal of focusing on solar energy and regularly converting this endeavour into its new revenue production segment. Since the municipal body authority has already created a thorough strategy in this regard, it has been included in the authority’s next financial budget.

Source: PTI

The administration also plans to set up five megawatt solar power plants on five government buildings. Power generated from these buildings will be adjusted in the HUDA (Haryana Urban Development Authority) electricity bill. Department of renewable energy, Haryana (HAREDA) officials working on the project said that setting up one mega solar power plant requires a minimum of three acres of land and an expenditure of Rs 3 crore.

Under the “Solar city – green city” project, all street lights, lights at government buildings and government residential houses will be replaced with LED lights. The administration also plans to install solar panels on all industrial units in the district.

A senior official working on the project said, “The plan is to generate 20% of the 607 million units of everyday consumption of the district.”

Those using 30 kilowatt and above electricity at their industrial or commercial units will have to install the solar power system. The power department is making a list of such units. Notices will be issued to them. If anyone fails to install the solar plant after three notices, the connection of their units will be cut. Under the Solar City project, the administration also plans to start electric city buses in collaboration with the Haryana Roadways department. Five solar charging stations are to be made to promote electric vehicles at HARERA building in Sector 17, DC office in Sector 1, UHBVN Building in Sector 14, Municipal Corporation Community Center and a park.

Permission for construction of houses of over 500 square meters will be given only if there is a solar power plant in the plans. Meanwhile, residents want the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model for installation of solar plants on rooftops on the pattern of Chandigarh, where it is free of cost. At present, they are not coming forward for the solar power plants due to the heavy investment involved.

S K Nayar, president, Citizen Welfare Association (CWA) wrote to the Haryana CM and power minister. Nayar said, “Haryana government must come forward and adopt Resco model.”

Source: PTI

The rise in the adoption of renewables would help in reducing carbon emissions from the power sector.

After slowing slightly (by 2 per cent) last year amid the turmoil of the global energy crisis and extreme weather conditions in some regions, the growth in world electricity demand is expected to accelerate to an average of 3 per cent over the next three years, the IEA’s Electricity Market Report 2023 said.

India’s electricity consumption rose strongly in 2022, while China’s growth was subdued due to its zero-Covid policy.

“Emerging and developing economies in Asia are the driving forces behind this faster pace…,” said the report.

More than 70 per cent of the increase in global electricity demand is expected to come from China, India and Southeast Asia, it said, with a rider that considerable uncertainties remain over trends in China as its economy emerges from strict Covid restrictions.

“The good news is that renewables and nuclear power are growing quickly enough to meet almost all this additional appetite, suggesting we are close to a tipping point for power sector emissions,” said the agency’s executive director Fatih Birol.

Birol added governments the world over now need to enable low-emission sources to grow even faster and drive down emissions so that the world can ensure secure electricity supplies in line with climate goals.

The new IEA report also noted that electricity demand and supply worldwide are becoming increasingly weather dependent, with extreme conditions a recurring theme last year.

In addition to the drought in Europe, there were heatwaves in India, resulting in the country’s highest-ever peak in power demand. Similarly, central and eastern regions of China were hit by heatwaves and drought, which caused demand for air conditioning to surge. The United States also saw severe winter storms in December, triggering massive power outages.

Source: ANI

With this entry into the solar energy segment, Servokon has also become an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company with its product range off-grid & on-grid solar power generation systems, panels and inverters. As a part of its initial role as a solar energy player, Servokon will be providing solar batteries, inverters and panels to domestic customers, and the company will also be installing Solar Power Generation Systems (SPGS). All innovative and advanced solar products of Servokon were displayed at the Elecrama 2023.

“While Servokon has already won strong market trust with its high-quality power conditioning equipment and power & distribution transformers, we are now all set to contribute to the government’s mission to reduce the country’s overall carbon footprint. Our team has always embraced innovation and technology to manufacture the best-in-the-market products and will display that fervent dedication with solar products, too. The company’s move in solar energy is entirely in line with the Make in India initiative and is aimed at facilitating the government’s mission to build Energy Independent India,” noted Asif Khan, Director, Purchase and Service, Servokon.

Servokon has also exhibited its energy prowess at Elecrama 2023 by showcasing a power transformer with a massive capacity of 16,000 KVA. This also marked Servokon’s entry into the power distribution segment.

Source: PTI

Riyadh : Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman on Monday said that Saudi Arabia has many plans in the energy sector in close coordination with India and these will come to light soon.

The Minister made the statement while speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the two-day second edition of the Saudi Media Forum which began in the capital Riyadh with over 1,500 media professionals and industry leaders from Arab and foreign countries joining to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the media industry.

“We have so many plans in the energy sector with India and we will see it very soon,” Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told ANI when asked about Saudi Arabia’s plan in the energy sector with India.

Prince Salman’s statement came four months after he visited India, and met top Indian officials as the Kingdom strengthens its energy ties with the second-largest Asian economy.

The energy minister, who visited the New Delhi for a day in October last year, held talks with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh, Electricity Minister Raj Kumar Singh, and several Indian business leaders.

There are talks that the Gujarat coast in India could soon link up to the Middle East with deep sea cables, creating a renewable energy grid as Saudi Arabia and India expand their energy ties.

Earlier in September, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to India Saleh bin Eid Al-Hussaini vowed to boost and strengthen relations between Riyadh and New Delhi during his tenure.

Al-Hussaini had said that the move would help in accelerating the growth of the mutual and beneficial partnership between India and Saudi Arabia and strengthen the friendly bond between the people of our countries.

The partnership between Saudi Arabia and India reached new heights when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited New Delhi in February 2019. In October 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Kingdom, which resulted in the two nations establishing the Strategic Partnership Council.

In September, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said that India and Saudi Arabia are important players in the emerging multipolar world order, and there are several areas in which both countries are working together.

He had also said that India and Saudi Arabia are major economies and play an important role in shaping the global economy.

India and Saudi Arabia are substantial economic partners, with trade being valued at approximately $42.86 billion during the fiscal year (April 2021 to March 2022), the Minister had said.

Energy plays a crucial role in the trade ties between India and Saudi Arabia as New Delhi imports about 18 and 22 per cent of its crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas demands, respectively, from the Kingdom.

Relations between Saudi Arabia and India have been historically strong for several decades. Indians constitute the largest community of foreign workers in the Kingdom and one of their home country’s biggest sources of inward remittances.

Saudi Arabia’s trade relationship with India was majorly confined to energy in the initial years, but now, both nations have widened their ties into other fields, including security, investment, health, food security, and culture.

Source: ANI

India is perfectly situated between Germany and Australia, and can contribute to…Read More...

Source: PTI

The intent of this MOU is to jointly study and evaluate potential projects with respect to collaboration opportunities across the green hydrogen and ammonia value chain, including production, handling, transportation, distribution, and power generation.

The MoU allows IHI to participate as an investor or take offtake in one or more project of ACME in Oman, India, USA or Egypt. Both the Companies will also explore opportunities to jointly offer a complete integrated solution to customers from green ammonia supply, bunkering and products or solutions for various applications.

Mr. Manoj K Upadhyay, Founder & Chairman, ACME Group said, “I would like to thank IHI for their commitment to develop renewable projects with us. We will together explore opportunities across the green hydrogen and ammonia value chain, including production, handling, transportation, distribution, and power generation.”

Mr. Kenji Konno, Country Head Japan, ACME Group said, “This collaboration will strengthen ACME Group’s innovative problem-solving approach by leveraging IHI’s technologies in ammonia value chain. We hope that this collaboration will pave the way to achieve our early global implementation of green and sustainable energy transition.”

Mr. Jun Kobayashi, Executive Officer, IHI Corporation said, “ACME and IHI have a shared vision to develop innovative solutions to produce and supply clean energy to users around the world. With ACME’s extensive experience in developing renewable energy projects and solutions, IHI’s understanding of the green ammonia value chain, and both companies’ passion and willingness to proactively tackle societal challenges and be at the forefront of infrastructure development, we possess the capability to lead the transition to carbon-free ammonia usage across a wide variety of industries.”

About ACME Group:

ACME Group ( www.acme.in ) set up in 2003, is a pioneer in cleantech sectors such as solar, green hydrogen & ammonia and sustainable green protein development. The Company is one of the leading solar power developers in India with project across 12 States and capex invested and committed of nearly $8 billion.In the past, ACME has undertaken transactions with Actis, Petronas, NIIF, Renew, BAML, Brookfield, Piramal, APG and Allianz, among others.

About IHI:

IHI Corporation is a comprehensive heavy-industry manufacturer working to create value for customers in four main areas—Resource, Energy and Environment; Social Infrastructure and Offshore Facilities; Industrial Systems and General-purpose Machinery; and Aero Engine, Space and Defense. IHI is deeply committed to contributing to society through technology, combining diverse engineering capabilities to meet expanding global needs for energy, urbanization and industrialization, and transportation efficiency.

The company allotted the 7.59% p.a. bonds on 20 February 2023 for 15 years and it will be matured on 20 February 2038. The AD bonds are proposed for listing at Wholesale Debt Market (WDM) segment of Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE).

NHPC is the largest organization for hydropower development in India. It has also diversified in the field of solar & wind power. As of 31 December 2022, the Government of India held 70.95% stake in the company.

The power generation company’s consolidated net profit declined 17.4% to Rs 671.67 crore despite of 19.8% rise in revenue from operations to Rs 2,582.76 crore in Q3 FY23 over Q3 FY22.

Shares of NHPC were up 0.26% to Rs 39.10 on the BSE.

Source: PTI

New Delhi : Uber Technologies will introduce 25,000 electric vehicles (EVs) in India for ride-sharing over three years, its country head said on Monday, its first move to adopt clean cars.

The EVs will be bought by Uber’s fleet partners from Tata Motors, India’s biggest electric carmaker, Prabhjeet Singh, president, Uber India and South Asia told Reuters.

“We are going to be a big catalyst in accelerating the (EV) ecosystem,” Singh told Reuters.

India’s federal and state governments are pushing for greater electrification of shared taxis, an area currently dominated by Uber’s local rival BluSmart, an electric mobility start-up.

Source: Reuters

Recently, while inaugurating India Energy Week (IEW) 2023 in Bengaluru, Prime minister Narendra Modi mentioned how India’s energy demand has significantly increased and will reach 11 per cent of the global demand as compared to 5 per cent currently.

The plethora of opportunities for energy firms to invest in India comes from the increased demand and energy transition commitments. Renewable energy investment in India is vital for meeting its international and domestic climate goals.

India during its ongoing G20 presidency has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Joint Business Council to further promote the adoption of energy efficiency and sustainable practices in the region, the Asian Lite reported.

India’s power secretary Alok Kumar said the member countries responded positively to the need for energy security and diversified supply chains.

In India’s Budget for the year 2023 also, Rs 35,000 crores were allocated as a priority capital investment toward energy transition in line with the government’s objective to achieve the goal of net zero emissions by 2070.

These vital policy decisions are being taken to keep India’s energy transition in mind.

However, India’s policies and commitments are also citizen-oriented. The climate change mitigation policies need to be affordable, secure and sustainable. By focusing on the hard-to-abate sectors where decarbonisation options are limited or expensive, Green hydrogen will play a major role in achieving a net zero, the Asian Lite reported.

India is also aiming to become a global hub for green hydrogen production and exports. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Rs 19,444 crore has been allocated for green hydrogen aiming at producing 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030.

India has made significant progress in its transformation from a country that relied heavily on coal to a potential leader in the renewable source of energy.

As per the latest data published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India stands at 4th position in the world in terms of installed Renewable Energy capacity, reported News on Air.

Schemes like PM-KUSUM which aims to provide financial and water security to farmers through harnessing solar energy or National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) are key initiatives of the government. The government’s flagship initiative, the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) also aims at synchronizing electricity produced from renewable resources, such as wind and solar, with conventional power stations.

According to the data published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, as of December 31, 2021, works related to the installation of transmission towers and their stringing for an aggregate of approx. 8468 km have been completed, and substations of aggregate capacity of approx. 15268 MVA have been charged. India has consistently backed the switch to renewable energy sources, and one of its initiatives in this direction is the International Solar Alliance.

During her visit to India, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta handed over the signed copies of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement, paving the way for New Zealand’s membership of this initiative.

Further, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) issued a tender for a 1000 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in October 2021 to enable DISCOMS to use storage facilities on an on-demand basis. BESS, one of the most important emerging technologies in the Indian renewable energy market, can provide both peak-time power supply and 24-hour electricity to help overcome renewable energy’s unsteady nature.

In addition, International Energy Agency’s India Energy Outlook 2021 also projected that India could potentially have 140-200 gigawatt (GW) battery storage capacity, the largest for any country, by 2040.

Source: PTI

The detailed RfS document has been uploaded on https://www.bharat-electronictender.com (Only viewed on Microsoft Internet explorer 10.x or above browser) and under “Tenders” Section on SECI’s Website www.seci.co.in. Prospective bidders are requested to refer to ISN-ETS and SECI websites for details.

Date of pre-bid meeting (to be conducted online): 27th February, 2023 (02:30 PM IST)

Last date of bid submission: 3rd April, 2023 (6:00 PM IST).

Prospective bidders are requested to remain updated for any notices/ amendments/ clarifications etc. to the RfS documents through the websites www.seci.co.in and https://www.bharat-electronictender.com as no separate notification will be issued.

Tender Search Code (TSC) for the RfS in ISN-ETS : SECI-2023-TN000003

For more information please see below link:

Ways for possible cooperation in nuclear commerce under the framework of the India-US nuclear agreement of 2008 figured prominently in the talks US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey R Pyatt had with his Indian interlocutors in Delhi on February 16 and 17.

Pyatt described India as a “very crucial” partner for the US in ensuring global energy security in view of serious disruptions in supplies of fossil fuel resulting from Russia’s “brutal” invasion of Ukraine.

“I am very focused on how we can develop opportunities for future civil nuclear cooperation, recognizing that if we are stuck at issues, we have to work them through, the famous liability question,” he said.

“The business model of the civil nuclear industry is changing. In the US, we made a huge commitment to small and marginal reactors which could be particularly suitable to the Indian environment as well,” he said without elaborating further.

The senior Biden administration official also said the US supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “incredibly ambitious” energy transition goal of having 500 GW (gigawatt) of energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.

Pyatt served at the US Embassy in New Delhi as Political Counselor from 2002 to 2006 and as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2006 to 2007, a period that saw intense negotiations between the two sides on the civil nuclear pact.

The actual cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector eluded in the last over 14 years primarily due to differences between the two sides over India’s liability rules relating to seeking damages from suppliers in the event of an accident.

“It was the first big thing that our two governments did together. It was so powerful for the rest of the world,” Pyatt said about the 2008 pact.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy said the “civil nuclear renaissance” that the people were talking about got derailed to some considerable degree following the accident at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011.

However, he said Japan is now reconsidering the importance of nuclear power as part of its overall response to the “incredible disruptions of the global energy markets that (Russian President) Vladimir Putin has caused with his invasion of Ukraine,” he said, adding the climate crisis is another reason for preferring clean energy.

Pyatt suggested that New Delhi is very keen to take forward civil nuclear energy cooperation as part of the overall bilateral energy ties.

“The US-India energy and climate agenda is one of the most important that we have anywhere in the world,” he said.

In 2016, US energy firm Westinghouse and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCI) broadly agreed on terms for setting up of six nuclear reactors in India.

However, the negotiations were derailed after the American company declared bankruptcy in 2017. There has been renewed focus globally on nuclear energy after the Ukraine war resulted a fossil fuel crisis.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy said overall energy cooperation between India and the US will form a major part of the strategic ties between the two sides.

“When I look at where our strategic relationship is going, I see the issues that I am now responsible for as being right at the centre of the picture because there is so much potential to build on the strong foundation to do even more,” he said.

Pyatt said the US is keen on forging strong cooperation with India in areas of green hydrogen energy as well.

India on January 4 approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission with an outlay of Rs 19,744 crore to develop a green hydrogen production capacity of five million tonnes a year by 2030. “The US investment in hydrogen complements the Indian investment in hydrogen and what I am interested in right now is to build bridges between our respective efforts so that we can leverage each other’s expertise,” he said. To a question, Pyatt said there is significant scope for joint projects between the companies of the two countries in the area.

Source: PTI

Union Minister of Power, and New & Renewable Energy RK Singh has said India has emerged as the most attractive destination for Renewable Energy (RE) investment and the pace of RE expansion will continue. The Minister said that Power and RE Ministries have taken various reform measures to make India a power surplus nation, which will continue.

The Minister, who inaugurated the 15th edition of ELECRAMA 2023, the world’s largest electrical exhibition, organised by the Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA), at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, exhorted the industry to utilise the enabling government policies and invest in the growth of power and renewable energy sectors.

“We are proud of what we have achieved in energy transition and climate actions so far. We have emerged as the most attractive destination for RE investment and the pace of RE expansion will continue. Doubling our overall capacity from current levels in the next seven years is the next challenge before us and we shall achieve that,” he said in his speech.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus is on green energy and we are committed towards it,” he said. “Let us power the growth of the country together. Let’s make India great together,” he added.

The Minister also unveiled the ELECRAMA Exhibitors Directory, IEEMA report- “New Energy Equipment Outlook 2023” and Amrit Kaal report- “Path to Developed and Decarbonised India by Schneider Electric.”

Zhemu Soda, Minister of Energy and Power Development, Zimbabwe, Jean Pascal Tricoire, Global CEO, Schneider Electric, Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries, Rohit Pathak, President IEEMA, Jitendra K Agarwal, Chairman, ELECRAMA 2023, Hamza Arsiwala, President-Elect, IEEMA, Sunil Singhvi, Vice President, IEEMA, Charu Mathur, Director General, IEEMA and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

The biennial electronics congregation, with ‘Reimagine Energy – For Sustainable Future’ as this year’s theme, will have the largest public showcase yet of industry innovations by over 1000 exhibitors from India and abroad occupying 1,10,000 sqm of exhibition space.

The IEEMA’s five-day flagship event, which commenced on February 18, is expected to witness 3,50,000 footfall and over 15,000 pre-scheduled meetings between buyers and sellers.

Source: PTI

For improved power supply in all areas of the state, the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited has reached power banking agreements with Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan.

According to an official statement, power banking means that in months when the availability of power is more than the demand in a state, the surplus power of the state is given to those states where the demand for power is more.

“In a first, agreements have been made for 249.29 million units with Jammu and Kashmir, and 61.56 million units with Tamil Nadu. An agreement is proposed with Karnataka. Compared to last year’s power banking of 449.6 million units from Rajasthan, 1967.8 million units (almost four times) have been done this year by making efforts,” the statment said.

The step was taken on the instructions of CM Yogi.

“Through this, UPPCL has got success in power banking through various states. Power banking agreements have been signed with Jammu Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Also, such agreements are proposed with Karnataka and NTPC,” the statement said.

Power Corporation’s Chairman M Devraj informed that the timely efforts made by the corporation would benefit the state’s power supply in the coming summer.

He further informed that Power Corporation Management has already swung into action to manage the proper availability of electricity in view of the upcoming summer season.

“In summer, when the demand for electricity increases in Uttar Pradesh and it is expensive in the power exchange, electricity is returned without purchase from those states where electricity has been given earlier through power banking,” the statement said.

Source: ANI

This is in the backdrop of the Paris Agreement Rulebook being finalized in respect of Article 6 which focuses on carbon trading through bilateral/cooperative approaches and international market mechanisms. India has taken steps mandated on the Host Party/Country.

Following list of activities has been finalized to be considered for trading of carbon credits under bilateral/ cooperative approaches under Article 6.2 mechanism.

I.GHG Mitigation Activities:

1. Renewable energy with storage (only stored component)
2. Solar thermal power
3. Off- shore wind
4. Green Hydrogen
5. Compressed bio-gas
6. Emerging mobility solutions like fuel cells
7. High end technology for energy efficiency
8. Sustainable Aviation Fuel
9. Best available technologies for process improvement in hard to abate sectors
10. Tidal energy, Ocean Thermal Energy, Ocean Salt Gradient Energy, Ocean Wave Energy and Ocean Current Energy
11. High Voltage Direct Current Transmission in conjunction with the renewal energy projects

II.Alternate Materials:

12. Green Ammonia

III.Removal Activities:

13. Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage

These activities will facilitate adoption/transfer of emerging technologies and may be used to mobilise international finance in India. The activities will initially be for first 03 years and may be updated/revised by NADAIPA.

The ministry has released draft guidelines on pumped storage projects (PSPs) to seek comments from states and state-run companies as well as private firms within a fortnight till March 2, 2023. Keeping in view the immense utility of the PSPs in grid stabilisation as well as meeting the peaking power demand, a need for formulating separate guidelines to promote PSPs was felt to set the direction of its development, the minsitry said in the guidelines.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimates regarding on-river pumped storage potential is 103 GW in India. Apart from this, a large number of off-river pumped storage potential is also available, the ministry added.

As of now, eight projects (4,745.60 MW) are presently operational, four projects (2,780 MW) are under construction, and 24 projects (26,630 MW) have been allotted by states which are under different stages of development, according to the ministry.

The draft National Electricity Plan (NEP) published by the CEA indicates that 18.8 GW of PSPs and 51.5 GW of BESS (5-hour battery energy storage system) are required to integrate the planned RE (renewable) capacity addition till 2032.

However, it stated that additional development of PSPs at viable cost would bring down the requirement of BESS. Presently, the environmental clearance (EC) and forest clearance (FC) processes of PSPs are very cumbersome, since these projects are treated at par with the conventional hydro projects for the purpose of grant of EC and FC.

The environmental impact of PSPs constructed on existing reservoirs at on-the-river sites and offthe-river sites are generally less as compared to conventional HEPs (hydroelectric projects), it noted. Unlike conventional hydro projects, the development of PSPs does not lead to significant displacement of people and thus, requires minimum R&R(resettlement).

Therefore, the draft guidelines provided that PSPs constructed on existing reservoirs on on-theriver sites and off-the-river sites are required to be treated as a separate category for the processing of clearances of an infrastructure project.

The off-the-river sites PSPs are located away from the river course and have minimum impact on the riverine ecology. Hence, they may be treated differently for granting the environmental clearance, it added.

It explained that the PSP projects, where both reservoirs are built off-river or where one reservoir is built off-river and the existing on-river reservoir undergoes minor structural modification to connect it with the new reservoir may be treated as B-2 category projects.

Such projects may be exempted from Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and public hearings and may only require the preparation of an Environment Management Plan (EMP), it suggested. With the approval of the Union Cabinet, the PSPs have been declared as RE.

However, associate concessions which are available to other renewable sources, are yet to be extended to PSPs, it noted The guidelines noted that the PSP components continue to be taxed at GST (goods and services tax) rate of 18 per cent/28 per cent, whereas the GST on RE such as solar and wind has been kept at 12 per cent.

This affects the viability of PSPs, it pointed out. It provided that the developers shall begin construction within a period of 2 years from the date of allotment of the project, failing which, allotment of the project site shall be cancelled by the state. Further, in order to ensure the viability of the PSPs, states should ensure that no upfront premium is charged for project allocation, it added.

It also provided that to ensure that only viable PSPs are taken up for construction.To reap the long-term benefits and socio-economic development of states due to hydropower projects, states shall consider reimbursement of SGST (state GST) on hydropower project components, it suggested.

States may exempt land to be acquired by off-the-river PSPs from payment towards stamp duty and registration fees, it suggested. Government land, if available, may be provided at a concessional rate to developers on annual lease rent basis, it added.

Storage is an intermediary system where energy is stored and released later. In line with the principles of double taxation avoidance, power from PSPs may be suitably considered to avoid double taxation, it suggested.

PSPs have a minimal environmental impact and have no R&R issues. Therefore, it stated that there will be no requirement of creation of a Local Area Development fund. PSPs are energy storage schemes. They do not produce energy. They are net consumers of energy. Hence, the PSPs would be kept out of the liability of free power, it provided.

The discarded mines, including coal mines in different parts of the country, could be used as hydro storage and thereby become natural enablers for development of Hydro PSPs, the ministry suggested.

Efforts would be made to identify and develop exhausted mines/ coal mines as prospective PSP sites in consultation with the Ministry of Coal and the Ministry of Mines, it stated. It also provided that the PSPs may be supported through concessional climate finance.

Sovereign green bonds issued for mobilising resources for green infrastructure as a part of the government’s overall market borrowings may be deployed in the development of PSPs which utilise renewable energy for charging, it stated.

Source: PTI

In a recent announcement, the Renault-Nissan alliance announced its intent to invest around Rs 5,300 crore in India and launch six new models – three for Renault and three for Nissan – which includes four new C-segment SUVs, and two new A-segment EVs.

Ashwani Gupta, COO, Nissan Motor Corp, in a conversation with Express Mobility said that while the penetration of electric vehicles in India is just 0.5 percent of the overall sales, it is similar to what Europe saw in 2010 when EVs were first introduced in that market. After 13 years the penetration of EVs has reached 18 percent there.

“We don’t expect that India will go electric immediately, but we have to make sustainable investments that create value for the customers,” added Gupta.

He listed out the top three factors why a customer would prefer an electric vehicle — “Number one it’s a better driving performance. Number two it has a better total cost of ownership (TCO) and thirdly because it is good for the environment. The first and third factor is everybody (read OEMs) can tick the box because the electric cars are really good in terms of acceleration in terms of driving handling and so on, the third it is good for the environment.”

“But TCO is driven by a tipping point between the gasoline cars and the battery electric cars. The tipping point is decided by volumes in the market, till the time EV sales do not attain a certain threshold, I think the government needs to continue support to the customers so that there is a parity between the selling price of IC-vehicles and an EV,” pointed out Gupta.

He reiterated that what can further help bring down TCO, is breakthrough technologies with localisation, which provides cost competitiveness in terms of platform, powertrain, battery, and electronic architecture among others.

“I do believe the moment in India will go from 0.5 percent to let’s say 13 percent by 2030. This will help bring the economy of scale this will help all the automotive manufacturers to do further localisation, so we decided to have an A-segment car, now our challenge is not a platform or powertrain. Our challenge is the battery, and this is what we would like to work moving forward on how we secure the competitive battery localisation,” concluded Gupta.

Source: PTI

Connors said, “We plan to grow in India by developing our electric vehicle portfolio. We think there is a very strong and growing demand for pure electric vehicles.”
One of the reasons for Volvo’s optimism is the positive reception of the XC40 BEV in India. The vehicle has been well-received by consumers in the country, which bodes well for the company’s future prospects. Jyoti Malhotra, the India Head at Volvo, shares Connors’ optimism and says that the company’s focus is on electrification and growth through electric vehicles.
“Our focus in on electrification and we want to grow our numbers through fully electric battery cars,” Malhotra said.
Malhotra hopes to grow Volvo’s electric vehicle portfolio even higher than 2022, indicating the company’s commitment to the Indian market. Volvo has identified India as an important developing market, and the company is making significant investments to establish a strong presence in the country, Connors added.

As part of its efforts to strengthen its position in India, Volvo plans to start production of the C40 BEV in its Bangalore plant. This move is significant as it will help the company cater to the growing demand for electric vehicles in the country while also contributing to the local economy.

However, there are some challenges that the company faces. The semiconductor shortage has affected the auto industry worldwide, and Volvo is no exception. Connors acknowledges that the shortage is still a challenge for the company. Nonetheless, Volvo is looking at all Asia-Pacific regions to increase its electric vehicle production, indicating the company’s long-term commitment to the electric vehicle market.

Source: PTI

Leveraging their Automotive heritage, Webasto offers a wide range of products under their best-seller segments of Webasto Next and Webasto Pure with solutions that are scalable up to 22 kW, allowing users to choose the right power for their needs. The Webasto Charge Connect system provides the user with a seamless experience from the first plug-in to payment at the end of charging. Adding more innovation to the backend solution, ESY India will also be launching a mobile app that will create a continued support and information system.

This collaboration comes as a major milestone for ESY India which is celebrating its 10th year since its establishment while striving forward to redefine the point of sales to the point of service with various innovative products for the Indian consumer.

“Offering a wide range of POS Solutions has helped us create a user niche that can offer Webasto solutions more effectively. Our customers include a nationwide dealer network, and direct corporate and retail customers in addition to the government business. We are also highly appreciated for our continued service and support team that will help us build an effective partnership for the innovative solutions that Webasto has to offer” said Dr VP Sajeevan, CEO, of ESY India.

“We have been watching the growing EV market in India closely for the past two years and it is imperative to say that EV is the future for India. ESY India is the right partner for Webasto to foray into with its excellent support and service team and its objective approach to selling with its well-established user network of retail giants, real estate partnerships, and much more. Webasto looks forward to strengthening this partnership and achieving its goal to be a top player in the Indian EV Charging solutions sector” said Christian Mahr Head of Webasto CS APAC & Managing Director at Webasto Thermo & Comfort, Australia.

“With their 5-year product warranty Webasto Chargers are designed aptly for the Indian market keeping in mind the basic user needs such as ease of use, convenience and smart features for the products.” Added David Byrne, Director- Sales & Service, Customised Solutions, Webasto Group Asia.

Source: ANI

New Delhi : Of the 36 states and Union Territories, 26 have released favourable policies for the growth of electric vehicles (EV) in the country, but none of them are on track, a study has revealed.

Consulting and capacity-building initiative Climate Trends observed that many states had formulated policies in the last five years taking advantage of the “early success of e-mobility in India”.

Its study, “Analysis of State Electric Vehicle Policies and Their Impact”, assessed the comprehensiveness of these state policies based on 21 parameters that covered target and budget allocations, demand side and manufacturing incentives, focus on fleet electrification, charging infrastructure and job creation.

But none of the states were on track to meet their targets of EV penetration, charging infrastructure or investments, the study found.

Director of Climate Trends Aarti Khosla wrote: “Our study shows that few state policies have comprehensive designs which balance EV sales, manufacturing and overall ecosystem growth. There are gaps in implementation, leading to slower on-ground impact, which need to be addressed through better regulation, improved monitoring, mechanisms and capacity building of stakeholders across the policy value chain.”

The study found that Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Punjab offered the widest range of Climate Trends parameters while Arunachal, Manipur, Himachal offered the least.

Only nine states have mandated the creation of charging infrastructure in residential buildings and commercial areas, and eight had specific targets of electrification of fleet such as last-mile delivery vehicles, aggregator of cabs etc, the study found.

Eight states released their targets before 2020 and none of them have followed through, the study revealed. These states were Andhra, Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Delhi.

The study found EV penetration below target, electrification of public transport lagging, slow charging infrastructure growth and no progress on green zones.

Source: PTI

If cultivators use technology properly in the farm sector, it will benefit farmers and their state, the chief minister said while inaugurating the 3-day ‘Krushi Odisha’-2023 here.

The theme of this year’s event, which will continue till February 18, is “Emerging Technology in Agriculture”.

Pointing out that technology is the basis of development, Patnaik said there is a great need for technology in the field of agriculture as well.

Noting that the development of agriculture and farmers is the priority of his government, Patnaik said Odisha has become a leading state in the agri sector.

Odisha is now a food-surplus state from being a food-deficient one, the chief minister said.

On the state government’s KALIA scheme, Patnaik said the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation has come as a security for the farmers who face difficulties to arrange funds for cultivation.

The state government had in 2018 launched the KALIA scheme, under which the farmers are given Rs 4,000 in two equal instalments each year.

In order to raise the income of farmers, the state government has launched Panas (jackfruit) Mission, and Chathu (mushroom) Mission.

These two missions along with the Millet (Mandia) Mission also help the farmers, he said.

Patnaik said the Millet Mission has attracted the attention of the entire country and the world today and it has also helped in increasing the income of self help groups.

Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department Secretary Arabinda Padhee said the state has planned setting up of around 1000 cold storage centres soon.

The storage capacity of each unit will be 10-15 metric tonne and these facilities will be powered by solar energy, Padhee said.

Source: PTI

New Delhi: Solar energy should be harnessed in Ladakh but without taking away th…Read More…

Source: PTI

Representatives of 17 Canadian companies and senior officials from the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi will be attending the conference and trade show.

Canada’s Minister (Commercial), Jennifer Daubeny, will be inaugurating the Canada Pavilion on February 18. The Trade Commissioner Service team will provide assistance and facilitate discussions between Indian businesses interested in partnering with Canadian companies.

The event will provide an opportunity for Indian companies to interact with and explore synergies with Canadian companies looking to do business in India.

High Commissioner for Canada to India, Cameron MacKay, said: “The visit of the Canadian delegation to the Elecrama Trade Show is an excellent opportunity for Canadian and Indian companies working in the power sector to explore ways of doing business together.

“Canada is a world leader in renewable energy and clean technology. Canadian companies are eager to explore the Indian market and Indian companies can benefit from advanced technologies developed by them as we together build a greener planet.”

The delegation encompasses Canadian companies which have an established presence in India as well as many new companies that are exploring the Indian market for the first time.

Source: PTI

Based on the discussion at REConIndia 2023, a white paper will be prepared on solar power challenges, roadmap to make green hydrogen viable, propelling wind energy and state of green financing in India, a statement said.

The conference was organised by Blue Circle on Friday, where experts, stakehoders and industry leaders deliberated on the key issues, challenges and opportunities in renewable energy in India.

Founder and CEO of Blue Circle Siddharth Anand said, “The industry estimates investment in excess of USD 20 billion in 2023”.

Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh in December 2022 also pegged the investment in renewables at around USD 25 billion in 2023.

Anand also stated that the REConIndia 2023 brought together key decision-makers, thought leaders, and experts from across the industry, creating a platform for collaborative thinking and problem-solving.

Alexander Hogeveen Rutter, Private Sector Specialist, International Solar Alliance, said that with a significant portion of wasteland at its disposal, India has the potential to unlock enormous opportunities by utilising it for setting up solar projects.

The development of floating solar fields is another area of exploration, which presents a unique advantage that the land beneath the panels can be used for farming by farmers who may have given up their land, Rutter added.

A strong framework for the development of solar projects on wasteland can help build a sustainable and self-reliant India, Rutter suggested. Chairman, Blue Circle and MTaI, Pavan Choudary stated that there is increasing awareness and sensitivity towards sustainability.

Many sectors have started initiating positive changes. For example, the medical equipment sector is taking a lead by planning longer working lives for the chasis of their products and medical disposable manufatcurers are exploring the use of bio- disposable manufacturers are exploring the use of bio-degradable materials to reduce the environmental impact of their products, he added.

CEO, NTPC Renewables, Mohit Bhargava stated as India races towards its target of achieving 280 GW of solar energy by 2030, it is imperative to increase the production of solar power. Given the significant dependence on China for solar modules, India needs to step up its efforts to establish a robust domestic solar module manufacturing ecosystem, he suggested.

While the government’s PLI (production-linked incentive) scheme holds promise, it may take time to yield results. Therefore, a holistic approach towards increasing domestic production capacities and incentivising domestic manufacturing is critical to meet India’s renewable energy goals, he also suggested.

Pankaj Sindwani, Chief Business Officer, Tata Cleantech Capital, stressed on increasing efforts to attract global investment and compete more aggressively.

R P V Prasad, CEO-India, Envision Energy, said, as a renewable energy source, wind energy is expected to play a significant role in India’s energy mix in the coming years.

It is projected that wind energy will contribute around 25 per cent of the total renewable energy production in India by 2030, he added.

REConIndia 2023 witnessed participation of more than 250 subject matter experts, policymakers, innovators, investors, and startup founders. PTI