NTPC Vidyut to start getting solar power by Oct





The first batch of solar power is expected to come from the existing photovoltaic developers that have shifted their projects (migrant projects) under the Solar Mission.

New Delhi, Jan. 30: :::NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) expects to start buying power generated from solar energy by October. “We expect to start procuring solar power generated from the projects that would be grid connected by October,” Mr Anil Agrawal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NVVN, said. The first batch of solar power is expected to come from the existing photovoltaic (PV) developers that have shifted their projects (migrant projects) under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), Mr Agrawal told Business Line. Under the migration scheme, 16 solar power developers (both thermal and PV), have inked power purchase agreements (PPAs) with NVVN in October 2010 for producing 84 MW of solar power. Of this, solar power produced from PV projects is expected to be 54 MW and thermal 30 MW, he said, adding that “the power can also come earlier than October.”

Migration

Considering that some of the solar power projects were at various stages of development, it was felt that these projects may be considered for ‘migration' from their respective arrangements to the ones envisaged under the JNNSM, which was launched in January 2010, he said. This was meant to give a kick-start to the Mission, he added. Of these, 16 migrant projects (both thermal and PV) 11 are in Rajasthan, two in Punjab, and three in Maharashtra. The trading arm of NTPC has been designated the nodal agency for sale and purchase of grid connected solar power under Phase-1 of the Mission. Besides, the PPAs signed with the existing players, NVVN, has this month also signed pacts with new developers.

Grid connectivity

From the 36 new projects that are expected to generate 615 MW of solar power, grid connectivity is expected by January 2012. “Generation from new PV projects is expected from January 2012 and thermal by April 2013,” Mr Agrawal said. PPA for one 5 MW new project is yet to be signed. JNNSM envisages the implementation of the solar programme including utility grid solar power in three phases — first phase up to 2013 (1,100 MW), second phase up to 2017 (4,000 MW), and third phase up to 2022 (20,000 MW). The companies offering the best discount on Central Electricity Regulatory Commission's (CERC) notified tariff were selected. The CERC rates for 2010-11 are Rs 17.91 (normal rate of depreciation)/ Rs 14.95 (accelerated rate of depreciation) a unit for PV and Rs 15.31 (normal rate of depreciation)/ Rs 12.85 a unit (accelerated rate of depreciation) for solar-thermal. The average discount offered on CERC tariff for PV was Rs 5.75 a unit and Rs 3.82 a unit for thermal.


Richa Mishra ….from the pages of THE HINDU BUSINESS LINE newspaper.

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ONGC FPO: Red herring prospectus to be filed by Feb 20


New Delhi, Jan. 24…from the pages of THE HINDU BUSINESSLINE NEWSPAPER.

ONGC will file a red herring prospectus (RHP) for its follow-on public offer (FPO) by February 20. A decision to this effect was taken on Monday at a FPO kick-off meeting held by the Disinvestment Department in the Finance Ministry.A senior official said, “a tentative schedule has been drawn.” ONGC's FPO is likely to hit the market on March 15.The Government plans to raise Rs 13,000 crore through divestment of its 5 per cent stake in ONGC.Subsequent to the offer, the Government's shareholding in ONGC would come down to 69.14 per cent.

Recently, the Government had shortlisted Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Nomura Holdings, HSBC Holdings Plc, JM Financial Services, Citigroup Inc and Morgan Stanley to handle the FPO. Appoints auditors::::Preparing for the FPO, ONGC has appointed two international auditors - DeGolyer and MacNaughton and Gaffney, Cline and Associates - to certify the company's oil and gas reserves.This is a prerequisite for any exploration company going for a public offering. ONGC usually gets its reserves audited every five years.The company's board recently approved stock split and issuance of bonus shares, as a precursor to the share sale.

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India plans to build its first commercial tidal power plant

Atlantis Resources Co, a London-based marine energy developer, had the idea of building a tidal power plant with an initial capacity of 50 MW. Gujarat, an Indian state, has already made some plans for the installation of the first commercial tidal power plant in India. The project will be organized in partnership with Guajar Corporation Limited.It seems that Atlantis Resources Corporation and the government of Gujarat have signed a MoU (memorandum of understanding), with the purpose of assembling the power plant in the next two years. The plant may have a capacity of 250 MW and its costs are believed to raise to about $165 million.



The reason of the high costs in tidal power plants is represented by the requirements of extensive civil works. In the case of a commercially viable project, low costs are needed.Guajar Power Corporation wishes to buy the power and set up some tariffs that are not higher than the ones offered to large-scale solar power plants in India. The costs provided to conventional power plants are almost 8 times lower than those offered to large-scale power plants.



When the front-end and engineering design will be ready, the final costs will be established. The final tariff will be determined once the front-end engineering and design stage will have been completed.This would help predict the quantity of water which should be used for the power generation. Thus, the power generation can be easily anticipated and will remain constant for a long time. This will make the investors approve the credit for the ambitious project.Atlantis agreed to produce turbines for a tidal power plant in northern Scotland last year. India’s tidal power plant, though, is planned to be the largest, having a 378 MW capacity.


Source: http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2011/01/17/india-tidal-power-plant/

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Massive fire in Mumbai oil depot...from the pages of the HINDU


A massive broke out in an oil storage depot of the public sector Indian Oil Corporation Limited in Navi Mumbai early Tuesday, police said. The fire alert was received by the police around 2 a.m. from the security guard of the company in the Taloja-MIDC area of Navi Mumbai. So far, there are no reports of any casualties. At least 25 fire tenders have rushed to the spot and are fighting the blaze, while reinforcements are being summoned from neighbouring towns like Thane and Panvel.Top police officials including Navi Mumbai police commissioner Javed Ahmed and others were at the site supervising the fire-fighting operations.

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As on 16.1.11


Petrol price hike

Current price / Price after  increase

Delhi 55.87 58.37

Mumbai 60.46 62.96

Kolkata 59.9 62.4

Chennai 60.65 63.15

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Konark Group plans 100 MW renewable projects in Gujarat, Rajasthan



Mumbai, Jan. 12:::::::::::Mumbai-based Konark Group, which is into textiles, plans to set up 100 MW of solar and wind power projects at an investment of Rs 1,000 crore.The power unit will be a subsidiary of the group's listed entity, Konark Synthetics, which is into yarn and garments.Konark has received an allocation of 5 MW in Gujarat. Land has been identified in Kutch and the company has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Government, which has assured Rs 15 a unit for the first 12 years and Rs 5 a unit for the next 13 years, said Mr Shonit Dalmia, Director, Konark Group.Mr Dalmia said the State has also promised to back the PPA with a letter of credit. The project is expected to be completed this year-end with the use of imported thin film technology.

Konark has also tied up with the Rajasthan Government for 50 MW of solar power generation. About 410 acres near Jodhpur has been allocated by the State at 10-20 per cent of the ready reckoner value as an incentive to attract the investment. Land will cost no more than Rs 2 crore, said Mr Dalmia. The State has also accorded an evacuation certificate to Konark for 50 MW, as a comprehensive legislation for renewable energy is awaited.“We are committed to becoming a renewable energy IPP and are deploying international technology partners for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC). We are also in advanced stages of finalising wind power projects with installations in the southern and western parts of India,” he said.

Wind farms in TN

Efforts are on to set up wind farms in Tamil Nadu. A consultant has been appointed and his proposal is awaited. “The target is 45-50 MW and we are confident of commissioning 10 MW of wind power along the Tamil Nadu coastline in the 12-15 months,” he said.The Konark Group is looking at a 25:75 equity debt ratio for the Rs 1,000 crore renewable energy initiative. For the Rs 250-crore equity part, the promoters intend to bring in Rs 150 crore, and the balance would be private equity.Over the past few months, the group has been evaluating the potential in the power sector and is now bullish on the future prospects of the renewable energy generation. In the first stage, the group plans to set up infrastructure to generate power through solar and wind energy projects. The group has already submitted proposals to Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra to begin operations in the sector.The group plans to fund the investments for all its projects through a mix of internal accruals and debt and is also exploring a possible private equity infusion.The group has now started identifying various technology partners from European countries for solar projects and is in advanced stages to deploy its technology partners for wind projects.Over the last 6-7 years, the group has been witnessing a major expansion spree in its textile division (Konark Synthetic Ltd) by making its presence felt in the entire textile value chain except retail. The group has presence in sector by having hi-tech plants for manufacturing of synthetic yarns, cotton spinning, fabrics for home furnishing and suiting's and garments.

Speaking on behalf of Konark Group, Mr Shonit Dalmia, Director, said, “The power industry represents an important opportunity for the group and we are committed to becoming a renewable energy IPP. We are executing solar energy projects in Gujarat & Rajasthan by deploying international technology partners for EPC. We are also in advanced stages of finalising wind power projects with installations likely in the southern and western parts of India.”Konark expects the power division to substantially add to its turnover over the next few years. The group is also exploring opportunities to generate power through other clean-tech models.

….byS.Shanker….in THE HINDU BUSINESS LINE newspaper.

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TN commissions 3 studies on renewable energy potential

The Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency has commissioned three studies to highlight the potential for renewable energy in the State.The results of the three studies relating use of biomass and poultry litter for power generation and a market study for solar water heaters will be released at the international expo and seminar on renewable energy to be inaugurated on Friday.

Addressing media persons today, Dr R. Christodas Gandhi, Chairman and Managing Director, Teda, said the State has emerged a leader in wind energy with an installed capacity of about 5,450 MW.By the end of the current fiscal year it is likely to touch 6,000 MW.The three-day seminar and expo will include 24 sessions that will deal with various aspects of renewable energy.

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As on date  i.e 10th January 2011, Bangalore petrol prices 62.62 is highest in country among all metros

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PUNE based Solar Energie Tecnik Ltd , has launched a Solar Energy Power Generation System (SEPOGS) which when integrated with Biomass Gassifier would provide uninterrupted power on 24 x 7 basis. This product was developed and perfected after years of in-house R & D. In our opinion it has the lowest power generation cost and highest Return on Investment (ROI) as compared to any other Green Energy power generation systems in the world, informed Mr. Shrikant Pittie President and CEO of Solar Enrgie Technik Ltd while speaking to the reporters here.




The first 1 MW SEPOGS will be installed in the New Year in Pune District. The approx cost will be Rs.11 Crores exclusive of land cost. Initially SEPOGS will be installed in Maharashtra and later on all over India and then it will be exported also, we are in serious negotiations with few major environmental companies for having joint ventures for EPC for SEPOGS, he added



Mr. Pittie, added At Solar Energie Technik Ltd., our main objective is to promote the use of Solar Energy and Manufacture and Market solar energy products and energy efficient LED Lamps, LED lighting fixtures at affordable rates and the company would also launch LED Bulb & Led Tube lights which will be one of the cheapest in the world. There would be 3 models of LED Bulbs of 2W, 4W and 6 W and the products are of top quality and MRP cost would be Rs.299/-, Rs.399/- and Rs.499/- respectively.



The products will be introduced at Expo Pune 2010, the company plans to market the new LED Bulb and Tube lights through Distributors network initially in Maharashtra and then all over India. Mr. Pittie added that company was manufacturing a range of Solar Heating & Lighting products comprising of Solar Pressure Cookers, Solar Lanterns, Solar Home Lighting Systems, Solar Street Lights, Solar UPS Systems for industries, commercial establishment & residences, LED bulbs, LED tube lights, LED indoor lighting fixtures, LED outdoor lighting fixtures, Solar Energy Power Generation System (SEPOGS), Solar Energy Steam Generating System, Solar Energy Cooling System, Solar Energy H2 Generation System & Solar Energy Desalination, but the SEPOGS developed by them have no competitors in the market today.



Mr Pittie further added that Solar EnergieTechnik Ltd. has been promoted by a group of entrepreneurs & technocrats having a combined practical experience of over 50 years in the solar industry, the company was completely financed by equity and not a single rupee loan has been taken from Banks and financial institutions.
http://www.indiaprwire.com/pressrelease/environmental-services/2010121371458.htm

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Indian Oil Corporations promoted oil EPC firm IOT Infrastructure and Energy services is set to alter the timing of its Rs 800 crore IPO due to turbulent market conditions.

The company is an equal joint venture between IOC and German company Oil Tanking GmBH was started as a dedicated player in oil tanking services in 1998.

The company is ready with all the required permissions, but is constrained due of the choppy market conditions, the company official said. The company is confident that it will launch the IPO before March.




The Indian Oil Group of companies owns and operates ten of India's 20 refineries with a combined refining capacity of 60.2 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA, .i.e. 1.2 million barrels per day). These include two refineries of subsidiary Chennai Petroleum Corporation. The corporation's cross-country network of crude oil and product pipelines, spanning over 10,000 km and the largest in the country, meets the vital energy needs of the consumers in an efficient, economical and environment-friendly manner.


http://www.cafestocks.com/newsDetails.do?newsId=9000119864

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China joins elite offshore energy club


By Zhou Yanand Liu Bajia (China Daily)



CNOOC's oil and gas output exceeded 60m tons last year

BEIJING - China has joined the world's elite club of offshore oil

producers after China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) announced

that its oil and natural gas output surpassed 60 million metric tons

in 2010.

The country's largest offshore oil explorer's oil and gas production

last year totaled 64.13 million metric tons of oil equivalent, of

which 50 million was produced domestically, said its president Fu

Chengyu on Tuesday.

"It marks a milestone that China has become one of the world's largest

offshore oil producers after the United States, the United Kingdom,

and Norway ... And the marine petrochemical industry will boost the

country's energy supply," Fu said.

China's surging energy demand has led the nation's foreign oil

dependence ratio to reach a new high of 55 percent in 2010.

"We estimate that 60 percent of China's oil consumption will be

imported by 2020," said Wang Jiacheng, a researcher at the Academy of

Macroeconomic Research under the National Development and Reform

Commission.

Consequently, offshore oil exploration, which is still at an early

stage, has become a major factor in quenching the nation's thirst for

the natural resource.

"We expect our gas and oil output to exceed 200 million metric tons of

oil equivalent by 2020, including 50 million tons of LNG (liquefied

natural gas)," Fu told China Daily.

He added that about 800 billion yuan ($121 billion) to 1 trillion yuan

would be invested during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), with the

majority going to offshore oil exploration.

The company's total profits exceeded 90 billion yuan in 2010, up over

70 percent from 2009's 52.4 billion yuan, Fu said.

Offshore oil will make up 40 percent of the world's oil output by

2015, compared with 34 percent in 2004, according to figures from the

China Petroleum and Petrochemical Engineering Institute. Offshore gas

will account for 35 percent of the world's gas output over the same

period.

China's central government said in its 12th Five-Year Plan that the

country should develop and implement a marine development strategy,

and improve technical ability and comprehensive management.

CNOOC has tapped into Africa, South America, the Middle East, and

Australia for cooperation opportunities in oil and gas projects.

"We hope to integrate into the global economy through international

cooperation and support other countries' development," Fu said.

In addition, CNOOC has also tried to develop deepwater oil and gas

resources, an area that has a large growth potential.

The company has invested 15 billion yuan into manufacturing

state-of-the-art deepwater equipment, including drill-ships and

geophysical and survey vessels. The equipment is expected to be used

in 2011, said Zhou Shouwei, vice-president of CNOOC.

"The world's offshore oil detection rate is 73 percent on average,

while in China the rate is only 12.3 percent. There's still large room

for offshore oil exploration, particularly in the deepwater area,"

said Rui Dingkun, a senior analyst at China Jianyin Investment

Securities.

"We'll speed up technology innovation to develop more homegrown

equipment to meet a need for deepwater exploration," Zhou said, adding

that the company has also focused on deepwater drilling safety.

Zhou, also a top offshore oil exploration engineer, said that based on

facts released by the US authorities, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of

Mexico last year might have been caused by a series of simple

mistakes, rather than technological faults, because the technologies

for operating in ocean depths of 1,000 to 2,000 meters have been

proven.

He claimed CNOOC is very strict in following technological

specifications, so the company can avoid mal-operations.

He believed that after the Gulf of Mexico spill, technological

requirements will be higher and regulations will also be tougher,

which may lead to higher costs for oil companies and the withdrawal of

some players from the offshore business.

"It may also be an opportunity for us," he said.

China Daily

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Push to clean energy mechanism


NEW DELHI: In a clear attempt aimed at giving a push to the setting up of and generation of clean energy mechanism, the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved an amended Power Tariff Policy, which mandates States to have solar energy as 3 per cent of their total power purchases by 2022.“The solar power purchase obligation for States may start with 0.25 per cent in Phase-I (by 2013) and go up to 3 per cent by 2022,” according to an official statement here. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet held under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here.

The present amendment in the Tariff Policy is as per the National Solar Mission Strategy, which was approved by the Cabinet on November 19, 2009, the statement added. As per the amendment, the power purchased by State electricity boards or other state utilities will be complemented by solar-specific Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) mechanism through which solar power generation companies will sell certificates to the buyers.

The certificate will also help the buyers meet their solar power purchasing obligations, the statement said. Earlier, the Ministry of Power had asked the Cabinet to amend the Tariff Policy 2006, so that state electricity regulators can fix a percentage of energy purchased from solar power. The amendment will come into effect from the date of its publication in the official gazette, the statement added.

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Govt to identify `Indian Ivy league' to boost research


Greater autonomy, funds promised; regulatory body on cards




The Human Resource Development Minister, Mr KapilSibal, addressing the 98th Indian Science Congress atSRM University in Chennai on Monday. - V. Ganesan

The Government plans to identify a set of `Indian ivy league' educational institutions for additional support to promote higher education and research, said the Union Minister for Science and Technology, Mr Kapil Sibal.

Addressing the 98th Indian Science Congress inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, here today, Mr Sibal said that along the lines of the public sector `navratnas', the Government will identify these educational institutions with high potential for growth. These would be given total autonomy, supported with generous funds and freedom to source external funds. The existing Navratnas - the IITs and IIMs - will get greater administrative and financial autonomy. They can approve their own budget and manage funds generated on their own. The Director and the Board would prepare annual action plans and key performance indicators at each level.



REGULATORY AUTHORITY

To promote higher education, the Government plans to set up regulatory authority to oversee institutions and a refinance institution for education loans, he said. The Education Finance Corporation will refinance students' educational loans and give access to low cost funds for notfor- profit educational institutions.

A National Commission for Higher Education and Research would be created to regulate higher education. To develop India as a hub of innovation, long-term academia- industry relationships will be encouraged through tax incentives and open access to resources free of intellectual property entanglements; corporates will be integrated with academic and research institutions to create a pipeline of skilled human resource. Public funding for market-oriented research will be enhanced; technology in SMEs will be modernised; and collaboration between Indian and foreign entities will be encouraged.

The National Accreditation Regulatory Authority for Higher Educational Institutions Bill, 2010, introduced in Parliament provides for mandatory accreditation and creation of an institutional structure, he said.



The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, said an Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research to produce more than 1,000 doctoral and post graduate fellows every year is being established. The teaching community has to strengthen the teaching and research sides of the University system, he said. Universities have to be more hospitable to creativity and genius, and less captive to bureaucracy and procedure. Universities are the vital link in science teaching and research. Unless the base of educational system is strengthened, the height of the pyramid of excellence cannot be extended. The Prime Minister emphasised the need to strengthen the link between universities, research laboratories and industry. Scientific principles discovered by Indian scientists like C.V. Raman have helped develop advanced instruments which are now imported at great cost. The Science Congress should discuss these issues and come out with actionable recommendations. The scientific community should give due recognition to scientists who build advanced instruments. The Ministry of Science and Technology should designate 2012-13, the centenary year of the Indian Science Congress, as the `Year of Science in India'," he said.

…..from the pages of THE HINDU newspaper.

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