மின்வெட்டை சமாளிக்க"சோலார் டிராபிக் சிக்னல்கள்'

மதுரை:மதுரையில் மின்வெட்டை சமாளிக்க, சூரிய ஒளியில் இயங்கும் "சோலார் டிராபிக் சிக்னல்களை' அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட உள்ளது.நகரில் 25 இடங்களில், மின்சாரத்தால் இயங்கும் தானியங்கி "டிராபிக் சிக்னல்கள்' உள்ளன. தற்போது பல மணி நேர மின்வெட்டால், அடிக்கடி மின் தடை ஏற்படுவதாலும், சிக்னல்களில் போலீசாரின் "கைகளை' நம்பியே வாகனங்கள் செல்கின்றன. இரவில் தானியங்கி சிக்னல் செயல்படாத போது, போலீஸ்காரர் எங்கே நிற்கிறார் என்று வாகன ஓட்டிகள் தேட வேண்டியுள்ளது. இதனால் காலதாமதமும், விபத்தும் ஏற்படுகிறது.இதை தவிர்க்க, தமிழகத்தில் முதன்முறையாக, மதுரை கோரிப்பாளையத்தில் 10 மணி நேரம் பேட்டரியால் இயங்கும் "டிராபிக் சிக்னலை' தனியார் ஏஜென்சி நிறுவனம் கடந்தாண்டு அறிமுகப்படுத்தியது. போலீசாரிடையே நல்ல வரவேற்பை பெற்றதால், மற்ற பகுதிகளிலும் இவை அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. இந்நிலையில், புதிய முயற்சியாக, சூரியஒளியில் இயங்கும் "சோலார் டிராபிக் சிக்னல்களை' அறிமுகப்படுத்த, அந்த ஏஜென்சி நிறுவனம் திட்டமிட்டுள்ளது.


http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=467059

^^ Solar power technology to be deployed in Traffic signals in Madurai road junctions.

மின்வெட்டை சமாளிக்க"சோலார் டிராபிக் சிக்னல்கள்'

மதுரை:மதுரையில் மின்வெட்டை சமாளிக்க, சூரிய ஒளியில் இயங்கும் "சோலார் டிராபிக் சிக்னல்களை' அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட உள்ளது.நகரில் 25 இடங்களில், மின்சாரத்தால் இயங்கும் தானியங்கி "டிராபிக் சிக்னல்கள்' உள்ளன. தற்போது பல மணி நேர மின்வெட்டால், அடிக்கடி மின் தடை ஏற்படுவதாலும், சிக்னல்களில் போலீசாரின் "கைகளை' நம்பியே வாகனங்கள் செல்கின்றன. இரவில் தானியங்கி சிக்னல் செயல்படாத போது, போலீஸ்காரர் எங்கே நிற்கிறார் என்று வாகன ஓட்டிகள் தேட வேண்டியுள்ளது. இதனால் காலதாமதமும், விபத்தும் ஏற்படுகிறது.இதை தவிர்க்க, தமிழகத்தில் முதன்முறையாக, மதுரை கோரிப்பாளையத்தில் 10 மணி நேரம் பேட்டரியால் இயங்கும் "டிராபிக் சிக்னலை' தனியார் ஏஜென்சி நிறுவனம் கடந்தாண்டு அறிமுகப்படுத்தியது. போலீசாரிடையே நல்ல வரவேற்பை பெற்றதால், மற்ற பகுதிகளிலும் இவை அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. இந்நிலையில், புதிய முயற்சியாக, சூரியஒளியில் இயங்கும் "சோலார் டிராபிக் சிக்னல்களை' அறிமுகப்படுத்த, அந்த ஏஜென்சி நிறுவனம் திட்டமிட்டுள்ளது.


http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=467059

^^ Solar power technology to be deployed in Traffic signals in Madurai road junctions.

If I remember correctly , in 2000/2001 in chennai , there were traffic signals traffic post with solar technology, but not sure why it did not take up after that. one of the factor as usual poor maintainence by us.

Kannan sir, you would have worked with many infra guys , could you let me know why this poor attitude towards maintainence in all the major infrastructure items.

Shyam,

Please update the first post with the following.

RL Clean Power, Sivanganga (http://www.rlcppl.com/), 1MW

Sujana Towers Limited, Keela Arasadi, Tuticorin (http://eai.in/blog/2011/12/jnnsm-phase-1-batch-ii-winners-analysis.html), 10MW, JNNSM Phase 1 Batch 2

Please see this

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=91377325&postcount=574

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=91394164#post91394164

2100 Green Houses will be constructed in Tamil Nadu (http://www.commonfloor.com/stories/2100-green-houses-will-be-constructed-in-tamil-nadu-20569)

The Tamil Nadu government has planned to construct 2104 green houses in Krishnagiri district. These apartments in Chennai and other areas will be constructed under the Chief Minister’s Solar-powered Green House Scheme.

The minister has also confirmed that all the construction will be completed by July 30th. The total cost of the construction will be Rs 37.87 crore.

A higher official of the project has confirmed that construction work of 83 houses have been completed so far, while 1,257 houses are at various levels of completion.

The minister has advised the officials to provide adequate toilet facilities in all houses. He has also asked the officials to submit the unsettled contract bills within two days to the respective Block Development Officers.

The real estate in Tamil Nadu will get a new dimension after the installation of the solar power green house in the state.

The authority has disclosed that already Rs 10.10 crore have been disbursed to different contractors through 3721 contracts and they are in a process to settle other 4373 contract bills.

Please see this

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=91377325&postcount=574

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=91394164#post91394164

Becoming envious on Rajasthan :cheers:TFS Sir

Cross posted from renewable thread

Press Trust of India / Chandigarh May 13, 2012, 20:25

A poultry farm owner in Jhajjar district has shown the way by setting up a 50 Kw capacity poultry litter-based biogas power plant and saving Rs one lakh per month in electricity bill.

Ramehar Singh of Silani village is using poultry waste as feed material for running his 65 KVA (50 Kw) biogas plant for 14 hours a day for the last three months, making him self-reliant in electricity needs.

He has also surrendered his connection from state electricity department.

For 20 long years, Ramehar Singh had been running his poultry farm on power supply from the state electricity board and on diesel genset, paying electricity bill of Rs 45,000 and diesel bill of Rs 1.2 lakh every month.

After installation of the biogas power plant, he now pays diesel bill of Rs 60,000 only and does not draw power from the state electricity board.

The initiative taken to convert litter into fuel for power plant has helped him save about Rs 1 lakh every month.

He installed three biogas digesters at the cost of Rs 30.3 lakh on the plant.

Keeping in view the success of the litter-based power plant and the available potential in the state, the department organised a one-day visit of about 100 poultry farm owners from various districts last week to the farm of Ramehar Singh to get them a first-hand experience of power generation from poultry litter and to enable them to gain from the experience of Ramehar Singh.

A spokesman of the department said that there were about 30 million poultry heads in Haryana.

Since the litter of 100 birds can produce one unit of electricity per day, there is enough potential to produce three lakh units of electricity per day by using poultry litter as the feed.

"Besides, it will help avoid flaring of 100 tonne methane per day into the atmosphere," the spokesman added.

He disclosed that under the Biogas Based Distributed/Grid Power Generation Programme (BGGP), the Union Ministry of New Renewable Energy provided financial assistance to farm owners who were interested in setting up biogas-based power plants ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per kW, depending upon the generation capacity.

Besides, support was also provided for preparation of detailed project report, he said.

Ideal for namakkal area

India violating WTO norms, says US solar industry (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article3384601.ece?ref=wl_industry-and-economy)

WASHINGTON, MAY 4: The US solar industry is pushing the government to drag India to the World Trade Organisation, alleging that the recent Indian regulation that certain things in solar panels be manufactured in the country is in violation of the WTO rules.

“It seems to us at SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Association) that that's a fairly clear violation of India's WTO obligations,” said Mr John P Smirnow of King and Spalding on behalf of SEAI at a teleconference. It was organised by the International Trade Administration's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee.

“We know that the US government has had a lot of high level discussions with the Indian government. And the Indian government — my understanding the response has been, you know, this — what we're doing is not a violation of the World Trade Organisation obligations,” he said.

Enforcement

“So, one of the responses that the US could take in that context is to challenge that formally. And increased enforcement activities with respect to local content we think is important,” Mr Smirnow said.

Under the National Solar Mission, India requires that crystalline cells be manufactured in India.

“That's being expanded, or has been expanded to now require that the cells and modules be manufactured in India. And that effectively has blocked US or will block US crystalline cell and module manufacturers from participating in the Indian market,” he alleged.

Mission recommendation

Mr Smirnow said the first recommendation of the American solar mission is that the US increase its local content related enforcement activities, for example, formally challenge India's local content requirements.

“One of the things I understand that the Indian government has said, we want to help grow our industry. It is basically taking a start-up industry and expanding it, but doing so in a climate of severe global competition,” he said.

“So, how do we provide the necessary government support to help grow our local industries? What are the mechanisms we can do that? The Indian response is the local content provision is the best way to do it,” Mr Smirnow observed.


^^ Earlier US was opposed to our local content clause in JNNSM. But now they are also going to do the same. :nuts:

Legislation: Solar Tax Credits Only for US-Made Panels (http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/23707)

Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced legislation that would allow only US-made solar panels to qualify for the 30% solar tax credit individuals and businesses receive when they install solar systems.

70% of the parts for qualifying solar panels would have to be made in the US. If the solar panels are manufactured here, 50% of parts must be US-made.

The vast majority of solar panels used for US systems are now made in China. The legislation would encourage those manufacturers to locate in the US.

"The federal government has to take China's stranglehold on the solar industry very seriously, and U.S. manufacturers must have every arrow in their quiver to fight back," says Schumer. "This proposal is tough, but it's needed to successfully counter China's unfair trade practices.

Sherrod Brown says, "We can't trade our dependence on foreign oil for dependence on Chinese-made solar panels. We went from a solar trade surplus with China to a solar trade deficit in a matter of years. Ohio workers can compete with anyone in the world, but they deserve access to a level playing field. When the Chinese government provides direct export subsidies to its solar manufacturers, that's not competing - it's cheating. And it's costing American jobs in solar manufacturing. The American tax code should not make matters worse by encouraging the purchase of Chinese-made solar panels. Our plan will ensure that American tax incentives support American solar panel manufacturers."

This week, the Commerce Dept will rule on the claim that Chinese solar companies are selling panels at a loss to take over the market. It's expected to set tariffs at 10-12%.

In March, it ruled, "Because China is unfairly subsidizing solar production" tariffs will be set at 2.90%-4.73%. Rates vary depending on the subsidies the company receives from China's government. I

The two tariffs combined would add 10-12 cents per watt.

It's a victory for the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing, which filed a petition for the tariffs with the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission last year. But they asked for tariffs of 100%.

The International Trade Commission will come to its own conclusion, probably in July.

The push for tariffs caused a rift in the solar industry. Installers have benefited from low prices and are against the tariffs.

^^ Let us see whether China takes US to WTO. :lol:

Wind power generation in Tamil Nadu on track; reached a high of 41.32 million units (http://www.energynext.in/wind-power-generation-in-tamil-nadu-on-track-reached-a-high-of-41-32-million-units/)

The wind energy sector in Tamil Nadu seems to have come to the grips, as the generation of electricity from wind has picked up tremendously in the recent times, bringing relief to the power-starved state.

http://www.energynext.in/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Wind_turbines3.jpg

On Wednesday, May 16, the electricity from sector reached a high of 41.32 million units, taking the total generation in the first sixteen days of this month to 558 million units. This was markedly higher than the target of 374 million units for the sixteen day period, and very close to the target for the month of 725 million units.

Tamil Naduhas been battling with power crisis for quite some time, and the power shortage is estimated to be close to 3,500 MW. The state has so far purchased 114.36 million units of power from the market this month. This is only marginally higher than the target of 111.48 million units for the first sixteen days of this month.

Source: HBL

Techno Electric sees positives in Tamil Nadu

Kolkata-based Techno Electric & Engineering Ltd, which has over 100 MW of wind power projects in Tamil Nadu, says things are looking better in the state.

The company, like other wind power producers in Tamil Nadu, has been affected by the lack of sufficient evacuation lines in the state to transmit electricity from the windmills to consumers.

“The plus point is, TNEB had got approval for enhancement of tariff on the condition that they would not be importing power anymore. This is positive for us,” Mr Pradeep Lohia, President (Finance), Techno Electric, told analysts in a conference call recently.

The Rs 820-croreTechno Electric has two lines of businesses – generation of wind power and execution of transmission and distribution projects for companies like the Power Grid Corporation of India.

It ended last year with a wind power capacity of 207 MW, half of which is in Tamil Nadu, through a subsidiary called Simran Wind Project Pvt Ltd.

Mr Joy Saxena, Director-Finance, Simran Wind Project told Business Line today that Techno Electric intends to add 150 MW of capacity. This capacity addition could come both by acquisition of existing wind assets, as well as by fresh installations.

There is around 550 MW of wind assets on sale in the market today, Mr Saxena said. He could not say when Techno Electric might close a deal because there are many negotiations happening, at various stages. But he said that the company would announce placing of orders for new machines in a months’ time.

Mr Pradeep Lohia said in the conference call that the company would like to have a wind asset portfolio of 1,200 MW in about six years.

He said that Techno Electric ended last year with orders on hand worth Rs 950 crore. Further, the company was the best bidder in two tenders of Power Grid Corporation of India for building three substations, he said. The jobs under these tenders are worth Rs 250 crore.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3432463.ece

Shyam,

Please update the first post with the following.

RL Clean Power, Sivanganga (http://www.rlcppl.com/), 1MW

Sujana Towers Limited, Keela Arasadi, Tuticorin (http://eai.in/blog/2011/12/jnnsm-phase-1-batch-ii-winners-analysis.html), 10MW, JNNSM Phase 1 Batch 2

Done!!:cheers1:

Shyam !

R U back ?

Shyam !

R U back ?

he he I am always present sir. Konjam exams, viva, thesis submission, etc etc. Athanaala little busy off late.

Just read news that Rajasthan has postponed its solar program. Though official reasons not given, people say they postponed it as the prices were too high for their liking. ( around Rs 10/kwh)..

And saw some criticizing Modi for going for prices as high as rs 15/kwh..

In retrospect, I am kinda happy that TN didn't jump into solar in a big way earlier like how Guj and Rajasthan did.

Only recently TN announced its plans for solar and by the time they think of implementing it, hope there would be further clarity in the sector.

Yes the prices of panels really plummeted in the last 12 months. Mainly because Germany is scaling back its program. It will take some time to overcome the resultant slackness.

Glad to know that at least few of us have come a long way from pom pom's to doing it the right way and at the right time.

so it means, cost of solar power is decreased?
we discussed it is around 10rs..is it come down to 7 or 8 rs?

so it means, cost of solar power is decreased?
we discussed it is around 10rs..is it come down to 7 or 8 rs?

Cost depends on a lot of factors and therefore should be given as a range. Currently that range is 7-10. Last year it was around 12-18.

Thanks Shyam.. already coal pricing is moving up... so in next few years it might move towards 5 rs or 6 rs. so if we get clean solar power at 7-10 rs., it will be good to have our investements towards solar power rather than thermal power right?

Thermal power is higher than 5 or 6 if you take the true price of coal. Indian thermal plants get coal at around half the international price. If they use coal from international markets (or if Coal India is allowed to sell coal in international markets), the cost of coal alone will be 3.5 to 4 rupees (I have posted the calculations earlier either in this thread or mega power thread - i forgot). If we add the plant cost, its financing, operations etc, the cost differential between solar and thermal is vanishing and wind is already cheaper than even subsidized coal.

The only advantage thermal power has is its reliability and its 'power on demand' capability. That is a huge advantage which can be matched only by nuclear power. It is this advantage rather than its cost advantage which will keep thermal energy relevant in the foreseeable future. Energy storage technology has to scale up to displace them.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-17/first-india-shale-gas-seen-in-4-years-china-output-nears.html
Some fresh news on Shale in India - for education purpose.

GAIL plans to invest Rs. 620 crore to set up wind farms (http://www.energynext.in/gail-plans-to-invest-rs-620-crore-to-set-up-wind-farms/)

Amid concerns of depleting stocks of fossil and climate change issues, GAIL India, the largest state-owned natural gas processing and distribution company in India has decided to increase its renewable energy portfolio. Encouraged by the initial results of 4.5 MW wind power project in Gujarat, GAIL plans to set up many more wind energy generation projects.

According to an internal plan document of the company, GAIL is also in the process of setting up a 100 MW WEG project in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for commercial use with an estimated investment of Rs.620 crore. The company wants to get these projects during 2012-2013. Apart from the 100 MW in TN and Karnataka, the company is setting up another 14 MW WEG project in Gujarat partly for captive use in the State and partly for sale to the State utility.

To establish firm hold in the clean energy sector, Gail intends to invest big time. The wind potential states such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan are also on the radar of the company to expand its presence in the wind energy sphere.

Travelled around Coimbatore - Palladam - Udumalpet - Pollachi last week and good to see the white towers at work, doing brisk business! Palladam - Udumalpet road at few points, one would be awestruck by the sheer number of these windmills and the beautiful sight it offers. I think those points are right in the high density wind areas.

A lot of windmills with two blades! and a quite a number of blades just resting! may be maintenance? or waiting for evacuation infra? repairs?!

Is the answer to India's energy future blowing in the Wind? (http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/articulo-blog-20546-157-Is_the_answer_to_India's_energy_future_blowing_in_the_Wind)


Table 1: Wind Capacity Utilization Factors and Generation in windy states

http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/ficheroenergias/fotos/eolica/ampliada/a/Wind_Capacity_Utilization_Factors.jpg

Chart 1: Various proposed growth scenarios for Cumulative Wind Energy in India


http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/ficheroenergias/fotos/Various_proposed_growth_scenarios_for_Cumulative_Wind_Energy.jpg

Map 1: Wind Power Density map from Indian Wind Atlas (2010)


http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/ficheroenergias/fotos/Wind_Power_Density_map.jpg

Chart 2: Capacity and Electricity Generation from Renewable Energy Sources (2008-2009)


http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/ficheroenergias/fotos/Capacity_and_Electricity_Generation_from_Renewable_Energy.jpg

Table 2: Estimated Grid Connected Renewable Energy Potential In India


http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/ficheroenergias/fotos/Estimated_Grid_Connected_Renewable_Energy_Potential.jpg

Table 3: Comparison of Wind Turbine Generators Technology Options and Development Trends


http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/ficheroenergias/fotos/Comparison_of_Wind_Turbine_Generators.jpg

Table 4: Registered Solar PV Power Plants under REC Scheme


http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/ficheroenergias/fotos/Registered_Solar_PV_Power_Plants.jpg

Chart 2: Non-Solar REC traded prices


http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/ficheroenergias/fotos/Non-Solar_REC_traded_prices.jpg

Table 5: RPOs targets and compliance across states in India



http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/ficheroenergias/fotos/RPOs_targets_and_compliance_across_states.jpg

Sharing some photos taken on the way from Sankarankovil to Tirunelveli on 19-May-2012.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-44MlaB_0Fbg/T7uYKXlwTVI/AAAAAAAAAHU/BGVOyeqTieM/s640/2012-05-19%252010.01.53.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RqWmtYNuAJ4/T7uYLK3rzII/AAAAAAAAAHc/uVI7u05M_xw/s640/2012-05-19%252010.02.26.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Wsw4NwdNM6Q/T7uYTGyqycI/AAAAAAAAAHs/jbVLwvgE9mg/s640/2012-05-19%252010.17.32.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Ge1PMJPotWw/T7uYXisW79I/AAAAAAAAAH4/xLyTolls92I/s640/2012-05-19%252010.20.33.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I08FeeOP3BI/T7uYXnY8JjI/AAAAAAAAAH0/VZ1VhWxKeeo/s640/2012-05-19%252010.20.56.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3V3xHnZGIhY/T7uYgIBl6EI/AAAAAAAAAIE/DvSEnIxkSIw/s640/2012-05-19%252010.21.00.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2BRjdd1aExU/T7uYi6Ugf_I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/PcRck4hF02c/s640/2012-05-19%252010.21.20.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FWhOdQX7syo/T7uYhQj2_FI/AAAAAAAAAII/_WPDs9FZHnw/s640/2012-05-19%252010.21.29.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qImMy3aIOLM/T7uYrYJO88I/AAAAAAAAAIk/T0IdkhDYd-M/s640/2012-05-19%252010.21.30.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-50_PsDuZ7FI/T7uYrEoZMuI/AAAAAAAAAIg/6dW3_KVBpkM/s640/2012-05-19%252010.22.02.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P4S4wxTno78/T7uYq9-rHiI/AAAAAAAAAIc/BsXEXlc-jNY/s640/2012-05-19%252010.22.08.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uXOdInvvB-Y/T7uYxcrBzwI/AAAAAAAAAI0/3x9yOXlWEBo/s640/2012-05-19%252010.22.32.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PuHfImQNnbc/T7uY0I4OSBI/AAAAAAAAAJA/Wv4mAlkCct0/s640/2012-05-19%252010.22.43.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tIoj12A2K-A/T7uYzxlCc1I/AAAAAAAAAI8/-CBlXK6f8VE/s640/2012-05-19%252010.22.53.jpg

^^ Felt very happy to see so many wind mills in action. Seeing wind mills with two blades for the first time. The ones with two blades were rotating very fast. Hope, govt does something in transmission network to evacuate power during peak period.

Indian firm develops own wind turbine technology

In July last year, a windmill of 700 KW capacity began pumping electricity into the Tamil Nadu grid from Uthumalai, in Tirunelveli district. The windmill's claim to fame lies in the fact that it has been developed by an Indian company, Garuda Vaayu Shakthi Limited.

Only three other companies - Suzlon, WinWinD and Kenersys - own the technology for their turbines, says Vineeth Vijayaraghavan, Editor of the industry newsletter, Panchabuta.com. "Garuda's wind turbines are not just made in India but made for India."

The company is led by a team of home-grown entrepreneurs. Together, N. Srinivasan, P. Chandramouli and I.K. Pillai make a formidable team. Srinivasan is a chartered accountant who earlier headed the wind turbine business at Shriram EPC.

Chandramouli is a mechanical engineer and an IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus. Pillai is an expert in identifying wind sites. Until recently, he was helping wind turbine developers get possession of wind sites and obtain government clearances.

"It took us 18 months to develop the technology for two types of turbines, of 700 KW and 1,700 KW capacity," says Chandramouli. The 700 KW turbine in Uthumalai was the first one sold by Garuda. Tamil Nadu-based PMP Iron & Steel, the customer, is now in talks with the company for a 10 MW wind farm.

http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/indian-firm-develops-own-wind-turbine-technology/1/184832.html

From their website:

Garuda Vaayu Shakthi Limited (GVSL), headquartered in Chennai, India, has stepped into the field of wind energy with a commitment to provide efficient, productive output with foremost focus on after sales services.

...

GVSL has a manufacturing and assembly facility near Chennai, India, for the assembly of Wind Energy Generators. The choice of location was taken after a thorough study of available resources. The present location was approved considering its proximity to Chennai – The Wind Energy Capital of India :smug: and easy availability of skilled manpower ensuring benefits for all the stakeholders.

http://gvsl.in/company-profile.php

தமிழகம் சாதனை படைக்கும் அளவுக்கு, காற்றாலை மின் உற்பத்தி நேற்று ஒரே நாளில், 3,500 மெகாவாட்டைத் தாண்டியது. காற்றாலை மின் உற்பத்தியால், மின்வெட்டு நீக்கப்பட்டு, கடந்த சில தினங்களாக, 24 மணி நேர மின்சாரம் வழங்கப்படுகிறது.

மின் தட்டுப்பாட்டில் சிக்கியுள்ள தமிழகத்தில், கடந்த ஒரு மாதத்திற்கு முன்பு வரை, ஐந்து மணி நேரம் முதல் 10 மணி நேரம் வரை, மின் வெட்டு இருந்தது. ஆனால், மேற்குத் தொடர்ச்சி மலைப் பகுதிகளில் காற்று வீசும் பருவ காலம் துவங்கியுள்ளதால், காற்றாலை மின் உற்பத்தி கிடுகிடுவென உயர்ந்துள்ளது. நாளுக்கு நாள் காற்றாலை மின் உற்பத்தி அதிகரிக்கிறது. கடந்த வாரம் வரை, 2,500 மெகாவாட் வரை காற்றாலை மின்சாரம் உற்பத்தியானது. கடந்த சில தினங்களாக, 3,000 மெகாவாட்டைத் தாண்டியுள்ளது.

சாதனை: நேற்று காலையில், 3,516 மெகாவாட் அளவுக்கு அதிகபட்ச உற்பத்தியானது. காற்றாலை வரலாற்றில், இந்தியாவில் ஒரே நாளில் எந்த மாநிலத்திலும், இவ்வளவு அதிகமாக காற்றாலை மின்சாரம் உற்பத்தி ஆனதில்லை. இதுகுறித்து, மின்துறை உற்பத்திப் பிரிவு அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறியதாவது: தமிழகத்தில் மேற்கு தொடர்ச்சி மலைப் பகுதி, அதிக அளவு காற்றாலை மின்சார உற்பத்திக்கு உகந்த இடமாக உள்ளது. இயற்கையாகவே உயர்ந்த மலைகளும், உயரம் குறைந்த குன்றுகளும், கணவாய்ப் பகுதிகளும் கலந்த பகுதிகள், மேற்கு தொடர்ச்சி மலையில் அதிகம் உள்ளதால், பல இடங்களில் காற்றின் வேகம் அதிகமாக உள்ளது. அந்த இடங்களில் காற்றாலைகள் அதிகம் உள்ளதால், மின்சார உற்பத்தியும் அதிகரிக்கிறது. இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

உற்பத்தி: காற்றாலை மின்சாரத்தை பொறுத்தவரை, நண்பகல் மற்றும் பகல் பொழுதை விட, நள்ளிரவிலும், காலையிலும் அதிக அளவுக்கு உற்பத்தியாகிறது. ஆனால், மாலை நேரம் மற்றும் தொழிற்சாலைகள் இயங்கும் பகல் நேரத்தில், காற்றாலை மின் உற்பத்தி நிலையற்றதாக உள்ளது. தற்போது, தமிழகத்தில் பல்வேறு மின் நிலைய கோளாறுகளாலும், புதிய திட்டங்களின் தாமதத்தாலும், மின்சாரப் பற்றாக்குறை உள்ள நிலையில், காற்றாலை மின்சாரம்தான் ஓரளவு நிம்மதியைக் கொடுத்து உள்ளது.

சென்னையை வாட்டும் மின்வெட்டு: காற்றாலை மின் உற்பத்தி அதிகரிப்பால், தமிழகத்தின் பெரும்பாலான இடங்களில் மின்வெட்டு நீக்கப்பட்டு, 24 மணி நேர மின்சாரம் வழங்கப்படுகிறது. மின்வெட்டு நேரம் பெருமளவு குறைக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. சென்னையில் மட்டும் இரண்டு மணி நேர கட்டாய மின்வெட்டு தொடர்கிறது. அக்னி வெயிலின் உச்சத்தில் தவிக்கும் சென்னை வாசிகள், மின்வெட்டால் கடும் இன்னலுக்கு ஆளாகி உள்ளனர். எனவே, சென்னையிலும் மின்வெட்டை ரத்து செய்ய, பொதுமக்கள் எதிர் பார்த்து உள்ளனர். இதேபோல், காற்றாலை மின்சாரம் கிடைக்கும் நேரங்களை கணக்கிட்டு, தொழிற்சாலைகளுக்குரிய மின்வெட்டையும் நீக்க வேண்டுமென கோரிக்கை எழுந்துள்ளது.


http://www.dinamalar.com/News_detail.asp?Id=474451

While TN met close 30 - 35% of its energy needs from windmills, Germany met 50% of its needs from Solar! Great going!

German solar power plants produced a world record 22 gigawatts of electricity per hour - equal to 20 nuclear power stations at full capacity - through the midday hours on Friday and Saturday, the head of a renewable energy think tank said.

The German government decided to abandon nuclear power after the Fukushima nuclear disaster last year, closing eight plants immediately and shutting down the remaining nine by 2022.

They will be replaced by renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and bio-mass.

Norbert Allnoch, director of the Institute of the Renewable Energy Industry (IWR) in Muenster, said the 22 gigawatts of solar power per hour fed into the national grid on Saturday met nearly 50 per cent of the nation's midday electricity needs.

"Never before anywhere has a country produced as much photovoltaic electricity," Allnoch told Reuters. "Germany came close to the 20 gigawatt (GW) mark a few times in recent weeks. But this was the first time we made it over."

The record-breaking amount of solar power shows one of the world's leading industrial nations was able to meet a third of its electricity needs on a work day, Friday, and nearly half on Saturday when factories and offices were closed.

Government-mandated support for renewables has helped Germany became a world leader in renewable energy and the country gets about 20 per cent of its overall annual electricity from those sources.

Germany has nearly as much installed solar power generation capacity as the rest of the world combined and gets about four percent of its overall annual electricity needs from the sun alone. It aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020.

Sunshine

Some critics say renewable energy is not reliable enough nor is there enough capacity to power major industrial nations. But Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany is eager to demonstrate that is indeed possible.

The jump above the 20 GW level was due to increased capacity this year and bright sunshine nationwide.

The 22 GW per hour figure is up from about 14 GW per hour a year ago. Germany added 7.5 GW of installed power generation capacity in 2012 and 1.8 GW more in the first quarter for a total of 26 GW capacity.

"This shows Germany is capable of meeting a large share of its electricity needs with solar power," Allnoch said. "It also shows Germany can do with fewer coal-burning power plants, gas-burning plants and nuclear plants."

Allnoch said the data is based on information from the European Energy Exchange (EEX), a bourse based in Leipzig.

The incentives through the state-mandated "feed-in-tariff" (FIT) are not without controversy, however. The FIT is the lifeblood for the industry until photovoltaic prices fall further to levels similar for conventional power production.

Utilities and consumer groups have complained the FIT for solar power adds about 2 cents per kilowatt/hour on top of electricity prices in Germany that are already among the highest in the world with consumers paying about 23 cents per kw/h.

German consumers pay about 4 billion euros ($5 billion) per year on top of their electricity bills for solar power, according to a 2012 report by the Environment Ministry.

Critics also complain growing levels of solar power make the national grid more less stable due to fluctuations in output.

Merkel's centre-right government has tried to accelerate cuts in the FIT, which has fallen by between 15 and 30 percent per year, to nearly 40 percent this year to levels below 20 cents per kw/h. But the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, has blocked it.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/germany-sets-new-solar-power-record/261789-2.html

^^

yesterday 30% of TN's power requirement was full filled by wind.

Hope Solar power grows like how wind penerated in TN in last decade.

By 2023, 50% of our power requirment should be from wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, geo thermal. And rest 25% from TN's own resource Neyveli-Jayankodam-Mannargudi lignite belt and rest 10% can be from coal from other states and 15% can be import coal.

say 20,000 MW is requirment by 2023

50% from solar, wind, hydro, nuclear - 10,000 MW

Solar - 3000MW by 2023
Wind - will cross 12000MW by 2023
Nuclear - 3000MW (Kalpakkam+Koodankualm) + 2000MW (hopefully 2 more at Koodankulam) - 5000MW by 2023
Hydro - 2300MW
Geothermal and others - 1000MW

total - 23300MW.. I am sure 10000 MW we may get consistently from that total.

25% from TN Lignite power plants - 5000MW

Present capacity of Neyveli is 2500MW. Hope Sirkazhi or Jayankodam plants takes shape by then.

10% & 15% from other state coal and imported coal respectively

2000MW+3000MW capacity plant will depend on this!!

25% only we will depend on coal. But for this CG has to bring reform on power sharing b/w states.

Not sure whether it will be achievable. Tshyam pls comment.

ஒரு மணிக்கு 22 ஜிகாவாட் மின் உற்பத்தி செய்து ஜெர்மன் சாதனை படைத்துள்ளது. (http://sudarnila.com/2012/05/27/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%82%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF-%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%82%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BE/) :omg:

தேனி நகராட்சி மின் தேவை : காற்றாலை அமைக்க முடிவு

தேனி : தேனி அல்லிநகரம் நகராட்சி மின் தேவையை பூர்த்தி செய்ய காற்றாலை அமைத்து மின்சாரம் தயாரிக்க திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.
தேனி அல்லிநகரம் நகராட்சி பகுதிக்கு ஒரு மாதத்திற்கு 6 மெகாவாட் மின்சாரம் தேவைப்படுகிறது. தற்போது நிலவும் மின்தட்டுப்பாட்டை போக்கவும்,காற்று பலமாக வீசும் மாதங்களில் காற்றாலை மூலம் மின் உற்பத்தி செய்து வழங்கவும் முடிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதற்கான இடமும் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.
நகராட்சி குப்பைக் கிடங்கு அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள இடத்தில், காற்றாலை அமைக்கப்படுகிறது. இதற்கான திட்ட மதிப்பீடுகளை தயாரித்து அரசுக்கு அனுப்பி வைக்குமாறு கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. இங்கு நகராட்சி சார்பில், காற்றாலை அமைக்கப்பட்டு மின்சாரம் தயாரிக்கப்படுகிறது.


http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=474706

^^ Theni's Allinagaram Municipality plans for power from wind to overcome power starvation. :cheers:

If germany can generate so much energy from solar, TN is definitely capable achieving the same amount if not more.

Wind has seriously picked up..

Nearly 3460 MW y'day and 77 MU consumption from wind which contributed the highest y'day.

2nd was central thermal power stations - 45.6 MU consumption.

Wind has seriously picked up..

Nearly 3460 MW y'day and 77 MU consumption from wind which contributed the highest y'day.

2nd was central thermal power stations - 45.6 MU consumption.

If installed capacity is ~7K MW, this is the max that can be achieved? any idea on how far it can go?

If installed capacity is ~7K MW, this is the max that can be achieved? any idea on how far it can go?

^^I think, we are already producing peak capacity power(50% of installed capacity), somebody please confirm. But, we don't have enough grid capacity to accommodate the generated power, if power generation further increases. Sub stations were a problem. But, some private wind mill developers installed their own sub stations ~(5 to 6) numbers. But, even then, the grid capacity is not sufficient. I think, Govt has allocated some funds to increase the capacity of grid.

Biomass Plantations Can Power India


SHIVGANGA, India, May 28 (IPS) - A group of women working in a tree-shaded nursery in this arid part of southern Tamil Nadu state is helping to manage India�s very first biomass energy plantation.

Valli, 50, and Sarasu, 60, have been working with Energy Plantation Projects India (EPPI) since inception in 2007, the income they earn forming an integral part of their household budgets. "We easily manage household work and a salary-paying job," they tell IPS.

Around 20 women take care of daily maintenance work while another 45 work seasonally. The women come in at daybreak and leave at two pm, earning a decent Indian rupees 150 (approximately three dollars) for half-a-day's toil.

"We devised the timings to suit the women, as we found them to be sincere workers," says Sam Venkatesan, director of EPPI. "They are free to go home in the afternoon and also graze their goats on lands we have set aside for the purpose."

The women, who form over half the company's entire workforce, are happy to have an assured income in return for planting and tending saplings, making shade-nets and taking care of other nursery essentials.

Grown with seven indigenous biomass-producing plant species, the plantation is "one of the first of its kind in the world," says Venkatesan, who once worked as an executive with Motorola, the United States-based cell phone giant.

Venkatesan explains that the plantation is biometrically calculated for calorific value, rate of growth and yield per acre to supply its own two megawatt gasification power plant with the assured biomass supply that is essential for a successful gasification system.

Gasification converts organic- or fossil-based carbonaceous material, by controlled heating, into syngas (synthetic gas), and the power derived from burning the gas is considered to be renewable energy.

EPPI's 300-acre biomass plantation now has trees that stand seven metres tall on degraded lands that have been contoured for watershed conservation with reservoirs constructed to enable drip irrigation.

"The groundwater has risen from 80 feet in 2007, when we started the plantation, to 300 feet now," says C. Lalrammawia who manages technology at the plantation. "Rainfall has similarly increased from 250 mm annually in 2007 to over 800 mm in 2011."

According to the National Commission on Agriculture, India has 60 million hectares of degraded non-forest and forest lands available for tree growing, including biomass plantation.

The ‘side effects' of planting for energy are already visible at EPPI and these include improvement in the microclimate of the region with a regeneration of biodiversity. The reservoirs have becoming watering holes for deer and birds now flock to the once degraded, arid lands.

"We discovered that a small forest of this size, with its two Mw power plant, can power several of the cell phone transmission towers in the area, said Venaktesan. Cell phone transmission towers currently consume two percent of India's subsidised diesel and so that is a huge saving."

The plantation costs 400 dollars per acre for all-inclusive maintenance annually and yields 50 tonnes of biomass per acre annually on average.

EPPI has received four million dollars as venture capital to begin its two Mw power plant running on biomass gasification using its own energy plantation. But, there are plans to scale it up to six Mw by tapping leasehold energy forests.

India's ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) after inspection and approval granted EPPI's energy plantation 272,000 dollars towards reimbursement of equipment costs for every Mw of power produced.

Deepak Gupta, who inspected the plantation during his tenure as secretary (topmost official) at MNRE, believes small biomass gasification power plants are ideal for providing local power, jobs, natural regeneration and availability of biomass supply to nearby industries.

"A dedicated biomass power plant, able to work on its own 24-hour supply, is the answer to India's local needs," Gupta told IPS.

As per Indian government regulations, EPPI can upload power into the national grid. But, the company has opted to distribute power to the local grid to ensure power supply to villages close to where its lands are situated.

"We can't guarantee electricity to each household because we don't control the grid, but this will surely ensure local benefit. Social inclusion for us is not just corporate social responsibility, it is our business model," says Venkatesan.

At a calculated 26.4 tonnes of biomass needed to produce one Mw of power daily, the company envisages a ‘plant load factor' (PLF), or running capacity, of 80-85 percent, which is better than average.

"We can safely calculate this PLF because we own the plantation and have control over supply," says Jayanth Ganapathy, who manages the company's business operations.

EPPI managers say the plantation's predicted growth rate has included factors like extreme weather or slower climatic change events by increasing the contingency scale of each management need.

"Which means, for instance, that we need more land per megawatt, or we calculate an increased buffer amount for each necessity," says Venkatesan. "This is our management technique."

"If I were to accept all factors such as climate change, pests and weather vagaries, I'd have to give up," said Venkatesan. "But EPPI has shown the world that an energy plantation company is more than possible."

Find out more about the forces behind climate change - but also about the growing citizen awareness and new climate policies towards sustainable development
http://ipsnews.net/climate_change/

http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/biomass-plantations-can-power-india

Have a look at this video related to the above project:

http://www.eppi.co.in/index.php?page=videos

Excellent info murlee

MADURAI: On Monday afternoon, when the power supply was suspended abruptly in Theni, residents were resigned to their fate to beat the sweltering heat, while office rooms came to a standstill.

But one building that continued with its business as usual was the office of the Planters Energy Network (PEN), an NGO that offers electricity solutions to the plantation industry. But for the air-conditioner, the entire electricity needs of the office are met with solar power.

The office has solar panels of two MW capacity that generate up to 14 units of electricity everyday to power six desktops, one laptop, 10 fluorescent bulbs and six fans.

"The office consumes 18 units of electricity every day. Three units go for the air-conditioner and the motor pumpset for which we depend on grid power. The rest of the power requirement is met by the solar energy," says C Palaniappan, chief executive officer of PEN.

Palaniappan claims that PEN was the first organisation in the state to go for almost complete green energy. Though solar panels are investment intensive, in the long run they are economical and ecological, he says. "Solar panels of one KW capacity cost Rs 2.5 lakh. The government extends a subsidy of Rs 81,000 for one KW," Palaniappan says.

Solar panels absorb heat from beam light when it is sunny or diffused radiation when it is cloudy. Unless there is continuous rain for days together, the solar panels would continue to generate electricity that could be stored in cells, he said. Once installed, the panels have a life of 25 years.

He pointed out that one KW solar panels generate four to seven units per day which is adequate for a medium household. "But we could check the power requirements and design the system accordingly. Solar panels are apt for any kind of household or office. In fact it is high time that we go green. There will not be coal or any fossil fuel in future. Besides, fossil fuel consumption is also contributing to global warming. We have to prepare ourselves to sustain in future," Palaniappan said.

PEN has offered green energy solutions to many industries, especially in the plantation sector to meet the electricity requirements. "There is a growing awareness among public on renewable energy. Many companies, architects and engineers as well as individuals approach us to provide solar energy solutions," says Palaniappan who had served as a teaching faculty in the Madurai Kamaraj University and a visiting faculty to universities in Italy and Germany.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Turning-the-solar-switch-on-to-beat-the-power-crisis/articleshow/13652099.cms

I want to share the info based on the experience from our NGO / Club.

For small household applications:

We donated Solar lanterns to school students during Nov 2011 to March 2012 mainly in rural areas. They were indeed helpful. But the power of the light (Lux) from one lantern was just enough for only one person or max 2 at a time.

Solar Based Water Heaters (Drum Heaters installed at the terrace) are very effective and economical too. But for cooking purpose, the temperature generated was not enough.
For cooking reflector type is better.

For street lighting, fence lighting, periphery security alarm etc, solar linked systems are excellent & economical.

For house lighting and Fans, it is better to have more no of batteries, powered by solar panels on roof tops (which are costlier) if you can afford. Not so economical, but at least you get power.

Folks,
Need clarification:-
If we use 110-V appliances / lights / fans, will the inverter work for more hours? Provided it's set up to use 110v.
Might have to add step down transformer for the whole house... also, maybe you can avoid low voltage issues:)
Comments welcome.

Will a 110v A/C work with the current setup? (with step down transformer)

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/9205

Having renewable sources as the backbone of energy supply is not going to be easy. If the fluctuations can bring down the transmission network in Europe, it shows how much we have to invest in our T&D infra.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/9205

Having renewable sources as the backbone of energy supply is not going to be easy. If the fluctuations can bring down the transmission network in Europe, it shows how much we have to invest in our T&D infra.

^^ Imo, govt has to encourage rooftop PV with FIT for individuals, and CSP with thermal storage for commercial projects. This way, we can sort out fluctuations and have solar power 24/7. Even though CSP is costly, with govt support and large scale production, it can eventually come down.

Similarly, offshore wind has to be encouraged and given priority.

And, finally, distribution has to be localized.

L&T Shipbuilding installs 40KW roof top system in its Chennai shipyard (http://panchabuta.com/2012/06/05/lt-shipbuilding-installs-40kw-roof-top-system-in-its-chennai-shipyard/)

L&T Shipbuilding Ltd (LTSB) a Greenfield shipyard and port at Kattupalli near Ennore has installed a 40KWp rooftop solar PV system.

With this installation, L&T Shipbuilding Ltd will be able to draw a significant amount of “green power” for the administration building and therefore fulfill one of the key requirements for securing the Platinum Rating for a Green Building.

TORP Systems Pvt. Ltd. which has commissioned this plant, is a turnkey provider of solar systems and solar parks and has the capability to deliver a turnkey solution including design, fabrication and installation.

Mr. Ezhilvendhan Senior DGM, L&T Shipbuilding Ltd states that “The energy situation in Tamil Nadu is grim and we need to take steps for development of alternate energy sources. The 40KWp rooftop solar system will generate more than 60,000 units per year and reduce carbon emissions by more than 1000 Tons in the entire lifecycle of the plant. We chose TORP due to a variety of factors such as local manufacturing, technology leadership as well as product safety and reliability. The job was completed on time and met the strict quality and safety norms of L&T. Chennai leads the country in having the largest numberof certified green buildings and once the Administration Building is certified will add to the tally”.

It is interesting to note that L&T Shipbuilding has chosen an third party vendor inspite of L&T-ECC being one of the largest Solar EPC’s in the country.

Mr. V. Ramakrishnan; Director, TORP SYSTEMS expressed happiness to be associated with L&T due to the far reaching commitment shown by the management to lower their carbon footprint and implement new energy technologies. The added significance to this project is that it is an on-site generation of power and there is no need to wheel this power from a remote location.

Windmills play a big role in easing power situation in Tamil Nadu (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article3494216.ece)
Since May 25, windmills have contributed 31 to 34 per cent of the total power consumed in the State every day.

Tamil Nadu has nearly 7,000 MW of installed wind energy capacity and peak generation from these windmills has remained above 3,200 MW for the last 12 days.

According to data available on the website of the Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation, on May 25, of the total 227.296 million units of energy consumed in the State, 75.002 million units were contributed by wind energy. On June 6, of the 231.425 million units of energy consumed, 75.497 million units were generated from wind energy.

According to K. Kasthoorirangaian, chairman of the Indian Wind Power Association, the windy season is expected to last till the first week of October and the peak wind season is July-August. Thus, generation of wind energy is expected to be higher in the coming days.

Evacuate efficiently

The wind power producing community has been seeks continued support in evacuating all wind energy produced during the season and also monthly payment of bills (by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation) for energy supplied by the windmills to the grid, he stated in a release. The State government should permit the windmills to export energy outside the State.

Restore incentive

The Union government should restore the Accelerated Depreciation and Generation-based incentive to encourage installation of windmills. According to data available on the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy website, just 36 MW was installed in the country in April. This is a sharp fall in the capacity installed during the same period in the previous years, he said.

TN 2nd after Denmark in the global reneweable energy (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article3493894.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home)

CHENNAI, JUNE 5:
The last fortnight, when wind energy met over one-third of Tamil Nadu's energy demand, has proven the ability of renewable energy to consistently meet utility-scale energy supply, according to the Indian Wind Power Association.

This illustrates the need for the policy makers at the State and Centre to restore the incentives to support the wind energy sector, said the Association.

The association of wind energy producers said that since May 25 wind mills contributed over 2,800 MW to 3,500 MW of power to the State Grid.

Referring to the official statistics available with the Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation, the utility handling power transmission, they said for nearly a fortnight now, the wind mills have fed 70-80 million units of electricity daily into the State's power grid. This accounts for up to 35 per cent of Tamil Nadu's energy requirement. This supply has contributed significantly to alleviating the power shortage of about 3,000 MW in the State.

While this is significant in itself, what is more important, say the wind energy producers, is that wind energy has proven the ability to consistently support the grid.

It has disproved the belief that a more than one-fifth share of wind energy into a grid will impact its stability as this nonconventional source can be inconsistent – what the power sector dubs as ‘infirm' power.

Tamil Nadu has made a mark on the global renewable energy scene as it is now second only to Denmark, where wind mills contribute up to 40 per cent to the power grid.

With the windy season in Tamil Nadu set to last up to October beginning from July-August, wind energy is set to play a bigger role.

The wind energy producers have urged the power utility to continue evacuating all the power generated from the wind mills. Over 7,000 MW of wind energy generation capacity is available. They have urged the State Government to allow export of surplus energy outside Tamil Nadu by lifting the prevailing ban on sale of energy outside the State.

The Central Power Ministry should strengthen the transmission infrastructure in Tamil Nadu to link it better with the national grid to enable easy power evacuation.

The Association has urged the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to restore incentives such as accelerated depreciation and generation-based incentive to those investing in wind mills. With the Government doing away with the incentives since April 2012, official statistics show that just 36 MW of wind mill capacity has been added in April as compared with 200 MW in the same month last year.

Something that we have been discussing here or in chennai metro rail thread is going to happen in Delhi Metro. :cheers:

:banana:

NEW DELHI: In a bid to reduce dependence on non-renewable sources of power, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is looking to tap into solar power.

As part of this initiative, Delhi Metro, in consultation with Delhi government, is planning to install solar panels at the Karkardooma and Noida sector-21 metro stations, said a DMRC spokesperson.

The solar panels will also be installed at the Yamuna Bank depot.

"These are plans for the initial phase to capture solar energy, which eventually will provide electricity using appropriate technology," said a Delhi Metro official. The DMRC plans to harness solar energy at elevated metro stations, in depots and in open areas at metro stations, he added. Based on the success of the initiative, DMRC will plan further for its phase III structures.

The initiative comes on the heels of a special environmental drive that is being launched by Delhi Metro chief, Mangu Singh, on the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5.

The drive will include training of Delhi Metro officials in environmental awareness and environmental protection procedures in day to day metro operations, said the Delhi Metro official.
I had always dreamed of this like many others. With the huge catchment area, it was obvious the Metro should have gone ahead with this thing. Very happy :D:cheers:

Windmills play a big role in easing power situation in Tamil Nadu (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article3494216.ece)

Since May 25, windmills have contributed 31 to 34 per cent of the total power consumed in the State every day.

Tamil Nadu has nearly 7,000 MW of installed wind energy capacity and peak generation from these windmills has remained above 3,200 MW for the last 12 days.

According to data available on the website of the Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation, on May 25, of the total 227.296 million units of energy consumed in the State, 75.002 million units were contributed by wind energy. On June 6, of the 231.425 million units of energy consumed, 75.497 million units were generated from wind energy.

According to K. Kasthoorirangaian, chairman of the Indian Wind Power Association, the windy season is expected to last till the first week of October and the peak wind season is July-August. Thus, generation of wind energy is expected to be higher in the coming days.

EVACUATE EFFICIENTLY

The wind power producing community has been seeks continued support in evacuating all wind energy produced during the season and also monthly payment of bills (by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation) for energy supplied by the windmills to the grid, he stated in a release. The State government should permit the windmills to export energy outside the State.

RESTORE INCENTIVE

The Union government should restore the Accelerated Depreciation and Generation-based incentive to encourage installation of windmills. According to data available on the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy website, just 36 MW was installed in the country in April. This is a sharp fall in the capacity installed during the same period in the previous years, he said.

Green Investing in India – How Tamil Nadu became the Biggest Alternative Energy State

Tamil Nadu is one of India’s most prosperous and industrially advanced states located at its southernmost extreme.The state has shown remarkable progress in the field on Wind Energy utilizing almost 80% of its Wind Power Potential with 40% of India’s total Wind Installations.With the right mix of policies,Tamil Nadu has also become the hub of Wind Energy Manufacturing with Global Heavyweights like Suzlon,Gamesa,Vestas all building plants in the State.A number of new players like Sterling Infotech and Lietner have also started manufacturing Wind Turbines in Tamil Nadu due to favorable networking effects.The state is also generates the 3rd largest amount of biomass energy with around 340 MW installed.Here are the reasons why Tamil Nadu has become the Biggest Renewable Energy State in India.

1) Tax Holidays and Subsidies – The government has given attractive subsidies to attract Wind Power Developers to the state.Rs 3.39 ( 8c/Kwh) is the tariff given to Wind Energy besides another 1c/Kwh received from the Federal Government as Generation Based Incentive (GBI).The projects in the state easily make 25-30% returns on their investment attracting a whole host of private industry developers.The Industry also gets a 10 year tax holiday,custom duty exemptions and accelerated depreciation boosting the returns even further.A 20 year PPA at fixed prices helps in building investor confidence .

2) Government Technical Support – The Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) has mapped out the state’s wind power potential measuring wind intensities at different parts of the state.The government has also set up Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET) at its state capital Chennai.TEDA helps in facilitating the setting up of Wind Farms.

3) Industry Networking – The availability of Wind Energy Equipment locally helps in reducing transportation costs,lowers maintenance costs and provide important information networking effects.


4) Huge Unmnet Energy Demand – Tamil Nadu is a power deficient state like most of the other states in India.With blackouts ranging from 3-6 hours a day,Electricity is a very valuable commodity.Wind Power is essential in the summer months when demand for power exceeds supply by a huge amount.

5) Regular Payments by State Electricity Boards – One of the biggest impediments faced by IPPs in India is the poor financial health of the SEBs.These Electricity Distributors are poorly managed and run frequently delaying even defaulting on payments to suppliers of electricity.However Tamil Nadu SEB has made payments regularly leading to greater confidence amongst Wind Investors.

Summary

With Tamil Nadu showing the way,Gujarat and Maharashtra the other two Industrially Powerful States in India have also started to push Green Energy in a big way.The state continues to attract a huge amount of Renewable Energy Investment with new wind farms being planned despite reaching 80% of its potential.Orient Green Power plans to build a massive 300 MW Wind Farm in the near future.The government is rolling out subsidies with grants to be given to hybird wind solar plants in the region.Tamil Nadu has served as the poster boy for Green Energy in India and continues to lead despite achieving such high targets.

Renewable Power Purchase Obligation Policy of Tamil Nadu

http://allaboutrenewables.com/comparison/Format_of_statewise_Data_Collection-Tamil_Nadu.pdf

Green Investing in India – How Tamil Nadu became the Biggest Alternative Energy State

Tamil Nadu is one of India’s most prosperous and industrially advanced states located at its southernmost extreme.The state has shown remarkable progress in the field on Wind Energy utilizing almost 80% of its Wind Power Potential with 40% of India’s total Wind Installations.With the right mix of policies,Tamil Nadu has also become the hub of Wind Energy Manufacturing with Global Heavyweights like Suzlon,Gamesa,Vestas all building plants in the State.A number of new players like Sterling Infotech and Lietner have also started manufacturing Wind Turbines in Tamil Nadu due to favorable networking effects.The state is also generates the 3rd largest amount of biomass energy with around 340 MW installed.Here are the reasons why Tamil Nadu has become the Biggest Renewable Energy State in India.

1) Tax Holidays and Subsidies – The government has given attractive subsidies to attract Wind Power Developers to the state.Rs 3.39 ( 8c/Kwh) is the tariff given to Wind Energy besides another 1c/Kwh received from the Federal Government as Generation Based Incentive (GBI).The projects in the state easily make 25-30% returns on their investment attracting a whole host of private industry developers.The Industry also gets a 10 year tax holiday,custom duty exemptions and accelerated depreciation boosting the returns even further.A 20 year PPA at fixed prices helps in building investor confidence .

2) Government Technical Support – The Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) has mapped out the state’s wind power potential measuring wind intensities at different parts of the state.The government has also set up Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET) at its state capital Chennai.TEDA helps in facilitating the setting up of Wind Farms.

3) Industry Networking – The availability of Wind Energy Equipment locally helps in reducing transportation costs,lowers maintenance costs and provide important information networking effects.


4) Huge Unmnet Energy Demand – Tamil Nadu is a power deficient state like most of the other states in India.With blackouts ranging from 3-6 hours a day,Electricity is a very valuable commodity.Wind Power is essential in the summer months when demand for power exceeds supply by a huge amount.

5) Regular Payments by State Electricity Boards – One of the biggest impediments faced by IPPs in India is the poor financial health of the SEBs.These Electricity Distributors are poorly managed and run frequently delaying even defaulting on payments to suppliers of electricity.However Tamil Nadu SEB has made payments regularly leading to greater confidence amongst Wind Investors.

Summary

With Tamil Nadu showing the way,Gujarat and Maharashtra the other two Industrially Powerful States in India have also started to push Green Energy in a big way.The state continues to attract a huge amount of Renewable Energy Investment with new wind farms being planned despite reaching 80% of its potential.Orient Green Power plans to build a massive 300 MW Wind Farm in the near future.The government is rolling out subsidies with grants to be given to hybird wind solar plants in the region.Tamil Nadu has served as the poster boy for Green Energy in India and continues to lead despite achieving such high targets.

^^ Kannan, I think, this is a old (http://www.greenworldinvestor.com/2010/09/27/green-invsting-in-india-how-tamil-nadu-became-the-biggest-alternative-energy-state/) article and some facts may not be applicable now.

Guys

Please do not quote the whole article while replying. Just the heading or a few lines would suffice.

Thanks

^^ Imo, govt has to encourage rooftop PV with FIT for individuals, and CSP with thermal storage for commercial projects. This way, we can sort out fluctuations and have solar power 24/7. Even though CSP is costly, with govt support and large scale production, it can eventually come down.

Similarly, offshore wind has to be encouraged and given priority.

And, finally, distribution has to be localized.

Yes that should be the strategy but it wont eliminate the fluctuations. I think the voltage fluctuations we are getting may be due to the intermittency of wind. We simply cannot have such power sources at such vast scales (30% of whole power supply) without computer algorithm based management. That is bound to breakdown. We should not only implement in T&D but also in smart automated management. Otherwise T&D will turn oout to be a major bottleneck.

Tangedco against hike in power tariff for renewable energy


http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/dynamic/01107/windmill_1107867f.jpg

Chennai, June 8: The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company (Tangedco), the State power utility, argued against escalation of power tariff for wind energy and doing away with concessions and benefits to the sector.

At a stakeholders meeting organised by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission, the statutory regulator, for considering their views on revision of power tariff for wind, biomass and bagasse-based cogeneration plants, the representatives from the utility argued against extension of preferential tariffs.

Industry representatives across sectors pushed for a hike in tariff in line with the escalating costs. They were also critical of the delay in payments which ranged from several months to over a year.

Senior officials of the utility pointed to the poor financial condition of the utility and its inability to pay higher tariffs. Even a small hike could affect the operations of the utility. Also, though wind energy has helped address the shortage of power in the State, the utility cannot afford to continue with the ‘promotional tariff' simply because it was from a renewable source.

According to official estimates, the State power utility is losing over Rs 9,741 crore a year, its accumulated losses as of March 2012 was Rs 50,000 crore, it owes Rs 45,000 crore to banks and lenders and over Rs 11,000 crore to suppliers and power companies.

Wind energy
The officials said incentives to renewable energy had contributed to the installed capacity of wind energy reaching 7,000 MW, which was nearly 70 per cent as compared with the total installed capacity to conventional power plants.

The prevailing tariff, the price per unit of electricity, that the utility pays wind energy producers ranges from Rs 2.75 a unit to Rs 3.39 depending on the vintage of the wind mills.

Investors in wind energy pushed for a uniform tariff of Rs 5.32 a unit irrespective of age of wind mills. The proposed tariff should take effect from the April 2011, they said. The period of the previous tariff order announced by the Regulator in 2009 ended in March 2011.

The representatives included wind energy equipment manufacturers such as Vestas and Suzlon, associations such as the Indian Wind Energy Association, Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association, and investors from the textile industry including individual mills and industry associations such as the South Indian Mills Association and the Tamil Nadu Spinning Mills Association.

The industry representatives said the capital costs have increased to over Rs 6.5 crore a MW from about Rs 5.35 crore at the time the previous tariff had been set. Increase in land costs, material costs and taxes have contributed to the increase they said.

Bagasse Cogeneration
The South Indian Sugar Mills Association – Tamil Nadu representing the bagasse-based cogeneration plants sought an appropriate hike in line with the increase in investment costs. It now ranges around Rs 6 crore a MW as compared with Rs 4.9 crore estimated at the time of previous fixation when the tariff was pegged at Rs 3.15-Rs 4.49 a unit

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/article3505376.ece?ref=wl_opinion

http://img.dinamalar.com/data/gallery/gallerye_013433925_482781.jpg (http://www.dinamalar.com/News_detail.asp?Id=482781)
தமிழகத்திற்கு முன்னுரிமை அளித்து, தேசிய மின்தொடருடன் இணைக்க வேண்டும். அதனால் காற்றாலை மின்சாரம் முழுவதும் பயன்படுத்தப்படும். இதற்கு, மத்திய அரசின் பசுமை எரிசக்தி நிதி அதிக அளவில் பயன்படுத்தப்பட, முதற்கட்டமாக முடிவு செய்யப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. தமிழகத்தில், 7,000 மெகாவாட் திறனில் காற்றாலை மின் நிலையங்கள் நிறுவப் பட்டு உள்ளன. ஆனால், காற்றாலை மின் உற்பத்தி அதிகமுள்ள காலத்தில், தமிழக மின்சார கட்டமைப்பு மூலம், அனைத்து மின்சாரத்தையும் வெளிக்கொண்டு வரவும், பயன்படுத்தவும் முடியாத அளவுக்கு, தொழில்நுட்ப பிரச்னைகள் உள்ளன.
காற்றாலை பிரச்னை: மின்தொடரின் திறன் அளவை கட்டுக்குள் கொண்டு வர, பல நேரங்களில் அதிகப்படியான காற்றாலை உற்பத்தியை, அவ்வப்போது நிறுத்தி வைக்க வேண்டிய நிலை உள்ளது. மேலும், காற்றாலை மின்சாரம் அதிகமாகும் நேரத்தில், அது நிலையில்லாததாக கருதப்பட்டு, வெளிமாநிலங்களால், இலவசமாக எடுத்து கொள்ளப்படுகிறது. இந்த மின்சாரத்திற்கும் சேர்த்து, தமிழக மின்வாரியம், காற்றாலை அதிபர்களுக்கு பணம் கொடுக்க வேண்டிய நிலை

ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.
தேசிய தொடர் இணைப்பு: இதை சரிசெய்வதற்கான காரணம் குறித்து, காற்றாலை அதிபர்கள் சங்க தலைவர் கஸ்தூரி ரங்கய்யன் கூறியதாவது: தமிழகத்தில் உற்பத்தியாகும் மின்சாரத்தை வெளிமாநிலத்திற்கு விற்க முடியாத அளவுக்கு, பிரிவு 11ன் கீழ் தமிழக அரசு தடை உத்தரவு பிறப்பித்துள்ளது. இந்ததடையால், காற்றாலையோ அல்லது மற்ற மின் நிலையத்தினரோ, அதிகப்படியான மின்சாரத்தை வெளிமாநிலத்திற்கு விற்க முடிவதில்லை. மேலும், தேசிய மின்தொடருடன், தெற்கு மண்டல மின்தொடரையும் இணைக்க வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு அவர் தெரிவித்து உள்ளார்.
மத்திய அரசுக்கு பரிந்துரை: இதுகுறித்து, தமிழக மின்துறை அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறியதாவது: தெற்கு மண்டல மின்தொடர், கடும் இட நெருக்கடியில் உள்ளது. எனவே, தெற்கு மண்டல மின்தொடரை, தேசிய மின்தொடருடன் இணைக்கும் திட்டத்தை விரைந்து முடிக்குமாறு, மத்திய அரசுக்கு கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளோம். இதற்கான நடவடிக்கையில், பவர் கிரிட் நிறுவனம் காலம் தாழ்த்தி வருகிறது. இதற்கிடையில், மரபுசாரா எரிசக்தி துறையை ஊக்குவிக்க, மத்திய அரசின் பசுமை எரிசக்தி நிதியை பயன்படுத்தி, உள்கட்டமைப்பு ஏற்படுத்த முடிவு செய்யப் பட்டு உள்ளது. தமிழகத்தில் தான், அதிக அளவில் காற்றாலை மின் உற்பத்தியாவதால், தமிழகத்திற்கு முன்னுரிமை அளிக்கும்படி, மத்திய மின்துறைக்கு கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளோம். இதற்கு, மத்திய மின்துறையின் கட்டுப்பாட்டில் செயல்படும் தெற்கு மண்டல மின்சார கமிட்டியும் ஒப்புதல் அளித்து, மின்சார கமிட்டி கூட்டத்தில் தீர்மானம் நிறைவேற்றப் பட்டு உள்ளது; மத்திய அரசுக்கும் பரிந்துரைக்கப் பட்டு உள்ளது. விரைவில் தேசிய மின்தொடர் இணைப்புக்கான பணிகள் துவங்கும். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.
பயன் என்ன: தேசிய மின்தொடருடன் தமிழகம் இணையும் பட்சத்தில், பல்வேறு மாநிலங்களிலிருந்து குறைந்த விலைக்கு மின்சாரம் வாங்க முடியும். தமிழகத்தில் காற்றாலை மின்சாரம் அதிகமாகும்போது, பரஸ்பர ஒப்பந்த அடிப்படையில் மற்ற மாநிலங்களுக்கு காற்றாலை மின்சாரத்தை கொடுத்து, தமிழகத்தில், மின் தட்டுப்பாடுள்ள நேரத்தில் மீண்டும் பெற்றுக்கொள்ள முடியும்.
Good one.
1. Due to limitation in Transmission Grid infra, Potential of Wind mills are not used effectively.
2. By connecting southern grid with national grid, wind mil potential can be increased and effectively power from wind can be transported to other states. Also TN can get power from other states and transmission loss can be reduced significantly
3. TN govt is currently paying the subsidy amount to wind mill owners due to this limitation.
4. upgradation of Transmission infra can be done using the fund allotted for Renewable energy department.

Not sure if this has been posted already, got a chance to watch this today.

JaF-fq2Zn7I

TANGEDCO wants banking of wind power abolished (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article3505164.ece)

The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company (TANGEDCO), which is the state electricity generation and distribution utility, on Friday made a plea before the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission for abolishing the system of 'banking' of electricity by wind power producers.

The 'banking' system allows wind power producers to put power into the grid and draw the power back for consumption within a year. This is particularly useful for wind power producers who also own other industries that may need electricity to run.

"Banking has to be totally withdrawn," said Mr G Rajagopal, Director-Finance, TANGEDCO, in a public hearing organised by the TNERC for the purpose of 'determination of tariff and allied issues in non conventional energy sources.'

TANGEDCO's plea was that banking was hurting the organisation because wind power producers put electricity into the grid when there is enough power - they are paid Rs 3.39 a unit - but exercise their option to draw power when there is a scarcity of power. As TANGEDCO is bound to supply them the power, it has to purchase power at high rates from the market for that purpose. In the bargain, TANGEDCO makes a loss. Furthermore, it has to supplly power to the wind producers (who had 'banked' the power) in preference to other consumers.

In the public hearing, TANGEDCO's officials were supported by a number of sympathisers who said that it was unfair that TANGEDCO was made to suffer a loss at so that the wind power producers may be favoured.

Wind power producers, on the other hand, said that the facility of 'banking' was a promise made by TANGEDCO on the basis of which heavy investments have been made. Withdrawing the promised facilitiy would tantamount to breach of agreement, they said.

There was also a variance of views on the point of what the cost of capital should be and whether or not the tariff should be a fixed one, or determined through a process of competitive bidding.

Wind power developers said that the cost of wind turbines had gone up to between Rs 6 crore and Rs 7 crore, compared with the normative cost of Rs 5.35 crore on the basis of which the current tariff had been fixed. Others opposed this saying that there was no reason why the cost of a wind turbine should be so substantially higher than the cost of equipment of, say, thermal power, which is anyway more complex machinery. They said that the cost of a wind turbine should be taken at around Rs 4.5 crore.

Wind power producers also wanted the plant load factor to be brought down from the current normative rate of 27.15 per cent, to perhaps around 25 per cent. One speaker said that the TNERC itself had assumed a PLF of 19.5 per cent while determining the tariff to be charged by TANGEDCO to consumers. Therefore, he said, the normative PLF should be 19.5.

The wind farm developers were also against the idea of tariff determination by competitive bidding. A representative of South India Mills Association said that competitive bidding was okay at a time when the southern grid would be completely integrated with the national grid. (Today, all the other four zones are fully integrated while the southern grid is not linked with the all the rest, but the national plan is to link up south with the national grid by 2014.)

The SIMA representative said that if a wind power producer could sell his power to any customer anywhere in the country, then 'competitive bidding' made sense, but not till then. A representative of Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers' Association noted that 64 per cent of the global wind capacity of 191 GW was under fixed, feed-in tariffs.

While TANGEDCO was opposed to raising the 'feed-in' tariff beyond the current Rs 3.39, wind power producers' demanded higher rates. Dr K Venkatachalam of Tamil Nadu Spinning Mills Association (TASMA) wanted Rs 5.32 a unit, another speaker wanted Rs 6.40.

Windmills in Tamil Nadu start pumping in much needed power
(http://panchabuta.com/2012/06/10/windmills-in-tamil-nadu-start-pumping-in-much-needed-power/)

According to reports, with the setting of the much awaited westerly winds, sweltering heat and power cuts have almost vanished to a great extent in Tirunelveli and the neighbouring Kanyakumari district.

The giant metallic turbine blades of nearly 3,000 windmills of Muppandal have started rotating to generate clean and green energy to effectively bridge the gap between demand and supply.

The twin towns of Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai were sizzling for the past two months as the temperature easily crossed 100 degree Fahrenheit everyday. Adding to this misery was the battle against the dengue outbreak.

To make things worse, the power cuts were clamped as part of the scheduled and unscheduled load-shedding agendas since power generation from the windmills of the famous Muppandal wind farm was almost zero.

After the southwest monsoon set over neighbouring Kerala, it brought in a cooling side-effect with the temperature coming down considerably and with an occasional mild drizzle covering the two districts.

Besides bringing down the temperature, the westerly wind, the raw energy for the 3,000-odd wind turbine generators in the famous Muppandal wind farm region, has helped in increasing the quantum of power being generated in this region.

Though the installed capacity of the wind turbines here is around 1,500 MW, the wind mills generated only 320 MW on June 1 as the wind velocity had not reached the optimum level.

With the wind gaining momentum everyday, power generation gradually rose to 675 MW on June 6 and 839 MW on Thursday (June 7) to obliterate the unscheduled power cuts.

“Though we expected this level of generation only after June 15, the quantum of power generation from the wind turbines of Muppandal during the first week of June itself is quite encouraging. If this situation continues for a few months, the climatic condition prevailing in the southern districts will reduce the air-conditioner usage, particularly during night even as the westerly winds increase the generation.

At the same time, we’re expecting the State’s share of power from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project during June-end. So the present power crisis will gradually diminish,” said a senior official of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation here.

Solar Cells Linked to Greenhouse Gases Over 23,000 Times Worse than Carbon Dioxide According to New Book, Green Illusions


Solar cells do not offset greenhouse gases or curb fossil fuel use in the United States according to a new environmental book, Green Illusions (June 2012, University of Nebraska Press), written by University of California - Berkeley visiting scholar Ozzie Zehner. Green Illusions explains how the solar industry has grown to become one of the leading emitters of hexafluoroethane (C2F6), nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). These three potent greenhouse gases, used by solar cell fabricators, make carbon dioxide (CO2) seem harmless.

Hexafluoroethane has a global warming potential that is 12,000 times higher than CO2, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It is 100 percent manufactured by humans, and survives 10,000 years once released into the atmosphere. Nitrogen trifluoride is 17,000 times more virulent than CO2, and SF6, the most treacherous greenhouse gas, is over 23,000 times more threatening.

The solar photovoltaic industry is one of the fastest-growing emitters of these gases, which are now measurably accumulating within the earth's atmosphere according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A NOAA study shows that atmospheric concentrations of SF6 have been rising exponentially. A paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Geophysical Research Letters documents that atmospheric NF3 levels have been rising 11 percent per year.

http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2012-NOAA-Green-Illusions.png

"If photovoltaic production grows, so will the associated side effects," claims Zehner. "Even worse, there's no evidence that solar cells offset fossil fuel use in the American context." Zehner explains that alternative energy subsidies keep retail electricity costs incrementally lower, which then spurs demand. "It's a boomerang effect," remarks Zehner. "The harder we throw alternative energy into the electrical grid, the harder demand comes back to hit us on the head. Historically, we've filled that demand by building more fossil fuel plants, not fewer."

Instead, Zehner advocates shifting to energy taxes and other conservation measures. He claims that even some of the most expensive options for dealing with CO2 would become cost competitive long before today's solar cell technologies.

"If limiting CO2 is our goal, we might be better off directing our time and resources to those options first; solar cells seem a wasteful and pricey strategy," says Zehner. "It is hard to conceive of a justification for extracting taxes from the working class to fund installations of Stone Age photovoltaic technologies high in the gold-rimmed suburbs of Arizona and California."

Green Illusions: The Dirty Secrets of Clean Energy and the Future of Environmentalism forms "a bold look at the downside of green technologies and a host of refreshingly simple substitute solutions," according to Kirkus Reviews.

Green Illusions highlights and author biography are available at: http://GreenIllusions.org



Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/738098#ixzz1xVHnWOXR

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/738098#ixzz1wstMp9tu

Wind energy comes into its own in India (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/article3524457.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home)

The Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association is set to mark the Global Wind Day on Friday with a series of programmes to increase public awareness of the importance of wind energy.

This year, year even more than ever, wind energy has demonstrated its power by helping bridge the 30 per cent power shortage in Tamil Nadu to provide succour from the peak summer, says Mr Madhusudan Khemka, Vice-Chairman of the Association and Managing Director of ReGen Powertech a leading manufacturer of windmills.

Over the last fortnight, windmills have contributed over 3,500 MW of power daily, over 70 MUs of electricity a day, to the State Grid. The Global Wind Day will be an occasion to highlight wind energy's contribution to modern day needs in a renewable and sustainable way.

VIABLE SOURCE

Wind energy is only viable renewable source of energy as of now that matches conventional power in terms of cost and assured supply, he said.

The day is observed globally, and the Association is spearheading the programmes in India, where events are to be organised for school children at the Marina. In the evening a flute concert, by the noted artist Mr Shashank Subramanium, is to be organised in Chennai he said.

Wind power banking in Tamil Nadu is unbankable: TANGEDCO (http://panchabuta.com/2012/06/18/wind-power-banking-in-tamil-nadu-is-unbankable-tangedco/)

According to reports, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) wants power banking scrapped as around Rs.200 crore are being lost annually because of the the facility. Power banking is like cash banking whereby wind power producers feed in the electricity generated by their wind mills to the state grid and then draw that power for captive use within a year.

“Annually we lose around Rs.200 crore due to this facility. The wind mills generate power when the demand for electricity is low. The wind power producers draw the power produced when the demand is at peak. To meet our contractual obligation we buy power from the open market at a high cost and supply the wind power producers and lose huge money,” a senior official at TANGEDCO, preferring anonymity, told IANS. He said the power banking facility has to be scrapped totally or at least the banking period should be shortened for TANGEDCO’s financial stability.

Further, having around 7,000 MW of wind power capacity, which is around 50 percent of the total installed power generation capacity, is not good for the grid as it results in instability, he added. Wind power generation peaks in the state during June-September and the banked power is used when the demand is at peak during the summer when the power prices also rule high.

The official said use of banked power during January-May should be scrapped. TANGEDCO, burdened with an accumulated loss of around Rs.50,000 crore, now wants to plug its cash leakages. Wind power producers, however, demand continuation of the power banking facility though some are agreeable to a reduction in the period within which the banked power should be used.

Sunil Jain, chief operating officer of Green Infra Ltd, an independent power producer, told IANS: “Power banking has to continue. However it could be deliberated whether it is for one year or six or nine months. It should be at least for six months.” Not agreeing to any tinkering with the banking period, K. Venkatachalam, chief advisor, Tamil Nadu Spinning Mills Association (TASMA), told IANS: “In fact, we have sought for a change in the banking period from April-March to June-May for effective management. Wind season in the parts of Tamil Nadu starts by June and ends by October/November.”

TASMA members account for around 3,500 MW of wind power installed in Tamil Nadu. “TANGEDCO is not incurring any loss due to the banking facility offered to wind power producers,” he argued.
Venkatachalam said during the peak season, wind energy is generated beyond the requirement and, therefore, harnessing such natural resource into energy and keeping it for use in lean months is the concept of banking and so it cannot be reviewed on commercial terms. “Hence, there should not be any reduction in banking period and it needs to be modified to June-May,” he said.

^^^^

TANGEDCO should be more pragmatic and should not take any hasty decision.

Wind Power generation is not in the hands of the suppliers or TANGEDCO. Power can be produced only when the wind is there. Peak or Non Peak hours do not matter here.

Power Banking was the carrot which attracted the investors to invest in wind power. It can not be withdrawn after they have installed huge capacity.

What TANGEDCO can suggest ( & negotiate with) Wind Power suppliers is that the Tariff can be temporarily higher if the banked power is used during the peak hours and can work out a special rate for them for Peak hours usage.

Otherwise, it will be like "Killing a golden Egg laying goose"

தமிழக மின்சார துறையில் முதலீடு செய்கிறது கனடா
.
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இந்தியாவின் மின்தேவை அதிகமாக இருப்பதால் கனடாவின் உதவியை பயன்படுத்திக் கொள்ளலாம். அணுமின், அனல் மின், சூரியசக்தி மின்சாரம், காற்றாலை மின்சாரம், இதர எரிபொருள்களான சமையல் காஸ் போன்றவற்றை இந்தியா வுக்கு தர திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.
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http://sudarnila.com/2012/06/23/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B4%E0%AE%95-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B0-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE/

Hope the canadians will put the money in to Renewable energy sources..

Model for our Namakkal poultry industry??


Poultry power: Turning chicken manure to energy
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-18575389)

^^^^

TANGEDCO should be more pragmatic and should not take any hasty decision.

Wind Power generation is not in the hands of the suppliers or TANGEDCO. Power can be produced only when the wind is there. Peak or Non Peak hours do not matter here.

Power Banking was the carrot which attracted the investors to invest in wind power. It can not be withdrawn after they have installed huge capacity.

What TANGEDCO can suggest ( & negotiate with) Wind Power suppliers is that the Tariff can be temporarily higher if the banked power is used during the peak hours and can work out a special rate for them for Peak hours usage.

Otherwise, it will be like "Killing a golden Egg laying goose"

^^ +1
I recently spoke to a person from wind power company. He said, GBI, accelerated depreciation and banking were the major attractions. Now that is gone/reduced one by one, the investment has come down from April 2012. He said, even if the government is not able to provide these incentives, they can atleast give the payments without delay. As of now, they take 6 months to 1 year for payments. If they can give the payments within 1 month, they may be able to survive.

Also, I introduced him to CAES, so that they can store the surplus power. He said, he would discuss it with their higher ups.

Don’t ask us to pay when you owe us more, renewable energy cos tell Tangedco (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/article3554709.ece)


The renewable energy companies in Tamil Nadu are facing a peculiar situation where they are asked to pay their dues (deposits) to the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company (Tangedco) within 15 days, when the state utility itself has not paid its dues to the companies for over a year.

Renewable energy companies sell the electricity they produce to Tangedco and/or to other consumers. At present, they are not allowed to sell the power to consumers outside the State. Tangedco charges renewable energy companies on various counts, such as for wheeling and transmitting energy and ‘operations and maintenance’. The agreement that Tangedco has with the RE companies allows the utility to collect a security deposit equal to three months charges’ in advance.

The electricity generation and distribution utility is in poor financial health. According to official estimates, the State power utility is losing over Rs 9,741 crore a year, its accumulated losses as of March 2012 was Rs 50,000 crore, it owes Rs 45,000 crore to banks and lenders and over Rs 11,000 crore to suppliers and power companies.

Tangedco has not paid many suppliers of electricity for well over a year. “But it asks the same companies to pay up their deposits within 15 days,” says Mr P. Krishnakumar, Managing Director, Orient Green Power Ltd.

Although this situation has been there for long, it has become critical now both because the dues from Tangedco have mounted to such an extent as to threaten the sustainability of the power producers, as well as because the charges have been hiked very stiffly from April 1.

The long term open access transmission charges from Rs 2,781 per MW per day to Rs 6,483 per MW per day (133 per cent); and short term open access transmission charges from Rs 28.96 per MWh to Rs 270.11 — nearly 10 times. Alongside, the State has also increased the ‘scheduling charges’ for wind power units by 20 paise a unit.

No adjustment

The ‘three months’ security deposit’ has, therefore, become a big amount — and as such, has begun to bite.

The ‘dues from’ RE companies could be adjusted against ‘dues to’, but Tangedco says no. “When we point out to them their own dues to us, they say the two are separate issues,” says Mr G. Suresh, President, Biomass Power Producers Association.

Spinning mills body wants ban on sale of power outside TN to go (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/article3559436.ece)

The Tamil Nadu Government should lift the ban on sale of power outside the State to enable the power utility to exploit the idle generating capacities in the private sector and wind energy generation.

In a representation to the State Government, the Tamil Nadu Spinning Mills Association, which has members who have installed more than half of the 7,000 MW of wind generation capacity in Tamil Nadu, has urged it to withdraw the order limiting the sale of all power generation units to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board or to consumers with High Tension supply within the State.

The order GO MS No. 10, Energy (C3) passed on February 27, 2009, also dictates that the units should operate and maintain generating stations to maximum capacities and plant load factor.

So Independent Power Producers are not able to sell power outside the State even though the Electricity Act 2003 provides for such sale under the Inter-State Open Access Regulations.

The association has questioned the validity of the order. It pointed out that the Act allows State Governments to invoke such a ban only under extraordinary circumstances such as security threat to the State, natural calamities, public order related issues, which did not apply, the Association said in the representation to the Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa.

Due to payment default by the utility, the Independent Power Producers are not operating their units, as they cannot also sell power elsewhere.

The wind mills, which are in operation with the windy season in flow, have to back down as the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board is not able to absorb the power or sell to other States.

The board can sell the power when the wind mills generate power at times when there is no demand, particularly during the nights.

Under the prevailing condition the State is not able to fully utilise the installed generating capacities available with Independent Power Producers and wind mills.

Allowing power producers to sell power outside the State and fully utilising wind mill generation will help fully exploit the capacities and manage the power shortage, the association said.

Commercial outlets opt for RE power sources (http://www.energynext.in/commercial-outlets-opt-re-power-sources/)

Commercial set-ups in parts of India are increasingly tilting towards renewable sources, such as wind power, to meet their energy needs. Retail outlets have also started exploring the green energy options with Chennai Silks recently installing a stand-alone, rooftop wind and solar power plant to generate electricity to operate one division of one of their showrooms.

According to K. Kasthoorirangaian, president of Indian Wind Power Association (IWPA), High Tension industrial consumers have opted for wind mills on a large-scale. Bigger retail outlets and commercial establishments can also look at the wind energy option for captive use.

Manufacturers of renewable energy equipment say that there are enquiries from industries and commercial establishments for renewable energy plants. Smaller wind mills that can be erected on the roof tops of commercial buildings to meet the power needs of the building require wind at a specific velocity to generate energy. Solar panels need direct sun light for about six hours a day. Since, installation of these plants can be expensive, the Government subsidies should be disbursed directly and on time to encourage more commercial establishments to go in for renewable energy, says the manufacturer.

According to M. Krishnan, President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, the association too organised a meeting to create awareness on renewable energy. The cost of these plants and the space required are the main challenges for commercial establishments. More technical information is needed to help the retailers and businesses go in for green energy. The industry and trade associations should initiate a joint programme so that those going in for these systems have cost benefit and guidance.

Most of the retail outlets and commercial establishments were now using generator sets when there is no power supply. The concept of alternative energy is just catching on. The individual efforts taken by some businesses can be expanded into an organised initiative with a joint programme, he says.

Coimbatore college invention could boost wind power in rural India (http://panchabuta.com/2012/06/25/coimbatore-college-invention-could-boost-wind-power-in-rural-india/)

According to reports, a city-based college has developed a 500 Watts class wind turbine that could help resolve power shortage in rural areas. TK Seshachari, a retired air vice-marshal and director of Aeronautical Studies at the Park College of Engineering and Technology in the outskirts of the city, claimed the turbine he designed is smaller in size compared to the present ones in use and could be transported in small trucks or vans.

“In rural India, only 20% to 30% residents have a power connection. Turbines like these could be easily erected in villages and electricity could be generated in a decentralised manner,” said Seshachari. He is planning to build a more sophisticated version of the turbine. “At present many agencies are trying to develop similar models of what we have developed. We think we will be able to develop commercial versions with more power generation capacity in the coming months,” he said. J J Isaac, advisor at the National Aerospace Laboratory, Bangalore, and a member of the team that developed the turbine, said they designed the turbine keeping in mind indigenous needs. “Wind turbines which are imported from other countries cannot withstand the Indian conditions.

This model attempts to address that problem and help produce power in a decentralised manner,” he said. The turbines which are imported usually develop complications when insects smash the blades. This affects the velocity of the turbines. “Maintenance of the turbine is affected by weather and climatic conditions. Our model is built keeping in mind local conditions and will provide solutions to many problems we face while generating wind power,” he said.

Moreover, a decentralised turbine does not depend on grid connectivity, a major challenge in the wind energy production. The new model when developed with more capacity can generate power sufficient for a village or a locality, he said. Similarly, depending on the wind velocity the turbines are usually shifted to different places. “This turbine can be transported in a pick up van or a small truck,” said Isaac.

However, the present model is on a trial stage. The team hopes to come with versions that could be marketed in the coming months. They expect to come up with versions of the turbine that could be erected in places in the North-East, Jammu and Kashmir and other areas, where power connectivity is relatively less. “We are also trying to develop small models that can be carried by people themselves,” said Isaac.

IWTMA appeals to Tamil Nadu CM against removal of banking for wind (http://panchabuta.com/2012/06/27/iwtma-appeals-to-tamil-nadu-cm-against-removal-of-banking-for-wind-power-move-could-hurt-sector/)

Tamil Nadu leads the country with a 40% share of the wind energy capacity (7000MW). All the leading global and national wind energy players have made TamilNadu their operating head quarters and have invested over Rs.2500 crores in creating over 8000 MW production capacity with world-class manufacturing, Marketing, O&M and R&D facility.

All this has been possible with a progressive state policy that enabled large power intensive private sector like Cement, Steel and Textiles etc to invest over Rs.35000 crores in green power generation over these 20 plus years. While taxdeferral scheme (Accelerated Depreciation) was a prime driver of growth in the category, the private investors were able to BANK surplus power with TNEB and use it later when they needed the same.

There is no doubt that huge investments from the private sector has made Tamil Nadu the Numero Uno player in the wind energy category; amply supported by their contribution of over 3000 MW of wind energy which helped the state alleviate the power shortage crises in the last two months. Hence IWTMA, the apex body representing all major wind energy players has taken a collective stand to highlight the curt TANGEDCO statement recently blaming the system of power banking that has put them into a financial loss and hence the need to stop the banking facility.

Raising strong objection to this regressive statement from TANGEDCO that the current banking of power system be called off, IWTMA feels that this move will not only stall wind energy capacity additions in the state but will also result in investors looking at other lucrative states to invest in, leading to a flight of capital to more progressive states like Gujarat which is gaining prominence in both wind and solar energy capabilities. This will adversely affect the current plans to install 5000 – 7000 MW in Tamil Nadu in the next five years for which grid infrastructure is being planned.

IWTMA strongly feels that key policy moves that can impact the industry needs a consultative and collective approach rather than an individualist move to ensure that the future of green energy creation is not affected in the state. Making a strong case on this the apex industry body has called on all stakeholders and partners including the State Government ministry and policy bodies to look at creating positive and progressive policy climate that will encourage the growth of wind energy as a secure, safe and green source of energy generation for the people and the future of Tamil Nadu.

Commenting on this, Mr. D V Giri, Secretary General of IWTMA said, “It is rather sad and ironic that while the private sector have created the bulk of wind energy capacity and the industry is investing in introducing higher capacity and more efficient wind turbines the State power distribution body is indulging in lame blame games which does not abode well for all, especially the consumers who are forced to put up with power outages frequently. We hope the State Government will intervene and help create a policy ambience that benefits all stakeholders”.

At last I m going for solar roof top power supply in my house. Should be installed by July 15.

Will share my experience after that.

At last I m going for solar roof top power supply in my house. Should be installed by July 15.

Will share my experience after that.

:applause::applause::applause:

Chennai Port looks windward for more power (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article3577469.ece)

Chennai Port Trust wants to put up windmills in the port’s breakwaters. Though in the concept stage, if the project succeeds, it could be the first in the country. A similar array of windmills on a breakwater is located in the small harbour of Bonnerup, in Belgium.

The windmills will rise above the eastern breakwater (590 metres long), northern breakwater (460 metre) and outer arm (1 km) to generate power supply through a public-private partnership.

Every month the Port Trust buys 15 lakh units from the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board for port operations. With a shortage in the TNEB grid, the Port wants to use renewable energy resources such as windmills and wave energy to supplement what the grid supplies.

“We have called for expressions of interest from private players to set up the windmills,” said an official of the Chennai Port Trust, who is closely involved in such projects.

REVENUE-SHARING

The private player should study, design, erect and operate the windmills. The generated power may be supplied to the grid and subsequently transferred to the Chennai port through the TNEB transmission lines. The plan may include a proposal for revenue-sharing.The Port Trust will allot an adequate area on the breakwater on a 30-year lease to the operator to construct, commission and operate the windmills.

Private players welcomed the port trust’s idea. Mr Ramesh Kymal, Managing Director, Gamesa Wind Turbines Pvt. Ltd, recently told Business Line that it is a good project. With the breakwater wall going into the sea, it can generate more power. However, a ‘wind study’ needs to be done before taking up the project, he said.

According to Mr Madhusudan Khemka, CEO, Regen PowerTech, if it is shallow waters, it is feasible to put windmills. Also, the depth of the sea should be taken note of. If it is too deep, it becomes an offshore project, he said.

^^ A very innovative thought by Chennai port trust to make use of available resource. :cheers:

At last I m going for solar roof top power supply in my house. Should be installed by July 15.

Will share my experience after that.

Excellent! Please do share your experience. Before that, it would be great if you can give us a write up on your thought process for arriving at the decision, how you convinced your family, how much KW are you planning, where are getting it, what are the eligible subsidies etc. It would be a good practical guide for the rest of us.

1 . I m going for a 2 KWP roof top system. Will be connecting lights,fans,TV and computer systems only

2.I ve been looking at this for last 2 years and finally decided to go for it.

3. EB charges hike and the present precarious state of power supply made me to go for this.

4.I went thru this thread and also the web sites of solar companies and made this decision.( little tense my investment should not go waste )

5.I personally feel,govt should make it a mandatory for all new flats in Chennai to have at least 10 KWP power plant in roof tops just like RWH. After all the prices have come down and I personally feel JJ only can implement this in TN.

6. If this becomes a mass movement ,TN need not beg for power from other states.

^^ Great sure let's know how it goes...

---------------------------

On a separate note article from Economist. Sorry if it's a re-post

http://www.economist.com/node/21553480

Solar power in India
Waiting for the sun
Is the sun the answer to India’s energy problems?

http://media.economist.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/290-width/images/print-edition/20120428_WBC111.png

ON A salt plain near the border with Pakistan lies half a billion dollars’ worth of solar-energy kit paid for by firms from all over the world. A million panels stretch as far as the eye can see. Past a dishevelled brass band is a tent crammed with 5,000 people who cheer when Narendra Modi, the chief minister of Gujarat, declares the solar park open: “I pray, sun god, that today Gujarat will show the way to the rest of the world for solar energy.”

Despite the uncomfortable cult of personality around Mr Modi, Gujarat is an easy place to do business. And solar power would appear to be an obvious winner for India. The country has plenty of sun and flat, idle land. India is energy-hungry, but electricity supply is sporadic. Costly diesel generators are popular. Solar power could replace them. And solar parks, which look like giant Lego kits, are easier to build than conventional power plants. The new park, in a place called Charanka, has just over 200 megawatts (MW) of capacity running, making it the biggest site in India. It took 16 months to build. No one builds nuclear power stations nearly that fast.

Two other factors make an Indian solar boom seem possible. Conventional energy generation, which in India means burning cheap but dirty local coal, is a mess. Power stations charge local electricity boards 3-4 rupees ($0.06-0.08) per kilowatt hour. The state coal monopoly is unable to dig up enough of the black stuff, forcing power firms to buy pricier imported coal. Hopes that India might find abundant natural gas off its coast have been dashed. Many observers think the price of conventional power will have to rise to 5-6 rupees.

Meanwhile, the cost of solar equipment has fallen by a third since 2010, reckons Alan Rosling of Kiran Energy, a solar firm backed by American private equity. Cheaper solar and pricier conventional power have persuaded many that solar will soon be competitive without subsidies. V. Saibaba, the boss of Lanco Solar, a firm that makes and operates solar parks, says that by 2016 Indian solar will match the price of conventional electricity.

That should mean a building boom. Sunil Gupta of Standard Chartered, a bank, reckons India’s share of new global solar installations will rise from 1% this year to 5% by 2015. India’s central government has set a target for 20,000MW of installed solar generation by 2022, from under 1,000MW today. That would still represent a miserly 5% or less of total power-generation capacity in India, and cost perhaps $30 billion-40 billion to build—a fraction of the investment in new coal-fired plants. So plenty of folk think the official target will be smashed. D.J. Pandian, a civil servant in charge of energy policy in Gujarat, believes his state alone will easily reach 10,000MW of capacity in a decade.

But not everyone agrees. “Half of these plants won’t be here in ten years,” says a German boss at the new solar park—bad news, since the contracts are for 25 years. Too many firms have cut corners, he reckons. A Chinese executive raises his eyebrows at India’s plans to force solar firms to buy some equipment locally. “The supply chain and economies of scale are not there,” he says. An American manager scoffs: “We’ve all been coming to India for years and they’ll never get there…They don’t have the infrastructure.” The difficulty of getting plugged into the grid and a shortage of water to clean panels are common worries.

Solar faces two other problems. First, Gujarat’s state government has guaranteed high prices of 15 rupees for the first 12 years of operation to solar producers, which should mean they make money. But at the national level there is a separate system. It relies on “reverse auctions” in which those solar producers who commit to producing power at the lowest cost win the right to operate. In the second national solar auction, of 350MW, in December, the winning firms committed themselves to selling solar power for as little as 7.5 rupees.

Many people doubt that it is possible to make money at these prices. An Indian engineer says the auction was “a farce” and that it is impossible to build a solid plant and operate it for less than 10 rupees. Firms bidding below, say, 8.5 rupees must assume that technology will improve (likely), equipment prices will keep falling (perhaps, but some manufacturers are losing money), or that they can make their sums work by borrowing cheap dollars rather than dear rupees (a foolish risk).

Second, if prices do not fall steeply, there may be little appetite for solar power. The grid is rickety. Many states’ distribution firms (the generators’ main customers) are financial zombies. Today the cost of solar subsidies is hidden—pooled with the overall generation bill in states such as Gujarat or, for projects under the national scheme, buried in the finances of a big state-owned conventional power firm.

Such bureaucratic subterfuge works on a small scale. But if the bill for solar swells, it is not hard to imagine the kind of public backlash against subsidies that has hit cash-strapped Europe. India’s politicians may then start to ignore contracts. To solve India’s energy problems, solar firms must deliver blindingly low prices.

Mukkesh.

Good Initiative.

A small piece of advice. Please have the guarantee papers signed by the supplier with clear deliverables.

Maintenance of Battery is the key and make sure to check the same periodically. The suppliers tend to supply refurbished batteries to cut cost. They hike up the quote if you insist on branded / new battery.

Please install alternate routing switch so that if the system conks off , at least you will be able to reconnect to your EB system.

They will be using an inverter type, I think since you have aske for only fans, lights & computers. Take a warranty on that also.

All the Best. Keep us posted on the success & savings.

Tamil Nadu extends validity of renewable tariff order for a month (http://panchabuta.com/2012/07/01/tamil-nadu-extends-validity-of-renewable-tariff-order-for-a-month/)

According to reports, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory commission (TNERC) Saturday extended the validity of its earlier tariff order for wind, biomass and bagasse based co-generation energy plants till next month.

In three separate orders, TNERC has decided to extend the existing tariff orders governing the three power generation sectors as various issues raised at the public hearing June 8 needs to be examined before finalising the revised power rates.

The extension has been welcomed by the wind power generators as the state power utility Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd (Tangedco) has strongly demanded the scrapping of power banking facility offered to the former.

Power banking is like cash banking whereby wind power producers feed in the electricity generated by their wind mills to the state grid and then draw that power for captive use within a year.

Tangedco complained of loss of Rs.1,200 crore due to the banking facility.

Wind energy cuts outages in Tamil Nadu (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Wind-energy-cuts-outages-in-Tamil-Nadu/articleshow/14661531.cms)

Strong winds in the southern and coastal Tamil Nadu have brought cheer to the state's power managers and consumers with energy generation from wind going from zero to around 3,500 MW in the past fortnight. For consumers, the rise in wind energy could mean further reduction in power cuts by 30 minutes in the city and by up to two hours in other districts.

Chief minister J Jayalalithaa had at the beginning of last month announced that the scheduled two-hour daily power cuts in the city would be reduced to one hour and the four-hour cut in other districts would be reduced to three hours with effect from June 2, due to stable generation of wind energy since early May.

Wind energy production, TNEB sources said, will go up at least for the next two months owing to favourable weather in the southern part of the state where most of the windmills are located. In the past fortnight, wind energy generation touched an all-time high of 3,830MW on June 26 and 3,730 MW on June 30 during peak hour at 7.30 pm. Except on July 1 when the wind energy production was 2,725MW, generation of wind power remained above 3,000MW in the past fortnight. "We even stopped the daily an hour of load shedding in the state on June 26 (Tuesday) as we met the total demand of 11,283 MW that day,"a TNEB official said.

The state accounts for 7,034 MW of the country's wind energy generation capacity of around 14,000MW per year. This includes an additional 660 MW between April and October last year. Windmills at Muppanthal in Kanyakumari, Panagudi in Tirunelveli, Kayathar in Thoothukudi and Palladam in western Tamil Nadu are all generating power. At present, TN's total electricity demand was around 12,000MW per day whereas the generation is at 8,000MW per day. TNEB has been introduced six hour power cuts in districts and two hours in the city daily from February-end. Unscheduled power cuts range between six hours to 13 hours a day in the districts.

With several power projects nearing completion or about to start production including the Kudankulam nuclear plant, TNEB officials are hopeful that the situation will only get better. Stage-II of North Chennai Thermal Power Station is being expanded, with two units of 600MW each expected to be commissioned before July and October this year. Mettur Thermal Power Station is also being expanded and is expected to add 600MW capacity by mid-2012. "As the southwest monsoon has began in neighbouring Kerala, the power demand in the state will ease further as cooler weather will mean less consumption of energy both by domestic consumers and farmers," said V Raghu, director, Indian Wind Turbuine Manufacturers Association.

Chennai Solar Economic Zone in KPMG infra report (http://www.energynext.in/chennai-solar-economic-zone-kpmg-infra-report/)

The Chennai Solar Economic Zone has been selected as one of the top 100 innovative global infrastructure projects by global advisory firm KPMG in its report released at the World Cities Summit. The development of sustainable urban infrastructure is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century, it said while releasing the report titled Infrastructure 100: World Cities Edition.

The Chennai Solar Economic Zone (under the urban energy infra category) is being developed on a 312-acre site by GMR Solar. It will be a 3,700-acre zone when completed and is expected to attract high-tech investment to the growth-corridor between Bangalore and Chennai.

The report also notes that the current estimates suggest India’s infrastructure deficit is creating significant challenges for sustained economic growth. The government is planning to spend USD 1 trillion or around 10 percent of the GDP in ports, airports, highways, railways and other key infrastructure projects during the next five years.

“Country’s need to boost economic growth combined with a growing population requires a globally competitive business environment with state-of-the-art infrastructure to facilitate both local commerce and foreign investment,” KPMG India head, infrastructure advisory group, Arvind Mahajan said.

The project in the Infrastructure 100: World Cities Edition are made up of around 20 projects selected by independent judging panels of industry experts from Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa and are broadly listed under 10 categories, including urban mobility, global connectivity, urban regeneration, education, healthcare, water, new and extended cities, recycling and waste management, urban energy infrastructure, and communications infrastructure.

TN’s solar powered green homes ready


http://www.asianage.com/sites/default/files/images/5GH-1.jpg.crop_display.content_image.jpg

For four-long decades, Subbiah, a 58-year-old agricultural labourer of Manapatty in Pudukkottai, dreamt of living in a concrete house of his own.

Today, he is among 60,000 others in Tamil Nadu who live in a concrete house built in the same place where stood a thatched roof that leaked every time it rained.

He owes it to the state government or rather Chief Minister’s Solar Powered Green House Scheme that turned his dream a reality.

The 60,000 houses promised in the first phase of the scheme implement would be handed over to the beneficiaries this month.
The state rural development (RD) department has set July 27 as deadline for the completion of the first phase of the scheme aimed at providing concrete houses to the homeless families living below poverty line in the state.

Senior RD officials told Deccan Chronicle that about 51,200 houses have been completed thus far, while the remaining 8,000 and odd houses would be completed before the deadline.

In Villupuram district, which houses the maximum number of huts in the state, about 3,760 of the 4,333 houses have been completed till date.

Similarly, 2,295 of the 2,723 green houses have been completed in Cuddalore district followed by Vellore district where only another 430 and odd houses are remaining to achieve the 3,719 target set for the last fiscal.

Roof has been laid for at least 7,000 of the 8,700 remaining houses, officials pointed out adding that identification of 60,000 beneficiaries for the current fiscal has begun and it would be over by the month end.

Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency would commence the provision of solar power equipment to the houses by month-end and complete the work in a month from then, officials noted.Beneficiaries are identified at the rate of one per cent STs, 29 per cent SCs and the remaining 70 per cent for BC and others.

http://www.asianage.com/chennai/tn-s-solar-powered-green-homes-ready-032

5 temples in TN will get power from wind and solar :)

http://tm.dinakaran.com/pdf/2012/07/05/20120705a_005108007.jpg

TNERC to hear TANGEDCO petition on additional R&C measures including withdrawal of banking wind energy on Tuesday (http://panchabuta.com/2012/07/05/tnerc-to-hear-tangedco-petition-on-additional-rc-measures-including-withdrawal-of-banking-wind-energy-on-tuesday/)

TNERC is scheduled to hear TANGEDCO’s petition on additional R&C measures including the withdrawal of banking recommendation by TANGEDCO. IWTMA, the apex body representing all major wind energy players has appealed recently to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister against the removal of banking facility for wind power. A number of key stakeholders are watching this development closely and waiting to see the final regulatory order on this petition. The petition is slated to be heard on Tuesday, 10′th July 2012.

TANGEDCO in its petition to TNERC has submitted that Wind Energy Generators had a provision for wheeling and banking facility which has been in force since 1986. But the quantum of banked energy is also increasing exponentially every year (i.e.) as of 31.10.2008 it was 315 MU; as of 31.3.2009 it was 351 MU; as of 31.3.2010 it was 380 MU and now it has grown disproportionately upto 845 MU even during the first 7 months period upto 31.10.2011.

TANGEDCO states that at present the captive users of Wind Energy Generators are drawing maximum power from Feb’12 for their banked energy during wind season. This has created additional burden to TANGEDCO on the shortage of power the petition further states.

The banking of wind energy has complicated the grid management in absence of withdrawal schedules from the captive consumers. The majority of HT industrial consumers are facing 40% power cut and two days of power holidays due to unprecedented power shortage and those consumers with banking facility are upsetting equitable distribution of available power, TANGEDCO has said.

TANGEDCO has submitted that, in the case of wind energy, the power that is generated during the lean period is banked and the banking consumers utilise the same during peak summer without any schedule or premium. The above facility/provision is not covered under any regulation but was made to encourage development of non conventional energy fifteen to twenty years back, no such facilities are extended in any other states in India. The consumption and overdrawal of wind energy consumers cannot be monitored on day to day basis and is a great threat to grid stability. Complimentary benefits extended for promotional purpose decades ago cannot be continued on under severe crisis situation, TANGEDCO adds.

TANGEDCO further notes that by all accounts, there is a strong case not to give a preferential treatment of the banked wind energy captive users. Until ABT meters are provided and real time monitoring brought in, consumption can be noticed only at the end of the month and penal measures become a one time affair for multiple violations committed. The deemed demand concept for banked energy is being exploited by the captive consumers. The direction issued by TANEDGCO for providing ABT meters is also challenged by the OA consumers before High Court, Madras and the matter is sub-judice.

Finally, TANGEDCO submits in its petition that in absence of injection schedule by wind operators/drawl schedule by the banking consumers it is proposed that the facility of banking shall be withdrawn hence forth and that furnishing of Drawl schedule by captive wind consumers shall be made mandatory on day ahead basis.

33414815

Wind power holds the key to load shedding in Tamil Nadu (http://panchabuta.com/2012/07/08/wind-power-holds-the-key-to-load-shedding-in-tamil-nadu/)

According to reports, wild fluctuation in wind generation has led to steep rise in load shedding, according to the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO)

Giving details of wind energy generation and its contribution to overall generation during June 21 to 26, the TANGEDCO, in a release, stated that the wind generation varied from 1,300 MW to 3,800 MW.

In terms of million units (MU), the share of wind energy had reduced from 82 MU on June 24 to 59 MU on June 26.

As grid discipline had to be maintained, the quantum of load shedding went up. On June 24 (7.50 a.m.), the quantum of load shedding was 1,418 MW whereas it went up to 2,574 MW two days later.

The State met an all-time ‘sustained’ peak demand of 11,283 MW at 6.30 p.m. on June 26 with a wind generation of 3,830 MW and no load shedding throughout the State at that time.

The record energy consumption of about 244 MU was reached on June 20.

The truant south-west monsoon and the delay in the commencement of discharge of water from the Mettur dam for irrigation contributed to reduced hydro generation, which, in turn, meant the availability of less power.

Rush for solar projects in Tamil Nadu spurs mega land deals (http://panchabuta.com/2012/07/08/rush-for-solar-projects-in-tamil-nadu-spurs-mega-land-deals/)

According to reports, investors are recreating the oil rush of a century ago, only this time they are descending with fistfulls of cash on dustbowls and barren tracts in Tamil Nadu’s districts like Cuddalore, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin, hoping to make big bucks from the harsh sun that shrivels crops and makes these areas almost completely inhospitable.

With the government set to roll out an exclusive solar power policy in a month, there is a mad scramble for land. Buyers are ready to purchase more than 1,000 acres in a single deal to set up solar farms in Cuddalore, Tirunelveli and other barren areas, say industry sources. Tamil Nadu has a high average solar energy incidence and number of sunshine hours per year. The new policy is likely to incentivise investments in solar power generation, as in Gujarat.

The scramble for land has resulted in a huge rise in revenue from property registration in the first quarter of this fiscal. Officials say there has been increase of more than 50% in registration revenue in Cuddalore and Tirunelveli over the corresponding period last year. Chennai, by comparison, registered an increase of barely 4% this quarter.

Nathan S, a realtor in Tirunelveli, says he is in the process of identifying large land holdings in these districts. “Many high networth individuals and companies have approached me for land to set up solar power farms,” he said.

Land costs 3 lakh to 4 lakh per acre in Tirunelveli district, but is cheaper in the Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram districts.

Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India governing council member N Nandakumar said that the surge in revenue collection in Cuddalore , Villupuram and Vellore belt has been mainly due to industrial activity.
“Industrial units and corporates are in expansion mode and are buying vast tracts of land in barren areas,” he said. There has been a huge spike in demand for land in districts like Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram.

Operating solar power farms has been expensive so far, with solar panels costing 12 crore per MW.However,with Gujarat setting up massive solar power farms and Chinese solar panel manufacturers entering the fray, the cost of equipment has fallen drastically to 8 crore per MW. Industry sources said around five acres is needed to generate 1MW of electricity.

Investors are betting that the state’s new policy will make generation of solar power, both for use and for sale, a viable option. High power consumers in the state are also exploring the option of investing in solar farms to slash their power bills. “Though solar power is a costly source of energy , government incentives could make it an attractive investment option,” an official said. An official said the increase in land registrations fetched the state 1,578 crore in the first quarter, an astonishing jump from 229 crore in the corresponding period last year. Estimates reveal that Cuddalore and Tirunelveli regions top the list with a rise in registration revenue of 68 % and 55% respectively .

Why no newspaper covering this news..

no hydro, gas generation.. tn has started purchasing from exchanges at very high cost.. this purchasing cost no one knows..

Why no newspaper covering this news..

no hydro, gas generation.. tn has started purchasing from exchanges at very high cost.. this purchasing cost no one knows..

As per Tamil Nadu transmission corporation Ltd (http://tnebldc.org/reports/2012/100712/peakdet.pdf) we are generating power based on hydro and gas. Wind is also doing good. Could you please tell the source of your info?

As per Tamil Nadu transmission corporation Ltd (http://tnebldc.org/reports/2012/100712/peakdet.pdf) we are generating power based on hydro and gas. Wind is also doing good. Could you please tell the source of your info?

see todays report in tantransco..

it reports no hydro and gas; external purchases from power exchanges has started..

price in power exchanges are huge.. you will get power prices in their website..

what will govt do when there is not sufficient water in dams due to delayed and weak monsoons this year?

Also, gas supply is at its low too due to KG D-6 problems..

TINA factor for purchases from exchanges

what will govt do when there is not sufficient water in dams due to delayed and weak monsoons this year?

Also, gas supply is at its low too due to KG D-6 problems..

TINA factor for purchases from exchanges

Gas supply is not a problem.. if you generate electricity in local powerhouse it is cheaper.. this government earlier was determined not to buy power from exchanges since cost is high..

dont know what happened after FICCI meeting in chennai.. may be another scam developing.. it would have been good that electricity authority might have communicated.. not sure what they are doing which was my concern..

RLCPPL solar power plant connects to GRID

ZdPVFJi6Qrw

^^ So nice of a video :cheers: Step by step process of a land that is not useful for productivity is being turned to a Clean energy producing area :)

Aeppa Solar energy kara kannugala, innum Sivaganga, Ramnad pakkam lam acre kanakkula ipdi kedakuthu, sureer nu veiyil adikum, vaangi potu, Megawatt gala aruvadai (harvest) panna aarambinga.

:laugh:

Maybe they are waiting for the much delayed Solar policy of TN.. varuma varadha ne therle..

:laugh:

Maybe they are waiting for the much delayed Solar policy of TN.. varuma varadha ne therle..

Policy is ready. More on the GJ & KAR model. Any time it may be announced. Only Land Policy (for solar plants) is not clear.

RLCPPL solar power plant connects to GRID

ZdPVFJi6Qrw

:cheers: Nice to watch!!!

Policy is ready. More on the GJ & KAR model. Any time it may be announced.

:banana:

Policy is ready. More on the GJ & KAR model. Any time it may be announced. Only Land Policy (for solar plants) is not clear.

Oh good to hear..

Adhu enna land policy mattum prachana?? Athaiyum apdiye Guj, Kar models la irundu copy adichi irukkalam le!!

Tactics eh theriya mattengudu.. College le lam oru padips assignment ezhuthina athaiye vekkame illama ellarum copy adichu submit pannuvom!! :lol:

LA is a different matter Murlee. Ennatha copy adikkiradhu ?

TN may say that the Pvt developers have to buy land from the market at market prices.

But what about last mile connectivity for evacuation ?

If Solar Farms are located at different & widely apart parts of the Southern & Eastern Districts, Govt may not be able to spend more money on Collection & Distribution Infra.

It is better to announce the max radiation space as Solar Specific Zone and allow the Developers to pay market prices for those lands. Govt can also install Collection & Distribution Infra in those Zones.

Useful info about connecting / supplying excess generated home Solar power back to the Grid. Likewise commercial power companies also can link to the grid :)


Grid-tied power — If your house is connected to the electrical grid, meaning you power your home using traditional electric power from a utility company, you can use solar power to offset utility-provided electricity. Connecting solar panels directly into the grid can save you money. However, if you want to be able to use solar power as backup when the electricity goes out, you’ll need to connect batteries to your solar power system. Solar panels convert the sun’s energy to electricity, but do not store electricity. Without batteries to store the solar electricity, you will not be able to use grid-tied solar power if your electricity goes out.
From

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=KH_BG_EL_Solar_Power

During peak sun hours if your grid-tied system is producing more electricity than is being consumed, the solar-generated power may be fed into the grid, causing your electric meter to run backwards. In some states, your utility account may be credited with the amount your solar panels feed into the grid, saving you more money on your electric bill.

The installation of solar panels into the grid to power your home involves dealing with high-voltage electricity, so unless you are a certified electrician, you should consider using a professional solar installer. In addition, to qualify for some of the various tax refunds and rebates available from federal, state and local governments, you may need to use a certified solar installer. Visit www.dsireusa.org for more information on rebates available in your area. Our Solar Savings Calculator can help you determine your solar panel needs and help you find an installer.

Also, http://www.smartgrid.gov

Asset finance of wind farms and solar parks was up strongly and small-scale PV installations ran at record levels

London and New York, 11 July 2012. The clean energy sector showed resilience in the face of global economic ills and policy uncertainty in the second quarter of 2012, with new investment totalling $59.6bn. This was up 24% on Q1, but still 18% below the near-record quarterly figure of $72.5bn in Q2 last year.

Today’s figures, published by research company Bloomberg New Energy Finance, draw on the world’s most comprehensive database of transactions in clean energy worldwide. They show a clear split between investment in clean energy technology and equipment providers – which remained depressed in Q2 in the face of world economic and stock market troubles – and generating asset investment, which held up well.

It should be noted that this is the first time Bloomberg New Energy Finance has included estimated quarterly figures for small-scale projects. Previous published quarterly figures included only venture capital, private equity, public markets and larger-scale asset investment; figures for small-scale projects, such as rooftop PV, were provided only annually. The figures for Q1 2012 and Q2 2011 quoted above have been restated for comparability.

The star performance in the second quarter came from China, which saw a surge in investment to $18.3bn in the April-to-June period, up 92% from the previous quarter, with several large solar photovoltaic and wind projects each securing hundreds of millions of dollars in financing.

Europe and the US enjoyed solid but less spectacular gains in investment in Q2, of 11% and 18% over Q1, to reach $20bn and $10.2bn respectively. Overall, solar accounted for $33.6bn of investment in Q2, up 19% on Q1, and wind $21.6bn, up 47%.

Michael Liebreich, chief executive of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said: “China has recently quadrupled its domestic goals for solar installations. And it has been by far the biggest market for wind turbines for several years. These figures underline the pivotal role China is playing in the clean energy sector. Its torrent of supply-side investment was one of the main reasons why renewable energy costs have been plummeting; we are now seeing China creating enough demand to start mopping up some of the resulting over-capacity.”

The continuing challenge for companies hoping to raise equity finance for expansion was highlighted yet again by a fresh 15% fall in the WilderHill New Energy Global Innovation Index, or NEX, which tracks 96 clean energy stocks worldwide. At the end of Q2, the NEX stood at 115.25, 75% below its record high posted in November 2007, and just 15% ahead of its indexing start-point in 2003.

Public market investment in clean energy stood at just $1.2bn in Q2. This was nearly double the rock-bottom first quarter figure, but 75% below that for the second quarter of 2011. Venture capital and private equity investment was also subdued, at $1.5bn in Q2 this year, down 28% from Q1 and 39% from the second quarter of 2011.

Asset finance of utility-scale renewable power and fuel projects, however, rebounded strongly in the April-to-June quarter. It reached $35.9bn, up 50% on Q1, albeit still 24% below the figure recorded in the second quarter of 2011.

Among the largest projects financed in the second quarter of this year were the 270MW Lincs offshore wind farm, off the UK coast, for $1.6bn; the 419MW Flat Ridge Wind Farm phase two in the US, for $800m; and the 250MW Guodian Shanxi Qinyuan Taiyue Wind Farm phase two in China, for $317m. The largest Chinese solar project financed was the Shanlu & Shengyu Bayannur Wuyuan PV plant, at $316m.

Small-scale projects of less than 1MW, such as rooftop photovoltaics, were estimated to be worth $21.5bn in Q2 this year, 13% more than in the same quarter last year.

Liebreich said: “Small-scale projects are becoming an increasingly important part of the world’s energy mix, particularly following the 75% drop in the cost of PV modules over the past three years. Germany and Italy remain the largest markets, but small-scale PV is now broadening its geographic base, with installations in the US, Japan and China all growing strongly. We see further expansion across the sun-belt as costs continue to come down.”

The largest venture capital and private equity deals of the quarter saw Fisker Automotive of the US clinch $148m for its plug-in hybrid vehicle development, and Sapphire Energy, also of the US, secure $144m for its algae-based biofuel business. The largest public market deal was a $340m initial public offering by Chinese solar water heater company Jiangsu Sunrain Solar Energy.

Among the smaller clean energy sectors, biomass and waste-to-power recorded investment of $1.4bn in Q2, down 22% from the first quarter; biofuels saw a 12% fall in investment to $750m, and small hydro (projects of less than 50MW) a 30% slip to $1.1bn. Energy-smart technologies, such as smart grid and advanced transportation, showed an impressive 74% rise to $1.1bn but this was still down on the equivalent deal flow last year.

http://www.bnef.com/PressReleases/view/234

Solar panels installed. All lights and fans connected . One TV and one computer also has been connected. :banana:

Thanks guys for the advice and guidance,esp Kannan and others . :)

Let me see how it works .

Since the last EB bill came yesterday ( shocker -it was:bash: ) ,I ll talk about the savings after two months.

Solar panels installed. All lights and fans connected . One TV and one computer also has been connected. :banana:

Thanks guys for the advice and guidance,esp Kannan and others . :)

Let me see how it works .

Since the last EB bill came yesterday ( shocker -it was:bash: ) ,I ll talk about the savings after two months.

Congrats Mukkesh. :)

If it is ok for you, could you please share the info regarding number of fans and lights. Also, the total cost of installation. Might be useful for others.

Solar panels installed. All lights and fans connected . One TV and one computer also has been connected. :banana:

Thanks guys for the advice and guidance,esp Kannan and others . :)

Let me see how it works .

Since the last EB bill came yesterday ( shocker -it was:bash: ) ,I ll talk about the savings after two months.
:applause::applause:
Good.. Excellent..
Could you share the details on how would you arrive at this decision, how much is the capacity, what is the source of electric power during rainy seasons etc.?extra power will be fed into the grid?

Pl. log in to www.sujjigreenenergy.com.

A complete power solution in a renewable way.

Team - Sujji



1 . I m going for a 2 KWP roof top system. Will be connecting lights,fans,TV and computer systems only

2.I ve been looking at this for last 2 years and finally decided to go for it.

3. EB charges hike and the present precarious state of power supply made me to go for this.

4.I went thru this thread and also the web sites of solar companies and made this decision.( little tense my investment should not go waste )

5.I personally feel,govt should make it a mandatory for all new flats in Chennai to have at least 10 KWP power plant in roof tops just like RWH. After all the prices have come down and I personally feel JJ only can implement this in TN.

6. If this becomes a mass movement ,TN need not beg for power from other states.

:applause::applause:
Good.. Excellent..
Could you share the details on how would you arrive at this decision, how much is the capacity, what is the source of electric power during rainy seasons etc.?extra power will be fed into the grid?

Kris, there is no smart grid in India.

cross posting

Steep fall in wind capacity addition in Q1 (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/article3649058.ece)

Wind power capacity addition fell by nearly half in the first three months of the current financial year over the same period of last year. The fall was led by the two states – Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan – where the state-owned utilities have not paid the wind power producers their dues for several months.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/dynamic/01146/wind2_jpg_1146606f.jpg

The total capacity addition in the April-June period this year was 207.15 MW compared with 394.63 MW in the same period last year.

In Tamil Nadu, the windiest State in the country, capacity addition fell from 180.08 MW to 84.7 MW. In Rajasthan, capacity addition this year was just 4.25 MW compared with 95.1 MW in the first quarter last year. Gujarat also saw a dip — from 83 MW to 40 MW. Karnataka was the biggest gainer — the State added 21 MW compared with 0.8 MW last year.

A number of reasons have caused the fall in the capacity additions, industry sources say. The biggest of them is the problems that wind power developers are facing in Tamil Nadu — both in terms of delayed payments from the state utility, Tangedco, and due to reasons such as inadequate availability of the grid.

Further, wind power developers fret over clouds looming over Tamil Nadu. Tangedco is fighting for the removal of the ‘banking facility’, which allows developers to put any surplus generation into the grid and draw it back when they might need it. This has been a major benefit because wind power producers who also have other industries could ‘bank’ their surplus generation — which happens during the summer months — and take it back at other parts of the year, paying only the wheeling and transmission charges to Tangedco.

What also caused the dip in capacity addition is the abolishing of the ‘accelerated depreciation’ benefit, which helped wind power developers in tax planning. The abolishing of the benefit has been a sour point with the industry, which is lobbying strongly for its reinstatement.

The issue is sure to come up in the discussions that the Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Dr Farooq Abdullah, is to hold with the wind power industry on August 1.

Congrats Mukkesh. :)

If it is ok for you, could you please share the info regarding number of fans and lights. Also, the total cost of installation. Might be useful for others.


Right now we ve connected around 15 lights and 12 fans ( We ve two row houses and I ve connected both ) ,one computer system, two televisions.

I will answer the costing ip personal message as I see people have started advertising.

I ve done my connection thru SU Kam. Their web site is very informative

Solar panels installed. All lights and fans connected . One TV and one computer also has been connected. :banana:

Thanks guys for the advice and guidance,esp Kannan and others . :)

Let me see how it works .

Since the last EB bill came yesterday ( shocker -it was:bash: ) ,I ll talk about the savings after two months.

:cheers: great.

I was also in similar mission to connect all light loads to solar atleast by 2013 end. :)

Wind power production/consumption is down to 15 MU.

http://tnebldc.org/reports/2012/170712/peakdet.pdf

Right now we ve connected around 15 lights and 12 fans ( We ve two row houses and I ve connected both ) ,one computer system, two televisions.

I will answer the costing ip personal message as I see people have started advertising.

I ve done my connection thru SU Kam. Their web site is very informative

Thanks for the info. :cheers:

Today was a cloudy day and there was 8-6 power cut in my house. But my parents could manage with fan and lights the whole day without any problems .

They also watched TV for some time.


Everyday we re checking the meter reading for the last two days.

If you have time, please prepare a excel sheet chart which can be filled every day for a month or so.
Date - Solar power used in mins / hrs - units saved.

You can compare your May - June Bills with July August bills. In my house, it was almost 5 times.

If you have time, please prepare a excel sheet chart which can be filled every day for a month or so.
Date - Solar power used in mins / hrs - units saved.

You can compare your May - June Bills with July August bills. In my house, it was almost 5 times.


Done..

Wind has again picked up. 3100MW (http://tnebldc.org/reports/2012/190712/peakdet.pdf). :cheers:

Gr8 Mukkesh :okay:. Do give us regular updates.

Interesting Information on Turbines & Windmills

http://www.mechanicalengineeringblog.com/tag/top-10/

Folks, need advice here on a "Do-it-yourself" project.
With the following capacity Solar Panel will it be enough for a light(40w) and a fan if it's hooked up to a 12v battery? What type of inverter should be added and how many hours would it function if applicable. :|

Peak output power: 45 watts
Voltage (max): 23.57
Output current (max): 3000 mA

Solar power prospects


K.E. Raghunathan, managing director of the Chennai-based Solkar Solar Industry Limited, is passionate about solar energy. “In 2000, there was a wind energy revolution. In 2012, there will be a revolution in solar energy,” he says. He may not be far from the truth. The Government of India has set a target of 20,000 MW for solar energy by 2020.

Raghunathan’s 28-year-old factory in Ambattur has pioneered several solar energy products, the latest being Solgen, a solar inverter. The power shortage across India has led to high demand, he said, for Solgen. He added that his factory came up with the product in three months’ time. “We have more than 20,000 users of Solgen now,” he said.

He estimated the demand for inverters in Tamil Nadu alone to be around seven lakh units. A conventional inverter stores electricity when it is available and provides it to the user when there is load-shedding. “When consumers draw out electricity when it is available, the power cut becomes more acute. Is this the right way to use electricity?” he asked. In Solgen, solar energy charged the battery and made it available for use during power cuts.

Solgen comes in two models – 600 VA and 1,000 VA. The smaller one can connect up to five power points, including fans and tubelights, for up to two hours, whereas the bigger one can connect up to seven power points for up to three hours. T. Uma, sales coordinator, Solkar Solar Industry, said: “The life of the solar panel [used in Solgen] is 25 years. We provide a tubular battery.” Raghunathan suggested that finance be made available to buy solar energy products. “When you manufacture a product on a mass scale, you can bring down the cost and make sure that every home uses a solar energy product,” he said. Solkar Solar has products that cost between Rs.1,000 and Rs.15 lakh, including torchlights and a solar power plant.

http://www.frontline.in/stories/20120810291512400.htm

Gr8 Mukkesh :okay:. Do give us regular updates.

Today there was no power from 11am to 6 pm.

But the solar worked well and my parents were using the fan and their lights as usual. Thanks to sun god...

At 5.30 pm when I checked the batteries were fully charged .:)

Today there was no power from 11am to 6 pm.

But the solar worked well and my parents were using the fan and their lights as usual. Thanks to sun god...

At 5.30 pm when I checked the batteries were fully charged .:)

Soopperappu.

Keep tabs on savings and post.

தமிழகத்திலேயே முதன்முறையாக திருச்சியில் ஸ்டேட் வங்கியின் 5 ஏடிஎம்கள் சூரிய மின்சாரத்தை பயன்படுத்தி சோலார் மூலம் இயங்கும் வகையில் மாற்றப்பட்டு திறக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. (http://epaper.dinakaran.com/index.php?rt=index/frontpage/20120727/06)
SBI has opened 5 new ATMs that uses Solar Energy in Trichy. Next it will be opened in Nannilam in Thiruvarur Dt. During the experimentation period, 75% of electricity is saved.
ATM, lights in the building are also using solar energy in these ATMs.
Currently these ATMs run on rented "solar" equipments. If proven successful, they can be procured permanently.
பின்னர் துணைப் பொதுமேலாளர் அருண் அகர்வால் கூறுகையில், ‘இந்த 5 ஏடிஎம்களும் மின் சாரம் இல்லாத நேரத்திலும், இரவு நேரங்களிலும் சூரிய மின்சாரத்தை பயன்படுத்தி கொண்டு இயங்கும் வகையில் வடிவமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதற்கு பசுமை ஏடிஎம் என பெயரிட்டுள்ளோம். இம்முறை வேறுமாநிலங்களில் இருந்தாலும், தமிழகத்தில் முதன்முறையாக திருச்சியில்தான் இந்த வசதி செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. அடுத்ததாக திருவாரூர் மாவ ட்டம் நன்னிலம் வங்கியில் இதற்கான ஏற்பாடுகள் நடைபெற்று நிறைவடைந்துள்ளது.
ஏடிஎம்கள் மட்டுமல்லாது இந்த வளாகத்தில் உள்ள சுற்றுச்சுவர் மின்விளக்குகளும் சோலார் மின்சாரத்தை கொண்டு எரியும் வகை யில் மாற்றி அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதற்கான பரிசோதனையில் 75 சதவீதம் வரை மின்சாரம் சேமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது தெரியவந்துள்ளது. தற்போது இந்த சோலார் சாதனங்கள் வாடகை அடிப்படையில் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இது வெற்றிகரமாக இயங்கினால் சொந்தமாக அமை க்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்.

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s Akshay Urja shop, envisaged for wider sale and service of all renewable energy devices and systems, including solar energy products, was inaugurated by Collector Jayashree Muralidharan here on Thursday.

The outlet: Contura Akshay Urja Shop, near Rail Nagar bus stop along the Tiruchi-Thanjavur highway, is itself powered by a 1.3 KW solar power generation unit.

Power for the inaugural function at the adjoining meeting hall was also sourced from the solar unit, though a diesel generator set was kept as stand-by, Arun Rebero, director of the shop, said.

The support from the central ministry comes in form of monthly grants for operational expenditure and sales incentives facilitated by Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency, he said, informing that the Ministry supports establishment of one shop in each district for creation of a network of retail outlets.

Solar rooftops, and indoor and outdoor lighting, figure among focus areas, he said.
The shop will provide guidance to buyers for securing subsidy and tax concessions, and complying with carbon credit formalities. A model for creating awareness free of cost in schools and colleges of how renewable energy can mitigate global warming, Mr. Arun Rebero said. Enquiries will be answered also over phone: 0431 – 2441383, Mobile: 8754021383/ 9994921997



Protect environment
Inaugurating the shop, the Collector called for environment protection through patronisation of solar energy products.
Though solar products warrant initial investment, there will be no need to pay monthly electricity bills. She utilised the occasion to drive home the importance of planting saplings to address pollution.


The Collector inaugurated the shop in the presence of S. Sridharan, president, Tiruchi District Tiny and Small Scale Industries’ Association (TIDITSSIA).

T. Raju Rebero, managing director, Contura Solar India, T.V.Murali, Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry, Tiruchi Zone, S.Sampath, president, BIDASS, Tiruchi, and S.Abdul Rasheed, TIDITSSIA secretary, were present.



http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/article3691853.ece

^^Hope there will be many more shops spring in the near future..

TN push for new wind energy policy


The Tamil Nadu government is pushing for a new central policy to promote offshore wind energy.

The state, which stands to benefit the most by any development on the wind energy front, is keenly awaiting guidelines from the ministry of new and renewable energy for an early action plan to develop the sector.

“The Union ministry for renewable energy has formulated a committee to look at tapping offshore wind energy, which we are expecting to be ready in the next 45 days.

This will give a big boost to Tamil Nadu, ” said Mr Sudeep Jain, chairman of Tamil Nadu Energy Development Authority while speaking at the renewable energy conference “REaction” organised by TEDA along with Energy Association of India.

The other potential renewable energy sources in the state include ocean, hydel and tidal energies, he added.

Among the key challenges for wind energy players in the state, Mr Jain said, were technology, finance, regulation and social related issues. Highlighting this, Indian Wind Power Association recently sought a common wind energy policy, especially for wheeling and banking charges, across all states.

It also sought incentives from the state and funds from the Centre’s Clean Energy Fund to tide over its financial crisis.

Currently Tamil Nadu accounts for 36 per cent of the country’s total renewable energy installation. On the wind energy front, the state accounts for 41 per cent of the entire country’s generation and has an investment of over Rs2,500 crore in the sector with an ability to produce 8,000 MW of electricity through wind energy. There are also proposals to add 10,800 MW of more wind power in the state by various investors.

The chief minister’s Vision 2023 document has also envisaged an addition of 10,000 MW of renewable energy capacity including 5,000 MW solar power in the next 11 years. “The state is right on track to achieve this, including 3,000 MW of solar by 2015-16,” Mr Jain assured.



http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/tn-push-new-wind-energy-policy-100

New tax on wind turbines by local panchayats (http://indolinkenglish.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/new-tax-on-wind-turbines-by-local-panchayats/)

The Tirunelveli-Kanyakumari belt of wind mills in Tamil Nadu, the densest and oldest in the country and a showpiece of how wind energy can transform a rural landscape, has become an unlikely zone of conflict. An increasingly self-assertive local administration wants to tax wind mills in its vicinity and wind energy companies are opposing such a move. The episode has also triggered questions about whether the two decade-long proliferation of wind mills on this stretch has provided for inclusive growth.

http://indolinkenglish.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/wind-energy_901482f.jpg?w=300&h=215

The conflict started this May when the Tirunelveli collector R Selvaraj passed an order to levy a slew of taxes and fees on wind turbine generators justifying it on the grounds that this would empower local people and make panchayats more viable. Theni district has since followed the example. But the Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association is aghast at what it says is a “rude shock” . The association has sent a petition to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and obtained a court order staying the levies . The wind association’s secretarygeneral DV Giri reckons that the taxes will make a megawatt of wind power costlier by Rs 8-10 lakh. “This steep demand will push up the capital costs and impact the returns for the investor. The qualitative impact will be delays, bureaucratic holdups and an atmosphere of apprehension and doubt by investors .”

The association has also questioned whether collectorates have the power to frame such rules. The industry worries that other local bodies would follow suit. This could be the first major public blip for the Tirunelveli-Kanyakumari belt of wind mills which, until now, has been a star performer in India’s wind energy journey. The region took to windmills much earlier than the rest of the country, thanks to favourable wind conditions and the state’s early interest in tapping it. Today, the bulk of the over 6,500 megawatt of installed capacity of Tamil Nadu, roughly half of India’s capacity, comes from these two districts.

In fact, demonstration projects in the area had already sprung up by the time Mikhail Gorbachev and Rajiv Gandhi in 1988 signed a pact for a Soviet Union-backed nuclear plant in Kudankulam, an area very close to what would become India’s densest wind belt. While the nuclear plant has puffed and panted its way to almost finally getting commissioned now, following a string of delays and strong protests by locals, the wind industry has gone on smoothly to add thousands of megawatt of capacity. Windmills are never going to worry the locals the way the nuclear plants did. Instead, what they could see were immediate incentives.

The biggest beneficiaries have been landowners who could sell land to companies setting up wind farms. Chelliah, president of one of the Manamkathan panchayat at Kayathar, a 45-minute drive from Tirunelveli town, said he was an agriculturist who turned into an agent for land deals.

Students Find Technical Work Around Windmills
“In 1989, when small companies were putting up windmills, an acre was around Rs 1,500. Now, it is Rs 4 lakh,” says Chelliah. It is even higher in some pockets. “There’s very little land left for agriculture,” says Chelliah . It has been easy for landowners to sell off also because rainfall has become scarce. “The economy of the place is being held up by wind farms. In the last 15 years, we have seen how people’s lifestyles have changed,” says V Sathu, who works for the Association for Integrated Rural Development, an NGO in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention. Five years ago, when P Krishnan took over as the headmaster of a government school at Radhapuram town, 50 km south of Tirunelveli , the place “looked like a village” to him. “You couldn’t even see a bus-stand .

Now there’s everything – even a shopping complex , restaurants and a marriage hall,” he says. The erstwhile landowners have enough money to build houses and educate their children. Krishnan’s students are also able to find some “technical work” around the windmills that seem to swarm Radhapuram. An hour and a half west of Radhapuram is Aralvaimozhi (Kanyakumari district), where the ecosystem supporting wind farms seems to be far more advanced. The town is at one end of an extremely plum patch for wind, called Muppandal. The winds are so strong here for 11 months a year that it is said that two-wheeler riders on the main road, flanked by two sides of seemingly endless wind farms, struggle to stay balanced .

In and around Aralvaimozhi, dozens of engineering colleges and polytechnic institutions have come up. Wind maintenance and spare-parts outlets abound. Students, even those pursuing the arts stream, work in wind farms during the night. One such student , Saravana Durai, has been working in wind farms since his ninth standard. He’s now in his second year of BA economics. Starting as a security guard, he has now learnt enough to do basic maintenance. He says he has earned enough money to buy a motorcycle. But all this is just one side of the story.

Over two decades after the first windmill was installed , which is roughly the active life of these power generators, there is a belief in some quarters that there are many who missed out on the party. That obviously includes those who didn’t own land in the first place. It includes those who did as well. S Subramania Pillai, principal of the Arignar Anna College at Aralvaimozhi, says many local people sold land cheap about 15 years ago. “They were cultivating groundnuts.

They are now landless labourers.” M Thangapanti, another land broker at Kayathar, says not all land will fetch great prices. That’s because wind mill installers don’t need contiguous land — there’s a technical requirement to maintain some distance between two wind mills. So, there are landowners who miss out. Locals in Radhapuram say the land rates are now increasing because brokers, holding land, have turned them into realty plots. They also blame the wind mills for the ambient noise and the disappearance of birds. Inside the panchayat offices in Radhapuram and Aralvaimozhi, the mood is against wind mill operators.

The clerk in Radhapuram talks angrily about writing a letter to wind mill operators reminding them of the product tax. “There’s no scope in our area for anything else. All the land has been given for wind mills,” he says. The panchayat president M Madhan says, “If tax is paid, the panchayat can do basic work. There’s not enough funds here.” He says his panchayat gets Rs 4-5 lakh a year from house tax collections and other minor taxes. If wind mill operators do pay a product tax, the panchayat could be richer by at least Rs 10 lakh. A similar view is echoed in Aralvaimozhi.

Many of the concerns of lopsided wind energy development in this belt were brought to the fore as early as 2003 in a study published in the newsletter of the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency. It spoke about the temporary nature of jobs created by wind energy installations, sound pollution, the conversion of agricultural land and the felling of trees. One of its conclusions was that “wind farm activity has only benefited a small portion of the local community and it is not widespread.” Among other things, it suggested that local bodies could levy a tax on wind mills.

Solar power to become a reality soon in TN (http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article577325.ece)


Solar power is soon to become a reality in the State with the government embarking on an ambitious initiative to set up roof top solar energy installations in 60,000 houses each year from this November. Besides, it is coming up with net metering, a renewable energy incentive for consumers.

Speaking during the inaugural session of Reaction 2012, organised by Energy Alternatives India, Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) chairman Sudeep Jain said that besides providing 60,000 houses with solar installations each year under the XII plan, the State will also use solar power to light up 20,000 street lights each year.

Jain said the policy would drive the establishment of over 3,000 MW of solar power generation capacity in the State. His comments come in the wake of the State set to roll out its new energy policy. He said the State had introduced net metering, deduction of any energy outflows from metered energy inflows, as a pilot project in TEDA as well as in two other places, including Auroville, and it has been successful. Under net metering, a system owner receives retail credit for at least a portion of the power they generate.

Industry sources claim that once net metering is introduced, solar power in TN will become a reality soon. “This will also create a huge investment opportunities in the renewable energy sector,” they said.

Chennai corporation decided to use solar Energy on Corporation schools, hospitals.
Pilot project is initiated.
சென்னை மாநகராட்சி புது அவதாரம் சோலாருக்கு மாறுது.இனி மின்தடைக்கு தடா.. (http://epaper.dinakaran.com/index.php?rt=index/frontpage)
எப்ப பார்த்தாலும்... எங்கு பார்த்தாலும் பவர்கட். பொதுமக்களுக்கு மிகவும் அத்தியாவசியமான மின்சாரம், முறையாக வினியோகிக்கப்படாததால் பல்வேறு பிரச்னைகள் எழுகின்றன. தொழில் முடக்கம், இரவு நேர திடீர் மின்தடையால் வீடுகளில் மக்கள் தூங்க முடியாமல் தவிப்பு என மின்வாரியத்துக்கு தொடர்ந்து அவப்பெயர் நீடித்துக் கொண்டே இருக்கிறது.
கோடைகாலம் என்று மட்டுமல்ல... எந்த காலத்திலும் மின்பற்றாக்குறை தீர்ந்தபாடில்லை. இதற்கு தீர்வு காண சென்னை மாநகராட்சி புதிய அவதாரம் எடுத்துள்ளது. மாநகராட்சிக்கு சொந்தமான பள்ளி கட்டிடங்கள், மருத்துவமனைகளில் சோலார் மூலம் மின்வினியோகம் செய்ய திட்டமிட்டுள்ளது. இதற்கான சோலார் தகடுகளை பொருத்த டெண்டர் கோரப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதன் மூலம் மின்சார பயன்பாடு குறைவதோடு மட்டுமில்லாமல், மாநகராட்சிக்கும் மின்கட்டண செலவு மிச்சப்படும் என்கிறார்கள் அதிகாரிகள்.
இது குறித்து மாநகராட்சி அதிகாரிகள் கூறியிருப்பதாவது: இது ஒரு சோதனை முயற்சி. இந்த முயற்சி வெற்றிகரமாக அமையும் பட்சத்தில், அனைத்து மாநகராட்சி அலுவலகத்திலும் சோலார் தகடுகள் பொருத்தப்படும். தற்போது ஒரு சில இடங்களில் சோலார் தகடுகள் அமைக்க முடிவு செய்துள்ளோம். அதனைத்தொடர்ந்து அனைத்து கட்டிடங்களுக்கும் சோலார் தகடுகள் பொருத்தப்படும்.
5 கிலோ வாட் திறனை சேமிக்கும் ஒரு சோலார் தகடும், 1 கிலோ வாட் திறன் பெற்ற 5 சோலார் தகடுகளும் பொருத்த திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதனால் மின்கட்டணம் செலுத்துவதை தவிர்க்கலாம். 1 கிலோவாட் திறன் பெற்ற பேட்டரி பேக் அப் இல்லாத சோலார் தகடுகள் மூலம் 6 மணி நேரத்திற்கு ஏராளமான டியூப் லைட்கள் மற்றும் மின்விசிறிகளை இயக்கலாம். பேட்டரி வசதி இருந்தால் 10 மணி நேரம் பயன்படுத்தலாம். சூரிய ஒளியின் தன்மை குறைவாக இருந்தாலும் 3 நாட்கள் பேட்டரி பேக் அப் மூலம் மின்சாதனங்களை இயக்க முடியும். நீண்ட நாள் உழைக்கும் இந்த சோலார் தகடுகளை அடிக்கடி பராமரிக்க தேவையில்லை. மேலும், மாணவர்களுக்கும் மாற்றுத்திறன் சக்தி குறித்த விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படும்.
இவ்வாறு கூறியுள்ளனர்.
எப்படியோ மாநகராட்சியின் இத்திட்டத்தால் மக்களுக்கு மின்தடையில் இருந்து விடுதலை கிடைத்தால் சரி...

Tamil Nadu looking to MNRE for wind policy guidelines (http://www.energynext.in/tamil-nadu-looking-mnre-wind-policy-guidelines/)

In a bid to benefit from its strategic location on the shore, Tamil Nadu is looking forward to the Union Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) guidelines for the promotion of offshore wind. The guidelines are expected to help Tamil Nadu to formulate an early action plan to develop the sector.

“The MNRE has formulated a committee to look at tapping offshore wind energy, which we are expecting to be ready in the next 45 days. This will give a big boost to Tamil Nadu,” Sudeep Jain, Chairman of Tamil Nadu Energy Development Authority (TEDA) said.

Other potential renewable energy sources available in Tamil Nadu include ocean, hydel and tidal, Jain said while speaking at the renewable energy conference “REaction” in Chennai organised by TEDA and Energy Association of India.

“Technology, finance, regulation and social related issues are among the key challenges the wind energy players in the state are facing,” Jain said. The Indian Wind Power Association has recently sought a common wind energy policy, especially for wheeling and banking charges, across all states in wake of such stumbling blocks.

The IWPA has also sought incentives from the state and funds from the Centre’s Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) to tide over its financial crisis. Tamil Nadu currently boasts of 36 per cent of India’s total renewable energy installation. The state accounts for 41 per cent of the entire country’s generation in wind energy drawing an investment of over Rs 2,500 crore, producing 8,000 MW electricity.

Proposals to add 10,800 MW of more wind power in the state by various investors are waiting. The Vision 2023 document of the state also envisaged an addition of 10,000 MW of renewable energy including 5,000 MW solar power in the next 11 years.

Flow battery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_battery) could be the technology that can solve the energy storage problem and intermittency of renewable energy sources.

"The largest flow battery system in the world, capable of storing and delivering grid-scale power instantaneously, received permission to operate from the local utility and will begin full operation in the weeks ahead..."

Source: http://energystoragetrends.blogspot.com/2012/04/worlds-largest-vanadium-flow-battery.html

Making "Renewable" Viable: Drexel Engineers Develop New Technology for Grid-Level Electrical Energy Storage (http://www.drexel.edu/now/news-media/releases/archive/2012/July/Engineers-Develop-New-Grid-Level-Energy-Storage-Technology/)

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-propertyplus/article3694717.ece

Satisfaction of reducing your carbon footprint

It produces LPG, yields organic manure, gets rid of garbage. What more can you ask for? Hema Vijay describes the bio-digester

Win-win solution:If there is access to sufficient organic garbage, the bio-digester is a very viable option.

The Radhakrishnan household in South Chennai hasn’t booked an LPG cylinder in the last few months; they make their cooking gas right at home.

Neither do they buy manure for the huge vegetable garden on their terrace. Imagine a lifetime’s supply of free cooking gas and organic manure, and the satisfaction of not only reducing your carbon footprint but also not adding to the piles of garbage on the streets.

Sounds too good to be true? Not really, if you adopt a new contraption called the bio-digester. Several commercial establishments have adopted the gadget but also, interestingly, families like the Radhakrishnans as well.

Meanwhile, someone like Sai Jayapalan, who runs a marriage hall for the Red Hills Paddy and Rice Merchants’ Association, has found a profitable way to get rid of 250-odd kilos of organic garbage that his hall generates each day.

It seems like a win-win solution all around. As R. Kannan, MD, Infratech Infrastructure Services, a firm that creates waste-management infrastructure, says: “If there is access to sufficient organic garbage, the bio-digester is a very viable option.”

How it works

So, what exactly is a bio-digester? A cylindrical fibreglass structure that works like a composter, it is 1.65m tall, 1.45m in diameter, and weighs about 60 kilos. Immediately after installation, about 25 kg of cow-dung is fed into the composter, as starter fuel, and it takes roughly 25 days to produce bacteria. To start using it, all you need do is feed your organic garbage (fallen leaves, kitchen waste, food waste, etc.) into the crusher unit, where it is mixed with a small stream of water.

The mix is then fed into the bio-digester, where the bacteria already present decomposes it to produce cooking gas. This is piped to your kitchen stove.

A 2 cu.m. bio-digester (generates 2 cu.m. cooking gas, equivalent to 1 kg of LPG) can keep a stove burning for five hours, which means about Rs 30-40 worth of LPG produced each day.

Thankfully, the fuel leaves no foul smell. The bio-digester can process 15 kg of organic waste per day, but that’s not a mandatory figure -- you generate bio-gas in proportion to the waste that’s fed in. The bigger windfall, though, is the rich organic manure produced as sludge. You can use it for a thriving flower and vegetable garden. “Manure costs are exorbitant. In fact, an enterprising person can make a profitable living selling the manure,” says S. Radhakrishnan.

Safe and profitable

After installation, the device is virtually maintenance-free and does not require more cow dung.

It must be located in an open area and the pipe fed into the kitchen. It is inherently safe, as the gas formed is of low density and pressure (less than 1.5 kg/sq.cm; a fraction of that exerted by LPG (17 kg/sq.cm). “If the gas is unused or if excess gas is produced, it won’t explode but merely bubble out gently from the bottom,” says A. Parthasarathy, MD, B-Sustain, a company that manufactures domestic bio-digesters. “I have three now,” says Radhakrishnan, “so neighbours and vegetable vendors give me their organic ‘kuppai’, while I give them rich manure and vegetables in return.” If every house, apartment complex, and restaurant were to invest in the bio-digester, it might be the answer to urban challenges of clean energy, garbage disposal and affordable organic vegetables.

The 2 cu.m. bio-digester costs Rs. 30,000. After installation, you can claim a Rs. 6,000-8,000 subsidy from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

This brings down the effective price to Rs. 24,000. A team at Bangalore University’s Department of Environmental Sciences led by Dr. Rinku Verma is working on a bio-digester design that will cost less than Rs. 15,000 and generate enough gas to cook breakfast, lunch and dinner for a family of five.

Contacts: A. Parthasarathy (9176650001); Dr. Rinku Verma (9880101975); S. Radhakrishnan (9841023448) and Sai Jayapalan (9841019582)

Tamil Nadu hikes wind tariff to Rs 3.51 (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/article3711111.ece)

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has passed its tariff order hiking the tariff for wind power producers in the State to Rs 3.51 a unit.

Windmills installed between August 1, 2012, and July 31, 2014, will be able to sell the power they generate to the State electricity distribution company, TANGEDCO, at this tariff.

Windmills commissioned prior to May 15, 2006, shall be eligible for a tariff of Rs 2.75 a kWhr. Those commissioned between May 15, 2006, and September 18, 2008, will get Rs 2.90 per unit. Those commissioned between September 19, 2008, and July 31, 2012, will get Rs 3.39 per unit.

The Commission has not accepted the plea of many to make the tariff applicable retrospectively from April 1, 2011. The previous ‘control period’ had ended on March 31, 2011, but the period got extended thrice, and finally the new tariff order was issued on Tuesday.

TN tariff hike: Wind power investments unviable, says TASMA (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/article3711230.ece)

The wind tariff order issued today by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission has made investments in the wind power sector in Tamil Nadu unviable, say industry leaders.

After a detailed calculation, the Tamilnadu Spinning Mills Association (TASMA), whose members own over 3,000 MW of wind power capacity, has concluded that the captive consumers are put to an additional expense of 95 paise per unit.

“This makes it fully unviable to invest in the wind energy sector any more,” K Venkatachalam, Chief Advisor, TASMA, has said in a note to the Association’s members.

Expressing similar views, Ramesh Kymal, Chairman, Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers’ Association (IWTMA), and Chairman and Managing Director, Gamesa India Pvt Ltd, described the order as “a retrograde step.”

He observed that while the tariff had been raised by 12 paise, the additional burden arising out of various other charges works out to about a rupee.

Recalling that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa, had envisioned creation of additional 6,000 MW of capacity in the state in the 12th Plan, Kymal said, “That is not going to happen.”

“We were hoping that we would get at least the CERC(-norms based order),” he said. CERC-norms based tariff would fetch between Rs 4.20 and Rs 4.50 a unit.

Solar energy can fill demand-supply gap of power: Kakodkar (http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/solar-energy-can-fill-demand-supply-gappower-kakodkar/39413/)

Renowned nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar today termed the demand-supply gap of energy as eternal, and said solar energy can fill the void.

"The need of energy will always exceed the supply and for this we will have to keep looking for alternative sources of energy," said Kakodkar, the former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India.

"And solar energy is a big hope in meeting this ever growing demand of energy," he said.

He termed the solar energy as a future source of energy amidst the growing demand of power.
Kakodkar, currently chairman of the Solar Energy Corporation of India, was in Jodhpur today with his team for discussions with the IIT-Jaipur on solar energy research.

The IIT-J has set up a Centre of Excellence to further the research and experiment on the solar energy in the Western Rajasthan and has set up a solar thermal plant.

Kakodkar said after developing a demonstration facility of the solar thermal set up, we will resort to continuous research on it.

Terming the demand-supply gap of energy to be eternal, Kakodkar said the need of energy will always exceed the supply and for this we will have to keep looking for alternative sources of energy.

IIT Jodhpur has earmarked a 200-acre land on its campus for creating a solar park, comprising various technologies under one roof.

A cluster of R&D labs for solar thermal research shall be established in this solar park under the Research grant obtained from the MNRE (Government of India).

An international centre for solar energy technologies is planned to be set up on the IIT Jodhpur campus with the technical assistance and grant from ADB (Asian Development Bank) for capacity building and for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the filed of Solar Energy.

Sunlight Goes To Waste: India's Grid Failure (http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/08/sunlight-goes-to-waste-indias-grid-failure-part-1)

The spotlight on India's recent electric grid failure on July 30 and 31 has been determined the world's largest blackout. This event will no doubt spur some movement toward efficiency and discipline. India requires new and innovative thinking and effectiveness through structural change. This is also the time to focus on renewable energy, particularly solar photovoltaics.

“India is the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy sources and, if properly utilized, India can realize its place in the world as a great power,” said Jeremy Rifkin, an economist and activist, in New Delhi in January, “but political will is required for the eventual shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.”

Even if 10% of India’s energy needs can be met by solar, it would be a huge contribution in taking the edge off peak load on the existing grid.

Solar panel prices have dropped by over 50% during the past year, and those of the supporting hardware — including cables, connectors, inverters — will continue to drop at a slower rate. Overall, system prices now are practically at “grid parity” — the price per unit of electricity is comparable to the price of coal-based power. This is especially the case when the costs of greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal, an “externality” until now, are taken into account. And we are even closer to grid parity when the average price includes the unsubsidized cost of diesel-based generation, frequently used when power fails.

The attributes of the two kinds of electricity are different, however — one is polluting and causes global warming, the other is clean. One is continuous, and the other is intermittent. Yet the two can work with synergy, as net metering solutions work in the U.S. The “edge” solar power generating households contribute excess power to the grid during sunny days and draw from the grid when the sun does not shine. The net electricity bill for a solar power-generating household can be zero.

In India, not only can solar generation work as a complement to the grid as above, but it can also alleviate having 400 million citizens without electricity. In the age of smartphones, broadband, HD televisions and microwaves, this absence seems hard to believe. Many of these people live in rural areas where grid extension is not economical; solar energy for self-sufficiency is one immediate and affordable solution.

What are the costs of electricity’s absence? Lost opportunities for augmenting livelihood, children forced to study by candlelight or kerosene lamps, or not at all.

There are several solar energy solutions. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is mostly focused on using solar energy, like any other fuel source, to feed the grid. Typically, this is through concentrated solar solutions, and recently through photovoltaic panels due to price drops. Solutions that feed power to the grid are important, but they only augment an over-stressed grid — they do not help the millions without any grid power. The Ministry mostly ignores distributed generation, the solar self-sufficiency solutions like rooftop panels or community grids.

Clean energy technologies are in the middle of unprecedented innovations. Bloomberg New Energy Finance studies show the patent growth in this space has accelerated so much that, around 2005, clean energy patents surpassed the patents generated in all other technologies combined.

India can be a part of this innovation boom, but not unless the government gets out of the way. Innovations cannot be a command performance, wished into being by government fiat. Incentives and regulations can help, but not the creation of one more Government of India “undertaking,” or the creation of an Innovation Council comprised of distinguished people, but with an agenda that does not include renewable energy.

[QUOTE=senthilkumark;93851758]Sunlight Goes To Waste: India's Grid Failure (http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/08/sunlight-goes-to-waste-indias-grid-failure-part-1)

^^

Good article.

My experience in the last two weeks have been good.

On a sunny day my system generates 12 -14 units.

Many of us will be firing up our grills this weekend for some well-deserved barbecue time. After all, barbecuing is one of America’s greatest past times, but it certainly isn’t one of our most environmentally friendly. Whether you prefer charcoal, wood chips or propane, grilling releases emissions and contributes to poor air quality. Up until now, solar powered grilling has required, as you might expect, the sun, which means traditional fuel-fired grills are required after sunset. But new solar technology developed by MIT professor David Wilson could bring a nighttime solar-powered grill to the market very soon; an invention also of great benefit to those in developing nations who rely on wood to cook all their food.

Wilson’s technology harnesses the sun and stores latent heat to allow cooking times for up to an amazing twenty five hours at temperatures above 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The technology uses a Fresnel lens to harness the sun’s energy to melt down a container of Lithium Nitrate. The Lithium Nitrate acts as a battery storing thermal energy for 25 hours at a time. The heat is then released as convection for outdoor cooking.

“There are a lot of solar cookers out there,” says Wilson, “but surprisingly not many using latent-heat storage as an attribute to cook the food.” Wilson developed the idea after spending time in Nigeria, where wood is used for cooking, which causes a number of problems. Not only is cooking with firewood leading to respiratory illnesses, but is also increasing the rate of deforestation and women are being raped while searching for wood.

A group of MIT students are working with the technology to develop a prototype solar grill. Derek Ham, Eric Uva, and Theodora Vardouli are conducting a study through their multi-disciplinary course “iTeams,” short for “Innovation Teams”, to determine the interest in such a concept and then hopefully launch a business to manufacture and distribute these grills. The goal is to develop a business model for distributing solar grills to developing nations as well as a grill for the American market. The American version is expected to be a hybrid propane/solar model that will allow for flame cooking as well as through thermal convection. If all goes well, in a couple years we just be giving solar grills as presents on Father’s Day and enjoying sun-kissed instead of char-broiled even after the sun goes down.

http://inhabitat.com/wilson-solar-grill-stores-the-suns-energy-for-nighttime-fuel-free-grilling/

http://www.iwantsomeproof.com/extimg/siv_ds_anim.gif

"Fine finish and high output combined with low cost:

With our crystalline technology, KCP solar manufactures and supplies wide range of modules for different customer requirements.We have a state of the art, dedicated production line with annual capacity of 24MW in Salem,Tamilnadu-India."
saw this ad. today and not sure how reliable


http://www.dailythanthi.com/thanthiepaper/2682012/slm2608pgefe03ad3.jpg


http://kcpsolar.com/ManufacturingFacility.html


After CBE, Salem also having few solar panel manufacturer in WTN. Hope 100 such manufacturer spread up in the state and will put many people to use mini home based solar power plant.

[QUOTE=Arul Murugan;94509965]"Fine finish and high output combined with low cost:





^^

it s very cheap. Analyse very carefully before buying

Wind generation at an all time high of 4000MW -comes to rescue of Tamil Nadu (http://panchabuta.com/2012/08/20/wind-generation-at-an-all-time-high-of-4000mw-comes-to-rescue-of-tamil-nadu/)

AUGUST 20, 2012

Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation last month, blamed the increase in unscheduled load shedding on the sudden decline in power generation from wind mills.Power generation from wind mills fell from 3,575 MW on Friday (July13) evening to 147 MW on early hours of Monday(July16).

TANGEDCO officials have earlier said that a power generation of at least 3,000 MW from wind mills was needed to manage the power grid without increased load shedding.

On June 16 and 17, the wind velocity dropped to its minimum generating just 15 million units of power against the average daily generation of 75 million units. Following the power shortage due to this sudden dip in the wind, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited appealed to residents to bear any unscheduled power cuts. The situation had raised concerns among consumers, especially industries in the Coimbatore circle who were largely affected by the unscheduled power cuts.

But regaining strength the strong winds blowing through the Palakkad gap helped to operate the windmills to its maximum capacity and generate about 3000 MW of energy on Wednesday and 3500 MW last month.

According to officials, following the outage at Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), power supply to the state from the central pool has been stopped. “Though state is entitled for 330 MW from the central pool, we have been getting only 230 MW. Now that too has been stopped,” a senior Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) official said.

The TNEB official said if the problem continued for more than three days, the state was in for a power crisis. “In spite of the southwest monsoon being a failure, we are able to handle the situation with wind energy, which was 4,000 MW as on Sunday,” said the official. However, TNEB officials are wary of banking on wind energy completely.

Affordable wind energy not hot air (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/affordable-wind-energy-not-just-hot-air/483877/)

Anyone thinking of setting up coal-based power projects may want to think again. The stratospheric rise in the price of imported coal and the shortage of the fossil fuel at home have given rise to a scenario once thought impossible: For the first time, the cost of wind power is now on a par with the price of coal-fired energy in some parts of India.

According to estimates of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the most efficient wind projects in India run at a cost comparable to new coal-fed plants. Some of the best renewable energy projects produce power at costs that vary from Rs 2.7 to Rs 4 per kilowatt-hour (Kwh), compared to a coal energy cost of Rs 1.9 to Rs 4.8 per Kwh. Industry experts say, on an average, across the country, the generation cost through wind would be around Rs 3.5 to Rs 3.6 per Kwh, compared to Rs 4 by coal. The comparison is only appropriate for new thermal plants, since old ones have had plenty of time to depreciate their assets used for generation, thus lowering costs as well as prices.

Blowing hard in TN
Tamil Nadu (TN) is India’s champion of wind energy, accounting for 41.77 per cent of 14,706 Mw of it (as of July 2011) produced in the country. Up to thirty per cent of the electricity demand in TN is met by the wind energy. For a state like TN, which faces a huge power deficit, non-conventional sources of energy are becoming more critical.
The state government is trying to give a fillip to the renewable energy sector, not just because the cost of power generated is lower, but because the time span taken for wind projects to kick in is much shorter than thermal ones. Consequently, on August 1, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) increased rates at which state utilities like the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board would buy power from wind farms — to Rs 3.51 from Rs 3.39 per Kwh.

The main driver for wind’s popularity is obvious. “Currently, coal price in India is around Rs 4,000-5,000 a tonne, while the price of imported coal is around five times of this,” says Ramesh Kymal, CMD, Gamesa Wind Turbines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the €3.6-billion Gamesa Group, Spain. But other reasons are becoming increasingly relevant. “What is working to the advantage of wind farms is technological advancement in this space. The larger turbines, gearless machines and better mapping of sites have brought cost of generation down,” says Kameswara Rao, leader (energy, utilities, and mining), PwC India.

Coal vs wind
Not everybody agrees. “You cannot depend on wind energy, which is not available around the clock and 365 days in a year. Wind energy can at best be produced only for 4-5 months in a year. During that time also, it can be produced only when the wind speed is high,” says Arvind Gupta, MD, OPG Power Ventures, a coal-based power generation company and the president of Tamil Nadu Power Manufacturers Association. This low capacity utilisation of wind farms is a popular grouse among detractors.

Gupta says that renewable energy cannot match the prices of power plants that are already operating in the county. For instance, companies like Neyveli Lignite Corporation produces power at as low a rate as Rs 1.40 per Kw, and new super critical plants based on imported coal do so at around Rs 2.25. But, those are very old coal-based plants that have been running for many decades, hence allowing them to generate power at a low cost, says PwC’s Rao. According to him, only new thermal stations should be compared to wind farms.

Wind’s hurdles
Yet, wind comes with its share of concerns. P Krishnakumar, managing director, Orient Green Power Company, one of the largest wind energy companies in the country, with an aggregate capacity of around 400 Mw, says that an increase in finance and raw material cost has made life tough for wind energy players. “The installation cost of a farm that can produce 1 Mw of power has increased to around Rs 6 crore from Rs 4.5-5 crore about four-five years ago. This is mainly due to increase in cement and steel prices, finance cost (which is now around 14-16 per cent as compared to 9-12 per cent earlier).”

http://www.business-standard.com/newsimgfiles/2012/august/20082012/082112_26.jpg

For wind to really take off nationwide, Rao says, there needs to be adequate payment security. A lack of incentives has also meant that capacity installed this year is likely to reach only 1,000 Mw, substantially lower than last year’s installed base of 3,000 Mw. Plus, transmission capacity to harness wind power needs to be increased substantially. Also, “states must appreciate that with Renewable Energy Certificate mechanism, they can buy the power component cost-effectively and export this green component to other states. Sometimes, the government does not appreciate this”, says Rao.

cross posting

NABARD to provide subsidy for solar inverters (http://www.energynext.in/nabard-provide-subsidy-solar-inverters/)

In wake of increasing power crisis in India, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has come forward to enable people to go for alternatives in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Amid increasing fossil fuel prices and climate change concerns, renewable energy, especially solar power is seen by the people as the best alternative.

In a bid to promote usage of solar power and help people to combat recurrent power cuts, NABARD is providing 40 per cent subsidy for purchasing solar inverters. Ministry of new and renewable energy’s (MNRE’s) ambitious solar power programme, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), mandates for subsidy for solar lighting and solar PV systems of smaller capacity. Nabard will be the facilitating agency for MNRE for providing this subsidy, and it has already entered into an agreement with Andromedar company.

The cost of installing a solar inverter would be around Rs. 30,000 of which NABARD will be providing 40 per cent of the amount as subsidy. The commercial banks will be providing loans for the 50 per cent of the amount while the remaining amount will be borne by the consumer. Those consumers who own their houses are eligible to apply for the loan to the designated agency.

Andromedar has entered into an agreement with Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikasa Bank which will be providing the loans, and the consumers will have to repay the loan in monthly installments.

^^ Very good initiative by govt.

Offshore wind potential could transform power scene in TN


Tailwinds are spurring on the wind power sector in Tamil Nadu. As is well known, Tamil Nadu is the national champion of wind energy, with 7,055 MW of wind power capacity, or about 40 per cent of all wind power capacity in the entire country. In 2011-12, the wind mills in Tamil Nadu produced 9.7 billion units, accounting for 13 per cent of all the energy fed into the grid. On the basis of this solid foundation, a beautiful edifice of renewable energy is being built in the state.

First, the State is working towards a wind power capacity addition of 6,000 MW by 2017. Indeed, making this happen is a no-brainer. There is a tremendous demand from wind power producers to set up shop in Tamil Nadu, for, unlike what was believed earlier, the onshore potential in the State is far from exhausted. True, the bottleneck today is transmission infrastructure, but it is just a matter of time before that problem is solved.

But the game-changer lies in what is beginning to happen in the seas. The State has a rich offshore wind potential and it is perhaps a recognition of this that the State electricity board’s Chairman Rajeev Ranjan has been appointed the Chairman of a committee that has been formed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to look into the prospects of offshore wind energy in the entire country. “It is evident that offshore wind deployment in Tamil Nadu could become commercially viable despite high costs,” says Mr Ranjan.

It has been estimated that the offshore wind potential off Tamil Nadu coast is as high as 1,27,428 MW. Four companies have submitted proposals for the development of offshore projects in the (range of 500 MW), off the coast of Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari.

The Government of Tamil Nadu has taken special initiatives towards exploring the feasibility for development of coastal wind power projects. The Tamilnadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) is contemplating entrusting C-WET with a study to assess the wind power density on the entire coast of Tamil Nadu.

DEVELOPMENTS ONSHORE

The State Government has asked TEDA to put up wind monitoring masts at several locations. In consultation with the Centre for Wind Energy Technology, a research body under the Government of India, TEDA has just installed and commissioned two 80-m high wind monitoring masts at Ittarai in Erode district and Vellamadam in Tuticorin district. Another will be installed at the hill station of Yercaud shortly. Further, TEDA and C-WET have jointly finalised 10 more locations in various districts where 100-m high wind masts will be put up.

Despite temporary problems with evacuation, the industry is thronging Tamil Nadu to put up wind mills because the economics work out very favourably here. The tariff has just been hiked to Rs 3.51 a unit and given the windy conditions, power producers obviously find it worthwhile to pitch their mills here.

EVACUATION INFRASTRUCTURE

The only problem the industry fears is evacuation and, as said earlier, this problem is getting solved. How?

The present infrastructure can evacuate about 5,000 MW of wind power. “It is necessary to establish dedicated 765/400 kV and 230 kV substations and associated extra high tension lines in Tirunelveli and Udumalpet areas to accommodate the capacity addition of 3,000 MW that is in the pipeline and to further accommodate 10,800 MW under load flow study,” says Mr Ranjan. Accordingly, the government is in the process of setting up 23 dedicated wind farm substations in Tirunelveli area and 16 dedicated wind farm sub stations in Udumalpet area. The government proposes also to establish “regional load despatch centre” exclusively for monitoring and control of wind generation.

The government is also working on a project to implement a 400 kV wind power corridor. This would comprise setting up of three 400 kV substations and 393 km of 400 kV DC line. The cost of this project has been estimated at Rs 1,076.72 crore.

The State-owned electricity generation and distribution utility, TANGEDCO, has approached the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for a grant of Rs 4,160 crore out of the National Clean Energy Fund. The Central Electricity Authority has recommended to the Ministry for the release of Rs 2,752 crore for phase-I and Rs 1,408 cror for phase II.

Clearly, Tamil Nadu is tilting towards the windmills.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/article3840607.ece

It has been estimated that the offshore wind potential off Tamil Nadu coast is as high as 1,27,428 MW

:eek2:

but the article didn't mention about reliability of off-shore winds.

Offshore wind potential could transform power scene in TN




http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/article3840607.ece


There is no Mention about the Dhanushkodi Offshore Windmill , Is that the project is shelved or something...

TN starts implementing solar home lighting programme



The Tamil Nadu Government has commenced the implementation of its ambitious programme to provide solar-powered lights to 300,000 homes in the State.

Work on this has been going on in the last couple of weeks in the Tiruchi district and 60,000 homes would be lighted in the current financial year, Sudeep Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, Tamilnadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA), said today.

(The government intends to do it in phase of 60,000 homes over a five-year period. The first phase was to have been completed in 2011-12, at a cost of Rs 1,080 crore. Under the programme, solar panels would be put up on the roofs measuring 300 sq. ft. Each unit would cost Rs 1.80 lakh. As the programme is meant for rural poor, the entire cost would be to the government.)

Speaking at a conference on the ‘Dependability of REC mechanism, RPO and power trading in solar industry,’ organised here by the Energy and Fuel Users’ Association (ENFUSE), Jain said that the Tamil Nadu government was also implementing another programme to energise 100,000 street lights with solar power, at a cost of Rs 200 crore. ENFUSE is an organisation which is supported by the major oil companies such as ONGC, IOC and CPCL and the conference was sponsored by CPCL.

Both the home light and street light programme are grid-backed, “the first of their kind in the country,” Jain said.

Net metering

Jain said that the Government of Tamil Nadu was also very keen on net-metering. (Net metering enables the rooftop solar plant can put in surplus energy into the grid because it spins the other direction when power is being put into the grid, thereby giving credit to the generator.)

He noted that two pilot net metering projects were on—one in TEDA’s own office building and another at Auroville, Puducherry. He said that when net metering became a reality, rooftop solar plants could do away with the costly and energy-inefficient battery-based storage.

Jain also hoped that just as the prices of solar panels have fallen drastically (from $2.5 a watt in 2009 to around $0.65 a watt now), the prices of inverters would also fall.

He said that the cost of putting up a 1 kW rooftop solar plant had come down from Rs 2.5 lakh a couple of years back to Rs 1.5 lakh and said that if the cost of inverters came down, the overall cost would come down to less than Rs 1 lakh per kW. The rooftop solar movement would take-off then, he said.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/article3844082.ece

^^

:banana:

Thats indeed a fantastic news...

TFS!

[QUOTE=saysenthil;94670736]^^

^^

And once govt puts the solar panels ,free power to houses can be eliminated. Good move by T N govt.

Waiting another ten days to see my power savings due to solar at home...

will be two months by then

Thats cool :cheers:

Keep us posted.

Grid-connected rooftop solar PV pilot projects commissioned at Auroville, Tamil Nadu (http://panchabuta.com/2012/09/02/grid-connected-rooftop-solar-pv-pilot-projects-commissioned-at-auroville-tamil-nadu/)

Two grid connected rooftop solar PV installations of 2 kW (on the roof of Ilaignarkal Education Centre, Auroville) and of 1.7 kW (on the roof of a residential building) were commissioned today in Auroville (Villupuram District). Both installations form part of a pilot program in which the performance of a total of four grid-connected rooftop solar PV installations will be studied. In addition to a total of three pilots in Auroville there is a pilot installation of 4kW on the roof of the TEDA office in Chennai.

The pilot projects are a collaborative effort of State Planning Commission, TEDA, TANGEDCO and Auroville to demonstrate the technical viability of grid-interactive rooftop solar systems. The grid-connected rooftop solar has no land requirement, can be connected to the existing electrical infrastructure of the building – no requirement of new dedicated evacuation lines, avoids distribution losses as most of the energy generated by the solar panels on the roof will be consumed within the building, among other advantages.

http://panchabuta.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/120902-commisisoning-of-grid-connected-spv-in-02sep12-1.jpg?w=450&h=302
Commisisoning of grid-connected Solar PV Auroville, Tamil Nadu

http://panchabuta.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/120902-commisisoning-of-grid-connected-spv-in-02sep12-41.jpg?w=441&h=296
Net Metering Room at Auroville Solar Plant

Auroville in Villupuram District has been active in the field of sustainable development in general and renewable energy in particular since more than 30 years and is therefore an ideal place to carry out these pilot studies. The funding for the pilot projects in Auroville has been provided by Auroville.

TANGEDCO provides grid access through the existing low tension service connections of the buildings where the rooftop solar systems are located. An additional meter has been provided by TANGEDCO to record the energy that is exported to the grid for study purposes. At a later stage during the pilot study the separate import and export meters will be replaced with a single bidirectional energy meter that can measure both the import and export of energy. The sizes of the two solar systems have been selected such that most of the energy will be absorbed in the two buildings. The primary purpose of the pilot installations is to demonstrate the technical viability of grid connected rooftop solar PV.

The two systems were commissioned in the presence of Mr. N. Bala Baskar IAS (retd.), Secretary, Auroville Foundation, Mr. Sudeep Jain IAS, Chairman and Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) , Mr Toine van Megen, Co-Founder, Auroville Consulting, Mr. R. Srinivasan, Executive Engineer (O&M), TANGEDCO, other senior officers of TANGEDCO, Mr. Vineeth Vijayaraghavan, Panchabuta, participants of the just concluded Auroville Green Practices seminar, staff and students of Auroville’s Ilaignarkal Education Centre, residents of Auroville and many others who were keen to witness this unique event.

Commenting on the event, Mr. Toine van Megen, Co-Founder of Auroville Consulting said: “We are very happy to do these pilot projects in Auroville in collaboration with the State Planning Commission, TEDA and TANGEDCO. We feel confident that these pilots will contribute to large scale implementation of grid-interactive rooftop solar PV in Tamil Nadu. With grid-interactive rooftop solar, the consumer can become a producer who contributes to a sustainable energy future.”

^^ Good initiative by the government.

For those who do not know this.

Auroville is not in Pondy UT. It is in TN. The Aurobindo Ashram is within the Pondy city/ town.

^^ Yes belongs to Villupuram dist

Grid-connected rooftop solar PV pilot projects commissioned at Auroville, Tamil Nadu (http://panchabuta.com/2012/09/02/grid-connected-rooftop-solar-pv-pilot-projects-commissioned-at-auroville-tamil-nadu/)

The grid-connected rooftop solar has no land requirement, can be connected to the existing electrical infrastructure of the building – no requirement of new dedicated evacuation lines, avoids distribution losses as most of the energy generated by the solar panels on the roof will be consumed within the building, among other advantages.


Can someone please tell whether it is possible to send and receive electricity through our existing distribution line(EB pole to our house), or is it a technical mistake by a reporter? I thought, we have to change our existing distribution infrastructure to implement FIT/net metering...

As per the existing domestic / LT system, we can only receive from the state grid and you can not supply to the grid.

We need an agreement with TANGEDCO for supplying. You also need additional infra like transformers, meters etc. May not be possible for small quantities.

As per the existing domestic / LT system, we can only receive from the state grid and you can not supply to the grid.

We need an agreement with TANGEDCO for supplying. You also need additional infra like transformers, meters etc. May not be possible for small quantities.

My happiness is short-lived. :ohno:

Hi friends,

i'm new to this thread and read the posts. nice. the main issue for solar plants is the land, we need enormous land. for this we can use the highways. now a days v r having six lane road in major highways through out India. we can install solar panels in highways at certain elevation, which never hinder vehicle traffic. for every certain kilometers we can have power plants. by this we can utilise the land available in highways. this will also act as roof so that two wheelers can drive even in rain. please correct me if am wrong.

But one issue in non conventional energy is they r not perinial sources for power. all r seasonal and location dependent. the only non conventional energy resource which is perinial is biomass based power plants, where biomass such as rice husk, coconut hust, bagase can be used for boiler firing to generate power. now a days problem comes for this also, as v all r converting agri land in to residential plots.

practically, we have faced problem in biomass projects also. example in AP govt. has given more than 140 license for 6 MW biomass plants during the year 1999-2000. but fuel availability became crisis and most of power plant owners had sold their plants and many r in shut down condition. this because of manual error only and not because of govt. policies.

non conventional energy also helps in other ways, we can get carbon credit for that. pollution is getting controled by no toxic emissions. also the projects r getting 5 yrs IT holiday. govt. is also encouraging by providing ED/ST ememptions for the equipments purchased for this purpose.

biomass projects r helping promoters to earn income even from the ash produced. the ash can be used for brick manufacturing/ manure for agriculture. by that also ash can be converted in to money.

Kiran Energy plans solar farms in TN, Karnataka (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3862540.ece?ref=wl_opinion)

Kiran Energy Solar Power Pvt Ltd intends to put up a 50 MW solar farm in Tuticorin in southern Tamil Nadu, Ardeshir Contractor, Managing Director & CEO told Business Line on Tuesday. He said that the power would be sold to industrial consumers in Chennai.

Kiran Energy is a solar power developer that has been funded by private equity funds such as Bessemer Venture Partners and Skype Technologies. Also, a joint venture of Kiran and the automobile major, Mahindra & Mahindra, called Mahindra Solar One, recently secured $ 57 million loan from the US Exim Bank for one of its projects.

Kiran and Mahindra Solar One were among the project awardees under the Batch II round of bidding of the first phase of the National Solar Mission. They respectively won 20 MW and 30 MW. Both the projects, according to Contractor, are on track to completion by March 31, 2013.

But now, Kiran Energy is focussed on bilateral deals—selling electricity to the (industrial or commercial) consumers. He said that there was a big demand for power from industrial houses in Chennai, so much so, Kiran could even put up a 100 MW plant to cater to them.

Land for the project is being acquired. (Typically, a 1 MW solar plant would require 5 acres of land.)

Cont...

^^ News on Solar farms in TN after so long :cheers:

cross posting from Erode Topic. Thanks to Vijai.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=94827003&postcount=804
சென்னிமலை: குறைந்த அளவு காற்று வீசினாலும், அதிகளவில் மின்சாரம் உற்பத்தி செய்யும் புதிய காற்றாலையை, சென்னிமலையை சேர்ந்த விஞ்ஞானி உருவாக்கி உள்ளார்.
ஈரோடு மாவட்டம், சென்னிமலையை சேர்ந்தவர் சுப்பிரமணியம், 44. பைக் மெக்கானிக்கான இவர், ஈரோடு கொங்கு பாலிடெக்னிக் கல்லூரி, ஆட்டோ மொபைல்ஸ் சோதனைக் கூடத்தில் மாணவர்களுக்கு வழிகாட்டியாக செயல்படுகிறார். பல நூல்களையும் எழுதியுள்ளார்.மெட்ரிக் கடிகாரம், பெட்ரோல் சிக்கன இன்ஜின், தானியங்கி சாண எரிவாயு கலன், வார காலண்டர்... என, பல கண்டுபிடிப்புகளை உருவாக்கியுள்ளார். இவர் வடிவமைத்த பெட்ரோல் சிக்கன இன்ஜினுக்கு, 2001ல் "தமிழ்நாடு விஞ்ஞானி' விருதும், அதே கண்டுபிடிப்புக்கு, 2005ல், தேசிய விருதும் கிடைத்தது.அந்த வரிசையில் தற்போது, எந்த திசையில் காற்று வீசினாலும் எளிதில் சுழன்று அதிகளவில் மின்சாரம் உற்பத்தி செய்யும் புதிய காற்றாலை இயந்திரத்தை சுப்பிரமணியம் வடிவமைத்துள்ளார்.
அவர் கூறியதாவது:இக்கருவியின் நான்கு இறக்கைகளையும், ஆங்கில "வி' எழுத்தின் வடிவத்தில் அமைத்துள்ளேன். இதன் இறக்கைகளை தேவைக்கேற்ப, இடத்துக்கேற்ப நீளமாக தயாரித்துக் கொள்ளலாம். நான்கு இறக்கைகளின் மேல், ஒன்றின் மீது ஒன்று என, தேவைக்கேற்ப அதிகமாக இறக்கைகளை பொருத்தி அதிக மின் உற்பத்தி பெற முடியும்."வி' வடிவத்தில் உள்ள ஒரு இறக்கைக்கும், அதற்கு மேல் பொருத்தப்படும் அடுத்த இறக்கைக்கும் இடையில், சிறிய இடைவெறி இருக்கும். இதனால் ஒரு பக்கத்தில் உள்ள இறக்கைகளை காற்று பலமாக தள்ளும்போது, அதன் எதிர்ப்புறம் இறக்கைகளுக்கு இடையே உள்ள இடைவெளியில் காற்று மிக எளிதாக ஊடுருவி வெளியேறி விடும். அதனால், தடையில்லாமல் இறக்கை சுழலும். அந்த வகையில் இக்கருவி மிக எளிமையாக, சாதாரண மக்களும் புரியும் மெக்கானிசத்தை கொண்டது.எந்த திசையில் இருந்து காற்று வீசினாலும் இக்கருவி சுழலும் வகையில் வடிவமைத்துள்ளேன். இதனால், ஆண்டு முழுவதும் மின் உற்பத்தி செய்யும் வாய்ப்பு உள்ளது. இந்த கருவியை வீட்டின் மேல் மாடியில் சிறிய அளவில் வைத்துக் கொள்ளவும், வியாபார ரீதியாகவும் மின் உற்பத்தி செய்ய முடியும்.இவ்வாறு சுப்பிரமணியம் கூறினார்.

Will TN government show any interest to see whether there is any possibale way to utilize this invention? So that we can do something to reduce the electricity scarcity instead of fighting with Central. We have lots of minds coming up with excellent inventions but government is not even considering those. TN can make a big difference among other states if these ideas/innovations are utilized.

There was one more invention which I read some time ago,

His idea was to place small wind mills all along the railway tracks, so whenever the train moves faster , the huge wind it pushes can be used to run turbine and can indirectly used for railways itself.

TN wind industry gets a boost as regulator hikes average purchase cost


The wind industry in Tamil Nadu received a much-needed booster dose today as the state’s electricity regulatory commission announced the revision of the ‘average pooled purchase cost’ to Rs 2.54 per unit. This is a 7.17 per cent hike over the previous APPC price of Rs 2.39 a unit, which ceases from today.

In its order today, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission said that the new APPC of Rs 2.54 a unit would “remain in force even beyond March 31, 2013, if no new rate (of APPC) is notified by 31.03.2013.”

The ‘average pooled purchase price’, as the name suggests, is the weighted average price at which an electricity distribution company buys power from various sources. The APPC is notified by the state electricity regulatory commissions.

REC regime

Under the ‘Renewable Energy Certificate’ regime, companies that produce power from renewable sources (wind, biomass, solar, small hydro) have three options to sell their power. They could sell the power to the electricity distribution companies at a ‘preferential tariff’, (which, in Tamil Nadu, has just been hiked to Rs 3.51 a unit). They could sell it to the distribution companies at the notified ‘average pooled purchase cost’ and get tradeable renewable energy certificates and make money by selling them on the power exchanges. This is the ‘APPC+REC’ model. The third option is to sell power to consumers directly, either in the open market or by making the consumers shareholders in special purpose vehicles that own the power projects—the ‘Captive+REC’ model.

Tamil Nadu has a wind power capacity of around 7,000 MW. Wind power companies have preferred either the ‘preferential tariff’ route, or the ‘captive+REC’ route. The capacity under ‘APPC+REC’ route has not been much. It has to be seen whether the hike announced today attracts renewable energy companies to take to APPC.

Industry welcomes hike

But the industry has viewed today’s hike more as a positive indication than as an instrument of change. K. Krishnakumar, Managing Director, Orient Green Power, said that while he welcomed the hike, he expected “at least Rs 2.75.”

Vishal Pandya, Director, REConnect, a consultancy that helps companies secure and trade RECs, said that it was a “positive indication”, especially against the backdrop of the prices of RECs declining.

A sore point with the industry has been that in calculating the APPC, the regulators do not take into account the cost of purchase electricity from all the sources. The high-cost, liquid fuel-based power purchases, which would increase the average purchase price, are not taken into the calculation. The industry has taken the matter to the courts.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/article3865802.ece

மனம் உள்ளோர்க்கு / பணம் படைத்தோருக்கு ஒரு தாழ்மையான
வேண்டு கோள், தயவு செய்து தங்களது வீடுகளில் Solar Energy System வைத்து மின்னுற்பத்தி செய்யவும். அது நாட்டுக்கும் நல்லது, வீட்டுக்கும் நல்லது

ஒரு வீட்டிற்கு Solar Energy System அமைக்க ஆகும் செலவு வெறும் 2 இலட்சம் மட்டுமே

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/283057_365499073524772_1981927080_n.jpg

Source: FB

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/article3889020.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home


All but one of the 28 companies that won solar photo voltaic projects in the second round of bidding under the National Solar Mission have achieved financial closure, the nodal agency for the programme, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVN) disclosed on Wednesday.

The projects that will be put up by these companies will add up to 340 MW, which is a respectable capacity in the solar power sector. Roughly, Rs 3,000 crore will be invested in these projects.

Only one company – Sujana Towers – that had won a 10 MW project, and incidentally, the only project in Tamil Nadu, does not figure in the list of projects that have completed financial closure. No reason has been given.
:gaah:

These 340 MW worth of projects were won by these 27 companies last December in a tendering process of the Government of India, through the public sector NVVN. These companies had bid for projects of the size of their choice and the award was made on the basis of the price at which they offered to sell the power they would generate to NVVN.

JNNSM is the next Scam to be unearthed.

Many companies who did not have any experience in Power / Solar or Infra have got the licenses.

Probably we all will reconcile to the fact that Oru Naalku Oru Scam under this Govt.

Money saved close to Rs 3800.

Solar worked for 52 days in the sixty day billing cycle.It really works guys and I hope that many in this forum will go for it.

If I had LED lights instead of CFL s and tubelights it would have been much better.

I m little keen about the biodigester mentioned in the forum.Can we keep in the terrace ? Kannan sir please help. LPG shocks announced by govt.

Money saved close to Rs 3800.

Solar worked for 52 days in the sixty day billing cycle.It really works guys and I hope that many in this forum will go for it.

If I had LED lights instead of CFL s and tubelights it would have been much better.

I m little keen about the biodigester mentioned in the forum.Can we keep in the terrace ? Kannan sir please help. LPG shocks announced by govt.


@ Bio Digesters:

Please contact

A. Parthasarathy 9176650001,
Dr Rinku Verma 09880101975,
S. Radhakrishnan 9841023448
Sai Jayapalan 9841019582.

LED lights seem harsher to eyes compared to CFL. But their consumption vs Lux is very low.

LED lights seem harsher to eyes compared to CFL. But their consumption vs Lux is very low.

Biggies like Philips of the world have already invested more in CFL, hence they are slow to push LED, which is more efficient. I read somewhere that there are more efficient bulbs, but the cost of production (thanks to the market and govt policies), they will come later as next gen.. wish they speed it up like iphone 5 ;)

Money saved close to Rs 3800.

Solar worked for 52 days in the sixty day billing cycle.It really works guys and I hope that many in this forum will go for it.

If I had LED lights instead of CFL s and tubelights it would have been much better.

I m little keen about the biodigester mentioned in the forum.Can we keep in the terrace ? Kannan sir please help. LPG shocks announced by govt.

Thats quite frankly very good. Also, you have some electricity for fans and lights when everyone else is powerless in the sweltering heat. I am also seriously considering solar power and I am planning to install within this year.

@Kannan: Thanks for the links. We are also contemplating biodigester not so much for the cost but because of the constant fleecing by the LPG agency guys.

JNNSM is the next Scam to be unearthed.

Many companies who did not have any experience in Power / Solar or Infra have got the licenses.

Could you please tell how there could be a scam when there is reverse bidding. Even if they are a new entrant, most of them did well and the ones that did not do well were warned/fined, or something like that. I read this news some weeks/months back.


Probably we all will reconcile to the fact that Oru Naalku Oru Scam under this Govt.
^^ Correct :( . Thanks to CAG and a vigilant media.

Money saved close to Rs 3800.

Solar worked for 52 days in the sixty day billing cycle.It really works guys and I hope that many in this forum will go for it.

If I had LED lights instead of CFL s and tubelights it would have been much better.

I m little keen about the biodigester mentioned in the forum.Can we keep in the terrace ? Kannan sir please help. LPG shocks announced by govt.

Mukkesh, I was eagerly awaiting your report. Thanks. :)

Generation of Power under JNNSM (https://adsprojects.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/generation-of-power-under-jnnsm/)

India has separated targets for 2013 1100MW of grid connected & 20,000 MW by 2022 under the JNNSM, this information was given in written by Dr. Farooq Abdulla the Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy in Rajya Sabha, and the total investment may be approximately $ 40 billion for 20,000 MW of solar power projects.

205340.26 MW is the current installed generation capacity of India which includes


24832.68 MW generated through renewable energy sources.
JNNSM aims at achieving 20,000 MW by 2022 thereby it will then constitute one-tenth of India’s current installed power base.
The total installed capacity in the country is likely to be more than 400 GW by 2022.
Installed solar capacity then would be one-twentieth of the then India’s total installed capacity.
The share of renewable and particularly solar in country’s energy mix would keep increasing and would certainly help in limiting reliance on coal and easing the power deficit.
1030 MW of solar power projects have been commissioned and connected to grid against a target of 1100 MW of grid connected solar power by 2013, and these are under both Central and State initiatives according to theThe Minister .

Followings are the steps which are to be taken and the issues to be handled for the completion of the target and projects under the JNNSM by the Govt. & other respected departments


like up gradation of transmission network,
availability of unallocated power for bundling,
delay in payment by DISCOMS,
Weak State Nodal Agencies are being focused on.
A transmission network up gradation plan has been prepared by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited.
Ministry of Power has been requested for giving unallocated power.
Payments from DISCOMS are being monitored continuously and States are being requested to upgrade Nodal Agencies.


All the above information tells us that there are serious steps which are to taken seriously for this growing industry to flourish and for the India to be a Major Player in the field of renewable energy.

:cheers:

Could you please tell how there could be a scam when there is reverse bidding. Even if they are a new entrant, most of them did well and the ones that did not do well were warned/fined, or something like that. I read this news some weeks/months back.


^^ Correct :( . Thanks to CAG and a vigilant media.

Let us finish the hot topic of FDI in Retail and then come to tjhis.

Please wait with your ammunition. :lol:

Let us finish the hot topic of FDI in Retail and then come to tjhis.

Please wait with your ammunition. :lol:

:lol:

Pilot project to replace electric bulbs with LED lights


The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday proposed to take up a pilot project in Tirupur and Thanjavur zones to replace power-consuming conventional electrical bulbs with the more energy-efficient LED lights, covering 145 local bodies as part of the effort.

This is in continuance of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's directions to replace bulbs with the LEDs and ensure lower power consumption, better and efficient management of streetlights, a state government release here said.

Accordingly, the project will be taken up in 2012-13 in 145 local bodies, including nine corporations in Tirupur and Thanjavur zones and four technical panels and high-powered committees would be formed for this purpose, it said.

The project would be implemented with the participation of private players, it added.

She further announced a government subsidy of Rs 26 crore towards constructing new buildings for 10 municipalities across the state.


http://zeenews.india.com/news/tamil-nadu/pilot-project-to-replace-electric-bulbs-with-led-lights_801283.html

http://imageshack.us/a/img545/1952/screenshot1xa.png

Source (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/large-industries-to-go-green-in-a-small-way-soon/article3933854.ece)

with 14-15 power cuts. If the SG and the banks agree to lend money for Roof top solar plants at interest rates of 2-3 % . Many people will be ready to install them to get some relief.

I am puzzled why no roof top solar system are not capitalazing on the oppurtunity. Most of the people dont have the visibility of this system.

^^^Still 14-15 hour cuts today in TN?

NuPower Renewables gets Rs.750 cr PNB funding (http://www.livemint.com/Companies/r6nyBuw73Z3AA1kLw3sMFK/NuPower-Renewables-gets-Rs-750-cr-PNB-funding.html)

The firm plans to use the money to implement a 150 MW wind power project in Tamil Nadu



Mumbai: NuPower Renewables Ltd , a Mumbai-based wind energy firm, has raised Rs. 750 crore via a 12-year term loan from Punjab National Bank ( PNB ), according to two persons with direct knowledge of the issue but who declined to be named.

The firm, jointly promoted by Deepak Kochhar and Mumbai-based Supreme Energy Pvt. Ltd , plans to use the money to implement a 150 megawatts (MW) wind power project in Tamil Nadu and expand its capacity.

A spokesman for NuPower, Umanath Nayak, said the company is still in discussions with PNB to finalize the interest rate, but one of the persons cited above said, “PNB is the main underwriter for the loan and the interest rate is around 14.75% per annum.”
He added that the company raised the loan considering a set-up cost of Rs.7.5 crore per MW, though analysts say the cost for setting up a wind power project typically is Rs.5-6 crore per MW.

Ratings agency CARE assigned a “BBB” rating for NuPower’s long-term loans, citing a favourable policy environment for the renewable energy sector and the implementation of partial capacity that reduces project risk. Of the total capacity of 150MW that
NuPower plans to install in Tamil Nadu, 48MW has been commissioned already, CARE said in a report in May.

NuPower has wind farms in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Rajasthan. Set up in 2008, it has an overall power generation capacity of 150MW now, Nayak said.

The firm produces power for sale to end-users. The government allows such private firms to produce electricity independently in an effort to increase the power production in the country.

Overall power production in India was 205.34 gigawatts as on 30 June, according to the Central Electricity Authority.

A couple of months ago, NuPower raised about Rs.300 crore through a stake sale to a private equity (PE) investor. “The company shall seek additional equity as and when the need arises,” Nayak said but declined to name the PE investor. “NuPower plans to have total installed capacity of 1,000MW in the medium term,” he said.

According to the unnamed persons mentioned earlier, the firm is also considering a technical partnership with a German firm for turbine manufacturing.NuPower declined to divulge details on this.

In India, a majority of the wind power projects are in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. While analysts say power projects fired by renewable resources are growing in number, thermal power continues to contribute to about 66% of the country’s power production.
Analysts say it is difficult for wind energy companies to raise even small sums as investors are hesitant about the revenue stream of these companies as they have tie-ups with ailing state electricity boards. Considering the poor investor appetite for this sector, the amount raised by NuPower is substantial.

“Although India has a huge potential for generating power through renewable energy sources, as on date, the generation of power from renewable energy sources forms a small percentage of the total energy production,” said Archana Hingorani, chief executive and executive director, IL&FS private equity.

Investors are more agreeable to put money in companies that generate power using a mix of traditional and renewable energy resources, she explained.

The revenue stream and seasonal nature of the business also affects investor sentiment. “The revenue stream can be affected due to payments getting stuck with state electricity boards. The tariff structure is also not uniform across states,” said V. Srinivasan, power sector analyst at Angel Broking Ltd.

The wind direction changes seasonally, which can effect power production adversely, he added.

Quite a few wind energy firms have been seeking funds from PEs. ReGen Powertech Pvt. Ltd, a Chennai-based wind turbine manufacturer, raised about Rs.52 crore from TVS Capital and M-Cap Advisors in May.

The Hindu-Business Line and The Economic Times reported that International Finance Corp., the financing arm of the World Bank, was looking to invest about $130 million in Noida-based Inox Renewables Ltd, which has wind power projects in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

[QUOTE=thillai_selvan;95780864]http://imageshack.us/a/img545/1952/screenshot1xa.png

Good move.Should be done fast.

If people can buy a flat for one crore,why can't they invest three lakhs for solar power .

All private engineering colleges and medical colleges should have at least 30 kw plant in their campus .

IT companies and manufacturing industries should be having a unit of their own .

Govt should install solar plants in all their own buildings.

Roof top plants if properly planned can generate a lot of energy.

Now ,I m seeing the advantages so much, it s high time the govt makes it mandatory for all new flats and commercial buildings.

Could you please tell how there could be a scam when there is reverse bidding. Even if they are a new entrant, most of them did well and the ones that did not do well were warned/fined, or something like that. I read this news some weeks/months back.


^^ Correct :( . Thanks to CAG and a vigilant media.

There is a term called Project Estimation where Business Cartel will happen and the Suppliers will be involved, the Department can influence the Technical specification in favour of certain companies (Who are part of the pre-bid support) and technically / commercially disqualify the others. End of the Reverse auction the Business Cartel Companies will get more or less equal share of business.

In the ongoing freebie schemes of Mixer Grinders etc. The Bidder has to necessarily consider the bribe per Piece and add up to the Quote, then finally the one who quotes lower gets the contract. (I was told 200Rs per Piece to be given to the MLA of the respective constituency by the manufacturer along with the delivery)

So Bribe amount first ae namba thalaila kattiduvaanga boss.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3935133.ece

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd intends to set up a 5 MW solar power plant in its boiler auxiliary plant complex at Ranipet near Chennai.

The public sector power equipment major is setting up the plant for captive consumption of electricity the plant would produce, an official of BHEL said here today.

The official disclosed this while answering a question of K. Venugopal, Member, Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission, at an interaction organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry for spreading awareness on REC/RPO mechanism.

He wanted to know whether the solar plant would be eligible for both ‘renewable energy certificates’ and carbon credits. (It was clarified that it is.)

At Ranipet, BHEL has a sprawling complex of 163 acres. A 5 MW photo voltaic solar plant, based on crystalline silicon technology, would need about 25 acres. Land, therefore, is no issue for BHEL.

Wind has again started to pickup. :cheers:
http://tnebldc.org/reports/2012/250912/peakdet.pdf

Kudankulam's windmills produce more than nuclear plant (http://www.energycentral.com/news/en/26152535/Kudankulam-s-windmills-produce-more-than-nuclear-plant)

Not far from the agitation against the nuclear power plant, thousands of windmills around Kudankulam are calmly rotating to produce power -- drawing from nature.

The combined capacity of wind turbines on the 120km stretch from Kanyakumari to Tuticorin -- where the anti-nuclear plant protests are centred -- is much more than -- some estimates say nearly double -- the 2,000MW capacity of the two reactors being commissioned at Kudankulam.
The corridor with its ideal geography between sea and hills and winds from advancing and receding monsoons is the hub of wind energy form the country's highest concentration of windmills.

"New high energy turbines producing between 1.2MW to 2.1MW each have taken the power output in this stretch beyond 3,000MW," said S Gomathinayagam, executive director of the central government-run Centre for Wind Energy Technology.

Even scientists who planned the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) saw the benefits of wind energy. Eight wind turbines are installed at the KNPP with a total capacity of 10MW.

The nationwide installed capacity of wind turbines is 17,400MW and Tamil Nadu with 7,000MW tops the wind energy sector in the country. Wind energy contributes about 40% of power in the state during the peak season.
Experts list the advantages wind-energy has over other sources like freedom from fuel dependence on other nations.

"While many coal deposits remain unexploited, nuclear energy is expensive and has long gestation periods. Wind provides a new energy alternative, coming as cheap as Rs. 3.50 per unit," said a sector specialist.

Nuclear energy costs about Rs. 4 per unit, though the government claims that the per-unit cost of power from the KNPP would be Rs. 2.50. Though wind rescues Tamil Nadu from shortages during peak seasons, its seasonal variance is a major drawback for production of the same output throughout the year.

^^^Still 14-15 hour cuts today in TN?

I am not sure about this 14-15 Hr power cuts.

Last week - I experienced around 8 hrs of power cut in deep rural TN (Sivagangai district).

It was not suprising to see that meal mess, ice cream & milk shops are using inverters to run their business but i also saw that many small grocery shops & tea shops have started using Inverters.

^^ Thanx ThoughtomatioN , I believe this week it has come down

Tax cut likely for biogas households in Kerala (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/article3961503.ece)

The State government would explore the option of reducing building tax for households with biogas plants. Speaking to newspersons here after commissioning a biogas plant in the backyard of Cliff House, his official residence, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy stressed the need for encouraging decentralised waste management plants in the State. The Rs 28,000-plant at Cliff House was set up by Biotech, the city-based centre for development of biogas technology. It works on bacteria culture, and can treat up to 5 kg of degradable waste and 20 litres of waste water.

^^ Similar scheme could be implemented in TN also. :cheers:

Wind blows off relief as power cuts return


The short spell of relief from unscheduled load shedding that the southern districts experienced for the past three days has come to an end as the power generation from wind mills, which enabled the authorities to provide relief, has begun to decline again.



Sources in Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO), Madurai Region, told The Hindu on Thursday that in the absence of rains during this monsoon season, the power authorities had limited options for providing constant relief to the consumers. Heavy rains reduce power demand as farmers reduce the use of heavy motors and domestic consumers switch off energy-intensive air-conditioners.



While wind power could be used as a supplemental source of power, it cannot be the mainstay behind the power distribution strategy as it was inherently volatile. This instability, the official said, was the reason TANGEDCO was unable to restrict load shedding to any pattern or fixed hours.



The TANGEDCO Madurai Region comprises the five southern districts of Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram.



Wind season

According to data from Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation (TANTRANSCO), the sister entity of TANGEDCO, the power consumed from wind mills rose from 36.415 million units (MU) on September 29 to 63.594 MU on September 30, fell slightly to 56.74 MU and again rose to 60.713 MU on October 2.



This sudden increase in power generation from wind mills, officials said, was unexpected as the wind season begins in May and ends in early weeks of September. This unseasonal spike in power generation has already begun to decline, and as on October 3, the power consumption from wind mills declined to 55.773 MU. The power generation on the morning hours of October 4 from wind mills was only 880 MW while it had to be in the range of 2,500 MW to 3,000 MW to enable TANGEDCO to provide relief to consumers.



The power savings obtained by TANGEDCO through resorting to load shedding fell sharply from 41.422 MU on September 29 to 8.989 MU on September 30 and just 3.38 MU on October 2. However, it has begun to increase again touching 22.43 MU on October 3, indicating that TANGEDCO was stepping up the load shedding to compensate for the deceased power generation from wind mills.



Traders meeting

Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (MADITSSIA) president V. S Manimaran said that a meeting of 35 affiliated associations had been called on Monday to discuss the issue of power cuts.
“Tamil Nadu produces 6,500 MW now with the rest coming from wind mills and private power plants. Of this, Chennai alone consumes 2,600 MW, more than one-third. The Government must increase power cuts in the capital to provide relief to rest of the State.”



As on August 31, Tamil Nadu continues to occupy the first place in the country in harnessing wind energy with a total installed capacity of 7,111.675 MW, accounting for 40 per cent of India’s total capacity of 17,655.35 MW. During the wind season, wind power contributes around 3,500 MW, which helps TANGEDCO immensely to meet the State’s peak demand that exceeds 11,000 MW.



http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/wind-blows-off-relief-as-power-cuts-return/article3967951.ece

Kudankulam's windmills produce more than nuclear plant (http://www.energycentral.com/news/en/26152535/Kudankulam-s-windmills-produce-more-than-nuclear-plant)

Not far from the agitation against the nuclear power plant, thousands of windmills around Kudankulam are calmly rotating to produce power -- drawing from nature.

The combined capacity of wind turbines on the 120km stretch from Kanyakumari to Tuticorin -- where the anti-nuclear plant protests are centred -- is much more than -- some estimates say nearly double -- the 2,000MW capacity of the two reactors being commissioned at Kudankulam.
The corridor with its ideal geography between sea and hills and winds from advancing and receding monsoons is the hub of wind energy form the country's highest concentration of windmills.

"New high energy turbines producing between 1.2MW to 2.1MW each have taken the power output in this stretch beyond 3,000MW," said S Gomathinayagam, executive director of the central government-run Centre for Wind Energy Technology.

Even scientists who planned the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) saw the benefits of wind energy. Eight wind turbines are installed at the KNPP with a total capacity of 10MW.

The nationwide installed capacity of wind turbines is 17,400MW and Tamil Nadu with 7,000MW tops the wind energy sector in the country. Wind energy contributes about 40% of power in the state during the peak season.
Experts list the advantages wind-energy has over other sources like freedom from fuel dependence on other nations.

"While many coal deposits remain unexploited, nuclear energy is expensive and has long gestation periods. Wind provides a new energy alternative, coming as cheap as Rs. 3.50 per unit," said a sector specialist.

Nuclear energy costs about Rs. 4 per unit, though the government claims that the per-unit cost of power from the KNPP would be Rs. 2.50. Though wind rescues Tamil Nadu from shortages during peak seasons, its seasonal variance is a major drawback for production of the same output throughout the year.

Yes I went thru that stretch many times to go to KKNPP from tiruchendur.Its completely dry arid land.Why can't they set up solar panels in space between windmills and generate solarpower and distribute when the wind is low and thus windmills are unable to rotate and generate power.It requires 5 acres to generate one MW of solar power.One sqKm covers 1024 acres and can accomodate solar panels to generate 205 MW of power.In 15 sqkm area about 3000MWs can be generated.For setting up solar power plants availability of dry infertile land and good sunshine for longer period of the year are essential and this stretch is ideal for that.

^^ each MW would cost around Rs. 7 crores. Plus the PLF of would be only around 30% ( average for the year or may be little more). So it's question of who wants to invest so much. Nevertheless, solar power should be encouraged.

^^ each MW would cost around Rs. 7 crores. Plus the PLF of would be only around 30% ( average for the year or may be little more). So it's question of who wants to invest so much. Nevertheless, solar power should be encouraged.

Plant load factor for solar panel is 15-19% only. govt should not waste huge money on this. tangedco should concentrate on thermal energy projects.

Yes I went thru that stretch many times to go to KKNPP from tiruchendur.Its completely dry arid land.Why can't they set up solar panels in space between windmills and generate solarpower and distribute when the wind is low and thus windmills are unable to rotate and generate power.It requires 5 acres to generate one MW of solar power.One sqKm covers 1024 acres and can accomodate solar panels to generate 205 MW of power.In 15 sqkm area about 3000MWs can be generated.For setting up solar power plants availability of dry infertile land and good sunshine for longer period of the year are essential and this stretch is ideal for that.

^^ I also had a similar thought in my mind. When I asked a person working for many years in windfarm, he said, placing solar panels between windmills would be a hindrance for maintenance to wind mills, coz trucks with heavy machinery would be required. But, I'm not very sure whether the entire area around a windmill would be required for maintenance purpose. :?

^^ each MW would cost around Rs. 7 crores. Plus the PLF of would be only around 30% ( average for the year or may be little more). So it's question of who wants to invest so much. Nevertheless, solar power should be encouraged.

^^ IMO, there will be many people willing to invest. Coz, evacuation infra would be ready to transfer power from KKNPP. Same can be utilized for this. Charanka (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarat_Solar_Park#Charanka_Solar_Park) was successfull coz proper evacuation infra was in place. If I am not wrong, there would be a buffer zone around any nuclear plant where people will not be allowed to live. That place could also be utilized for solar plants.

Plant load factor for solar panel is 15-19% only. govt should not waste huge money on this. tangedco should concentrate on thermal energy projects.

^^ IMO, govt is not going to waste money in this. Evacuation infra would already be there. So, if we allot available lands with auction, pvt companies would invest, just like how JNNSM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawaharlal_Nehru_National_Solar_Mission) works.

Even if PLF is low, we can safely believe on pvt companies in solar, than expecting tangedco to perform.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/dynamic/01232/BL10_TAN_CII_1232684f.jpg
Pradipta K Mohapatra (left), Past Chairman, CII Southern Region; David Wootton, Mayor of London; and Mike Nithavrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai, at a UK-India Partnership meet, in Chennai on Tuesday. — Photo: Bijoy Ghosh

Chennai, Oct. 9:

A study funded by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office will suggest fiscal incentives that State Governments can adopt to enable environment-friendly industrial development.

The study, to be finalised by the year-end, suggests a slew of fiscal instruments that Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Odisha can use to reduce carbon emissions while promoting industrial growth. These three States have been selected for their aggressive plans in industrial development.

The study, presented today in the presence of David Wootton, Mayor of the City of London, by Professor K.R. Shanmugam, Director, Madras School of Economics, has shortlisted seven fiscal instruments that West Bengal and Orissa could adopt and four in Tamil Nadu. A key feature of these schemes is that they do not represent any expenditure for the governments but provide support by industries.

For West Bengal and Odisha, the study suggests measures such as low carbon refunding schemes for power sector, industry and waste management, where environment-friendly projects such as renewable energy are supported by conventional industry; grants and funds; incentives for renewable energy, including waste heat recovery and for green buildings.

In Tamil Nadu, the study suggests a green cess on conventional power generation and power consumers that could be used to fund renewable energy projects, support to cement industries to set up equipment in their kilns to burn – coprocess – waste, tax incentives for green buildings and to the transportation sector to encourage alternative fuels.

Wootton said there is a strong “environmental, moral and business case to bring down carbon emissions.” The price of oil will see an inexorable rise over the next decade. To remain competitive, economies will have to increase efficiency and invest in renewable technologies and sustainable growth. Multilateral agreements will be needed to deliver real change.

London has a key role to play with its expertise in practical market experience. The city is a leading centre for energy brokers in carbon markets and is a leader in launching and managing carbon funds.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/article3981714.ece?ref=wl_opinion

@ Ranga: 1 sq.km is roughly 250 acres and not 1024 acres.

Adverse policies hinder wind energy investments in TN (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/article3985027.ece)

Tamil Nadu is losing out on the one viable opportunity to tackle the prevailing power shortage – increasing wind energy generation, by its adverse policies, according to Ramesh Kymal, Chairman, Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturer’s Association.

In an interaction with the Hindu group of publications, he said the recent tariff fixed by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Authority has made investments in wind energy generation unviable. A meagre hike in tariff, the price the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, the public sector utility pays power producers, has been offset by a hike in charges.

Investors have lost interest in setting up wind power generation capacity in Tamil Nadu as the charge, dubbed cross-subsidy charge of about Rs 1.30 per kWhr, makes investments in wind project unviable, according to Kymal.
Drop in additions

There has been a nearly 75 per cent drop in additions to wind generation capacity. Against 650 MW of capacity added in the first quarter of 2011-12, just about 150 MW was added in the corresponding period this year. Capacity additions are happening in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka, where policies are more favourable, according to Kymal who is also the Managing Director of Gamesa India, a multinational manufacturer of wind energy generation equipment.

Aggravating the issue, is the delay in the utility paying wind energy generators who supply power to the grid. With the delay over one year, financial institutions are not keen on funding wind power projects and this further hits wind power installation. With nearly 7,000 MW of wind energy generation capacity, Tamil Nadu emerged among the leaders in wind energy. This paid off in recent years when wind energy supported the nearly one-third supply shortage, a shortfall of about 4,000 MW, that has hit the State.
Ready option

Expanding wind energy generation capacity is a ready option to address the prevailing shortage which is bound to worsen as conventional power project continue to be delayed. The State Government should look at increasing support to wind energy through more incentives such as a ‘State-sponsored generation-based incentive,’ he said.

Transmission infrastructure has proved another major bottleneck. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board is yet to take a decision on establishing sub-stations with private sector support in Kayathar, south Tamil Nadu. Speeding up this project will help add at least 1,000 MW of wind power in the region, he said.

^^^^

GoTN should fight with GoI for continuing the 100% depreciation in the first year or at least within 5 years for all Non Conventional Energy projects.

Because of this only, many companies invested in NCE projects in TN.

Similarly GoTN should spearhead the subsidy issue from the Dept of Non Conventional Energy.

For this, GoTN should work closely with GoI without any prestige / animosity.

Concentrate on production of clean energy: Abdul Kalam

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam pitched for focusing on producing “clean energy” like solar, wind and nuclear.

“We have to give attention in producing clean energies like solar, wind and nuclear,” he said in response to a query on nuclear power plants.

He said every one litre of petroleum fuel burnt generates 2 kg of carbon dioxide, but nuclear reactors do not produce any pollution.

Over 540 nuclear reactors are functioning successfully the world over and there was no need for any anxiety on it, Kalam said in significant remarks against the backdrop of the protests against the commissioning of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu.

Kalam, here to inaugurate a seminar, organised by the Indian Naval Academy, said, “We have to effectively use non-conventional energy sources instead of petroleum fuels and coal for producing energy.”

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/concentrate-on-production-of-clean-energy-abdul-kalam/1016291/

Wind power capacity addition down 40% in first-half (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/wind-power-capacity-addition-down-40-in-firsthalf/article3994810.ece)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/dynamic/01236/bl14_p4_Wind_eps_1236783f.jpg

Fresh installations of wind power capacity in the country in the first six months of the current financial year have fallen by 40 per cent compared with capacity addition in the same period last year.

In the April-September period of 2012-13, the country added 851.35 MW, against 1,402.66 MW in the same period a year ago.

The fall has been attributed mainly to the removal of two key incentives that were available to those who put up wind mills — accelerated depreciation and generation-based incentive.

The figures also underscore the obstacles wind power developers are facing in the two key wind power generators — Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

In Tamil Nadu, the State that leads the country with 40 per cent of total wind power capacity in the country, the existing wind power producers are facing numerous problems, which have been driving away fresh investment. Some of these problems are: Inadequacy of grid to evacuate the power, humungous payment delays by the State-owned utility for power purchased, un-remunerative increase in tariff (by 12 paise to Rs 2.51 a unit) and increase in cross-subsidy charges.

As a result, fresh capacity additions in Tamil Nadu were only 162.95 MW, compared with 644.21 MW previously. Industry experts say that whatever capacity has come up until now have only been spillovers from the previous year; the state might add not more than 50 MW in the rest of the year. In Gujarat, the fall is attributed to uncertainty over the State Government’s policies.
critical factor

According to Ramesh Kymal, Chairman, Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers’ Association (IWTMA), the dismal situation would continue into the rest of the year, unless the generation-based incentive (GBI) is restored immediately.

“This year, India will be lucky to have additional 1,500 MW of wind power capacity,” Kymal said. Last year, India added close to 3,200 MW. He said that while on the one hand developers were not coming forward to put up projects because of policy issues, on the other, even those projects that have been announced are finding it difficult to raise finance.

Kymal said that restoration of the generation-based incentive would help remedy the situation and save thousands of jobs. He pointed out that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has recommended a GBI of 82 paise per unit, up to 13,500 MW of capacity and said that the recommendation was stuck at the Planning Commission. “Nobody seems to be anxious about the drop in capacity additions,” he said.

A proposal to make all higher education institutions in Tamil Nadu become solar energised by 2017 has been submitted to the Government of Tamil Nadu.

P. Kandaswamy, Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, and Member, Programme Advisory Committee, Department of Science and Technology, has submitted a proposal on “Green Energy for Higher Education Institutes in Tamil Nadu”, the implementation of which suggests that from 2017 all higher education institutions will shed their dependence on conventional energy.

Among the renewable energy sources, solar energy tops the list due to its abundant presence and even distribution in nature when compared to other energy types such as wind, geothermal, wave and tidal energies. Tamil Nadu has very good solar energy potential with 300 clear sunny days in a year. Hence, higher education institutions can gradually switch over to this energy over the next five years, says Mr. Kandaswamy.

According to his proposal, the first solar power plant with a capacity of 1 MV can be installed in Bharathiar University in 2012. Solar panels can be installed on 25 acres of land.

Each year, the capacity can be increased by 2 MV by extending the plant in the available land.

Plants with 1 MV capacity can be installed in the similar manner in Madurai Kamaraj University, Alagappa University, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University and Tamil University, which have enough land.

Others, viz., Periyar University, Thiruvalluvar University, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, and Anna University and its Regional Centres do not have enough space, hence it is suggested that the panels be installed on rooftops.

The University of Madras neither has land or facility for rooftop installation. Other universities are small units and hence rooftop installations of 0.5 MV capacity have been suggested. All these can be done in 2013.

Plants with 0.25 MV capacity can be installed in Government colleges in 2014. The same capacity plants can be installed in all aided colleges in 2015. Self-financing colleges will be included in 2016.

From 2017, the Government should make it compulsory for all self-financing colleges to start producing solar energy from the time of application of approval from the respective universities.

The cost on sharing basis is estimated to be Rs. 18 crore for installation of a 1 MV plant. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Sources of the Government of India provides 30 per cent of the cost of installation. The 70 per cent can be shared by the State Government and the institution. The cost may come down if the Government offers additional subsidy.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/proposal-on-green-energy-submitted-to-government/article3937350.ece

Saw this useful post on how to plan your rooftop solar.


The broad steps involved in designing a roof-top stand-alone solar PV plant are:
1.Estimation of total loads and energy
2.Selection of an inverter
3.Sizing of battery bank
4.Sizing of PV array
5.Selection of other components
6.Installation and commissioning
7.Testing and evaluation

Estimation of total loads and energy:
1.Sum the total AC connected watts
2.Sum the total DC connected watts
3.Calculate the AC average daily energy requirement
4.Divide this by the inverter efficiency to obtain the DC energy required to the AC load
5.Calculate the total energy requirement due DC loads
6.Add the DC energies obtained by step 4 and step 5
7.This quantity is the total DC energy load on the battery bank

Selection of inverter:
1.The capacity of the inverter must be more than that of the total daily average AC loads, including their surge requirement
2.The nominal DC input voltage of the inverter will be the battery bank voltage and is decided by the design of the inverter
3.The output will be single phase or three phase , 230/440V & 50Hz, to be compatible to the AC loads requirement
4.The conversion efficiency at minimum load (10%) should be 80%
5.Total Harmonic Distortion (TDH) < 3%
6.The wave shape, crest factor, power factor etc, to be as per the load requirements

Battery bank sizing:
1.The total DC energy ÷ the nominal input voltage gives the daily Ampere Hour (AH) requirement from the battery bank
2.The daily AH hours X autonomy ÷ discharge limit provides the battery bank Ampere hour capacity
3.Battery bank AH capacity/Individual battery AH gives the number of batteries in parallel (generally it is 1)
4.DC system voltage ÷ the battery voltage gives number of batteries in series
PV array sizing:

1.Average daily AH requirement from the battery ÷ battery columbic efficiency gives the AH to be put in by the PV array in a day
2.AH required from PV array ÷ average peak sun hours in a day of the site gives Amperes required from PV array
3.Amperes from array peak ÷ panel (or module) peak ampere gives number of PV panel strings required in parallel
4.Nominal system DC voltage ÷ nominal operating module voltage gives the number of SPV modules in one series string
5.Number of modules in one series string X number of parallel strings gives the total number of SPV modules in the power plant
6.Number of PV modules X PV module wattage is the total PV array wattage

Other components:
1.Charge controller maximum current capacity should be one and half times that of total short circuit current of all parallel strings
2.The total open circuit voltage of all the modules in series should give the maximum voltage of the charge controller
3.The cables connecting the module to Junction boxes, to that of DC board and battery bank should be selected as per the standards
4.Cutouts, fuses and other control components should be as per the National standard of Electrical current ratings


http://www.eai.in/club/users/Nithya/blogs/1086

This post is for SME people who have been affected by the power cut. Put solar power and be happy!!


There are seven steps involved in designing a successful captive solar PV installation

Scoping of the project
Calculating the amount of solar energy available
Surveying the site
Calculating the amount of energy needed
Sizing the solar system
Component selection and costing
Detailed design


Step 1 –SCOPING THE PROJECT


As with any project, you need to know what you want to achieve. This basically involves detailing what you want from the captive PV installation, once installed. Do you want it to completely provide your day time electricity usage? Or do you want it to support a part of your usage? To start with, the scope of the project can be simple and later as we progress we can flesh it out to suit the requirements.


Defining the scope is in fact the most important step because once the basic scope is wrong, we might not be able to get the system do, what we exactly want it to do.


Step2 - CALCULATING THE SOLAR POWER AVAILABLE


Solar insolation is the amount of electromagnetic energy (solar radiation) incident on the surface of the earth. Basically that means how much sunlight is shining down on the area under consideration.



The values are generally expressed in kWh/m2/day. This is the amount of solar energy that strikes a square metre of the earth's surface in a single day. Of course this value is averaged to account for differences in the days' length. There are several units that are used throughout the world.



By knowing the insolation levels of a particular region one can determine the number of PV modules that are required. An area with poor insolation levels will need a larger number of PV modules than an area with high insolation levels. Once the region’s insolation level is known, one can more accurately calculate collector size and energy output.



The typical thumbrule that is used for the amount of electricity that solar PV can produce is as follows: On average, 1 W of solar PV, at current crystalline silicon panel efficiencies, can produce about 4 Wh of electricity per day. This is however only an average estimate and based on the location, this could be a bit lower or higher than the average.



Step 3 – SURVEYING THE SITE


A site survey basically consists of a brief interview with the developer to get a feel for their electricity needs and a physical inspection of the proposed array site to see if it is suitable for solar. When a qualified photovoltaic design professional visits a potential solar site, he or she has many things to watch out for.



Primarily, they will be checking the roof's orientation (azimuth) and solar access. Orientation refers to the direction the roof faces - directly south is ideal, with some leeway to the Southwest or Southeast.



Solar access quantifies the percentage of time when the proposed array location will be receiving the full unshaded power of the sun during different days of the year. A shady roof might disqualify a site from receiving incentive money from the state, and is not a responsible choice for solar anyway. There are ways to get around shade issues - either by looking at alternate sites, trimming or removing trees, or by using micro-inverters in the system design rather than one large central inverter.



Step 4 - CALCULATING THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY NEEDED


The next big task for any photovoltaic system designer is to determine the system load. This load estimate is one of the key factors in the design and cost of the stand-alone PV system.



A simple way to determine the approximate ceiling for the solar PV system capacity for all electricity needs is as follows:



1. Find out your total monthly electricity consumption. Let’s say it is 100000 kWh



2. Divide it by 30 to get an approximate daily consumption. In the example, it is about 3300 kWh.



3. Using the thumbrule that 1 W of solar PV can approximately produce 4 Wh of electricity per day, you can determine the approximate maximum solar PV capacity you will require to power all your systems using solar PV. In this case, if the total daily consumption of electricity is 3300 kWh, you will require a maximum of 3300/4 = 825 kW.



4. It is however very unlikely that you would require such a high capacity for solar PV as you will need solar PV primarily as a backup power source, perhaps as a replacement for diesel based power generation.



Ceiling for the solar PV required for complete diesel replacement



5. In most cases, you will be using solar only as a backup power source to replace diesel based power production.



6. One simple way to determine the amount of solar PV for this purpose is to determine the total amount of electricity you produce using diesel every month. In the example provided, out of the 100000 kWh of total electricity you consume every month, let’s say 10% or 10000 kWh is generated from diesel gensets. This provides you the ceiling for the solar PV system capacity for complete diesel replacement. In this case, it is 82.5 kW.



7. As a thumbrule, one liter of diesel produces 4 kWh, so you can also compute the above with the data for the amount of diesel used every month.



While estimating the load, the designer should consider energy conserving substitutes for items that are used often. Identifying large and/or variable loads and determining if they can be eliminated or changed to operate from another power source will save cost.



Step 5 – SIZING THE SYSTEM


From the results obtained in step 2 and step 4, we can determine the size of the solar system that will be needed to power the site. The necessary systems involved in the setting up of captive power plants are:



1) Array(collection of solar PV modules)



2) Charge controllers



3) Batteries



4) Inverters



5) Mounting systems



Note: The exact procedure for sizing of a solar system has to begin with calculating the amphere hour (Ah) of each load under consideration. Without knowing this it is impossible to size the PV system.



PV array sizing – Array sizing is determined by taking into account the daily energy requirement (in Kilowatt hours) and average daily peak sunshine hours in the design month.



No part of a PV array can be shaded. The shading of small portions of a PV module may greatly reduce output from the entire array. PV modules connected in series must carry the same current. If some of the PV cells are shaded, they cannot produce current and will become reverse biased. This means the shaded cells will dissipate power as heat, and over a period of time failure will occur. However, since it is impossible to prevent occasional shading, the use of by pass diodes around series - connected modules is recommended



Hybrid Indicator


At this point, the basic PV system configuration and size have been determined. Before proceeding to specify components for the system, a simple test is recommended to see if the application might be a candidate for a hybrid system.



Two main indicators work together to alert the designer to a possible hybrid application; the size of the load, and the seasonal insolation variability at the site. The larger the load the more likely a hybrid PV-generator system will be a good economic choice. Likewise, in cloudy climates you need a larger system to meet the load demand; thus having a higher array/load ratio. Plotting the load versus the array/load ratio gives an indication of whether a hybrid system should be considered. There may be other reasons to consider a hybrid system: for example, systems with high availability requirements or applications where the load energy is being provided by an existing generator. A word of caution--the controls required for a hybrid system are more complex because the interaction between engine generator, PV array, and battery must be regulated. Obtaining advice from an experienced designer is recommended if you decide to install a hybrid system.



Controllers - Charge controllers are included in most photovoltaic systems to protect the batteries from overcharge or excessive discharge. Overcharging can boil the electrolyte from the battery and cause failure. Allowing the battery to be discharged too much will cause premature battery failure and possible damage to the load. The controller is a critical component in your PV system. Thousands of rupees of damage may occur if it does not function properly. In addition, all controllers cause some losses (tare loss) in the system. One minus these losses, expressed as a percentage, is the controller efficiency. The cost of the controller increases rapidly as the current requirement increases. Controllers for 12-volt and 24-volt systems with currents up to 30 amperes are available at a reasonable cost. Controllers with 30- 100 amperes are available but 2-5 times more expensive. Controllers that will switch currents over 100 amperes are usually custom designed for the application. One way to work with currents over 100 amperes is to connect controllers in parallel. It is often less expensive to use five 20- ampere rated controllers in parallel than one 100-ampere unit.



The controller must be installed in a weather resistant junction box and can be located with other components such as diodes, fuses, and switches. Excessive heat will shorten controller lifetime so the junction box should be installed in a shaded area and venting provided if possible. Controllers should not be mounted in the same enclosure with batteries. The batteries produce a corrosive environment that may cause failure of electronic components.



Battery sizing - To determine the size of the battery storage required for a stand-alone PV system, it is required to make a number of decisions. Before making these choices, one should study and understand battery parameters and the concept of system availability. First, you must choose the amount of back-up energy you want to store for your application. This is usually expressed as a number of no sun days, in other words, for how many cloudy days must your system operate using energy stored in batteries. There is no “right answer” to this question. It depends on the application, the type of battery, and the system availability desired.



Inverters - Power conditioning units, commonly called inverters, are necessary in any stand-alone PV system with ac loads. The choice of inverter will be a key factor in setting the dc operating voltage of your system.



When specifying an inverter, it is necessary to consider requirements of both the dc input and the ac output. The choice of inverter will affect the performance, reliability, and cost of your PV system. Usually, it is the third most expensive component after the array and battery.



The selection of the inverter input voltage is an important decision because it often dictates the system dc voltage.



An inverter should be installed in a controlled environment because high temperatures and excessive dust will reduce lifetime and may cause failure. The inverter should not be installed in the same enclosure with the batteries because the corrosive gassing of the batteries can damage the electronics and the switching in the inverter might cause an explosion. However, the inverter should be installed near the batteries to keep resistive losses in the wires to a minimum.



Mounting structures- Ground mounting of PV arrays is recommended for stand-alone systems. Regardless of whether you buy or build the mounting structure make sure it is anchored and the modules are restrained. Many module manufacturers and distributors sell mounting hardware specifically designed for their modules. This hardware is intended for multiple applications and different mounting techniques and considerations like wind loading have been included in the design. Using this mounting hardware is the simplest and often the most cost effective. Customized array mounting structures can be expensive.



Others- It is important to select wire, connectors, and protection components such as switches and fuses that will last for twenty years or more. To obtain this long life, they must be sized correctly, rated for the application, and installed carefully. Connections are particularly prone to failure unless they are made carefully and correctly.



Step 6 – COMPONENT SELCTION AND SIZING


Once the various components have been sized, the next important step is the selection and costing of the components.



There are many players in the market vying to establish their products. At this juncture, the system developer has to select components by taking into account factors like technical specifications, reliability, and lifetime of the components in addition to the cost.



Investment for the solar modules is for a period of 25 years, so selecting a high efficient solar panel is of prime importance. The manufactures of the batteries claim a lifetime of about 7 years, whereas inverters guarantee at most 2 years. As can be seen from these numbers, selection becomes a crucial part of the captive solar PV installation.



Step 7 – DETAILED DESIGN


Now that the major components have been sized and selected, it is time to consider how to interconnect everything as a working system.



The detailed design is the more actionable form of the captive solar PV installation. The system developer accumulates all the data collected from the previous 6 steps and prepares a layout of the installation on paper. The developer removes obvious engineering fallacies and prepares a corrected version of the layout on paper.



The confirmed design will have all the necessary data like the average consumption per day(kWh), the insolation levels at the area under consideration(in hours) , the optimal plant size, the area required for the same, the number of panels required to be installed in that area, the number of charge controllers, batteries, inverters required for the determined plant size, the cost of all the components and many more intricate details like the viability of installing tracking systems etc.



Stand-alone PV systems will be reliable power producers for more than two decades if properly sized for the application, engineered well, and installed carefully. PV arrays for stand-alone systems are installed in many unique and innovative ways. However, there are common issues involved in any installation, whether the array is fixed or tracking, mounted at ground level, or on a pole or building.


Preventive Maintenance

The integral part of any completed installation is the periodic checks that are recommended for any stand-alone PV system so that little problems can be found and corrected before they affect system operation. The system should be checked soon after installation when it is presumably operating well.
http://www.eai.in/club/users/Nithya/blogs/1086

They can try something like this for all the cities. Two in one solution all rivers will be clean and electricity can be generated.

Thames Water turns to 'poo power' for renewable electricity generation

They look like instant coffee granules, but they are in fact sewage flakes – a highly combustible new renewable form of fuel that burns like woodchip and is being used for the first time to generate electricity for Britain's largest water and sewerage company.


Thames Water has begun producing the flakes by drying sludge – the solids found in sewage – in a purpose-built machine at sewage works in Slough, Berkshire. In a not-so-green move, the company then takes the flakes by lorry to Crossness sewage works in Bexley, south-east London, where they are burnt off to generate electricity.


The company estimates that 16% of its electricity needs will be covered in the current financial year by so-called poo power – enough to run about 40,000 average family homes – from a total energy requirement of 1,300 gigawatt hours.


Until now, the sludge dryer had been used to reduce waste simply to get rid of it more conveniently. The dryer promises to reduce the firm's carbon emissions by more than 500 tonnes a year, as well as bringing up to £300,000 a year of operational cost benefits.


Rupert Kruger, Thames Water's head of innovation, said: "This is the first time in Britain that a waste dryer has been used to create ready-to-burn fuel from sewage sludge, rather than simply being used as a waste-reducer. This innovative approach demonstrates our clear intent to help move Britain towards becoming a low-carbon economy by unlocking every ounce of renewable energy potential from waste."


Five tonnes a day of sewage sludge – 20% of the solids left over from the treatment process at the Slough works – are being put through the new dryer, which works by heating the sludge to around 180C and driving off the water using enclosed heated rotating paddles. Because the sludge cake at Crossness is only about 25% dry, the process relies on non-renewable gas from the grid to keep the fire going in the sludge-powered generator.




A further 20 sewage works, including Slough, generate electricity by burning biomethane gas from sewage, a process know as combined heat and power.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/sep/26/thames-water-sewage-flakes-electricity

[QUOTE=TShyam;96400233]Saw this useful post on how to plan your rooftop solar.


Thanx Shyam for nicely providing all details


To go for solar power at home ,first and foremost thing is to have the desire for it

When I decided for solar power, I honestly did not know any of these things but I was convinced by the company rep when he explained how it works.

Thou there were a few teething problems ,overall the experience has been good.

I only hope good operators come in this field ,rather than fly by night operators.

True that Mukkesh. Once the volume increases, things will get more professional. I am also testing the waters. Will go for a 1 KW or 2 KW system to start with.

From FB:
using solar pump for irrigation. both CG and SG refused to give some concessions, because it is not their advised brand.
5040 W pum is 5.5 lakh. with a expectation of it will work for 25 yrs.
விவசாயத்துக்கு சோலார் பம்ப்:

தோட்டதுக்கு நீர் இறைக்க 5040 வாட்ஸ் சோலார் பேனலை வாங்கினேன். இதற்கு 5.5 லட்சம் செலவானது. ஆனால் இந்த சோலார் பேனல், 25 வருடங்களுக்கும் மேல் உழைக்கும் என்பதால் இந்தச் செலவைப் பற்றி நான் கவலைப்படவில்லை. இதிலிருந்து 870 வோல்ட் டிசி மின்சாரம் அல்லது 415 வோல்ட் ஏசி மின்சாரம் கிடைக்கும். 3 பேஸிலும் கரண்ட் வரும். மின்னழுத்தம் சீராக இருக்கும். இதனால் மோட்டார
் எரிந்து போய்விடும் என்று பயப்படத் தேவையில்லை.

இப்போது காலை 9.00 மணி முதல் மாலை 4.00 மணி வரை எங்கள் தோட்டத்தில் நீர் இறைக்கும் மோட்டார் வேலை செய்கிறது. உச்சி வெயிலில் அதிகமாகத் தண்ணீர் வரும். நான் சொட்டு நீர்ப் பாசன முறையில் மரங்களுக்குத் தண்ணீர் பாய்ச்சுகிறேன். இப்போது கரண்ட் பில் கட்டத் தேவையில்லை. கரண்ட் கட் ஆகிவிடும் என்ற பயமுமில்லை; கவலையுமில்லை.

சோலார் பேனல் வாங்கினால் மத்திய அரசு 30 சதவிகிதம் மானியம் தருகிறது என்று கேள்விப்பட்டு "மினிஸ்ட்ரி ஆஃப் நியூ அன்ட் ரினிவபிள் எனர்ஜி' துறையை அணுகினேன். அவர்கள் "தமிழ்நாடு எனர்ஜி டெவலப்மென்ட் அசோசியேஷன்' மூலமாகப் பெற்றுக் கொள்ளச் சொன்னார்கள். அவர்களிடம் கேட்டால், அவர்கள் குறிப்பிடும் சோலார் பேனல்களை வாங்கினால் மட்டும்தான் மானியம் என்றார்கள். நான் தொடர்ந்து முயற்சிக்கவில்லை.

மின்சாரப் பற்றாக்குறை அதிகமாக உள்ள இந்நாளில், சூரிய ஒளி மூலம் மின்சாரத்தைத் தயாரிப்பது மிகவும் நல்லது. சுற்றுச்சூழலுக்குப் பாதிப்பு இல்லாதது. ஆனால் சோலார் பேனல்களின் விலை அதிகமாக இருப்பதால் எல்லா விவசாயிகளும் வாங்கத் தயங்குவார்கள். விவசாயிகள் சூரிய ஒளி மின்சாரத்துக்கு மாற அரசு உதவி செய்ய வேண்டும்'' என்கிறார் ஆர்.விஜயகுமார்.

With no end in sight to the power crisis that has forced small industries in Tamil Nadu to sharply curtail their production, industry associations have begun exploring various possibilities to attain self-sufficiency in power generation.

As an initial step, a Bangalore-based solar firm with German technology has been invited to the southern districts to discuss technological and commercial viability. K.R. Thangaraj, president of Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association (TANSTIA), told The Hindu on Tuesday that as per one of the proposals, the Bangalore firm would bear the initial expenditure for installing the solar equipment but subject to a minimum capacity of 250 KW. The firm would sell the power with a toll.

This proposal was attractive to the micro, small and medium enterprises, which are spared both the huge capital investment and the dependency on generators, which has become expensive after the recent diesel tariff hike.

“We are confident that this project will be successful and we are meeting the representatives of the firm in Tiruneveli on Wednesday. Industries in Hosur and Tiruchi are already contemplating putting up solar power plants,” he added.

Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (MADITSSIA) president V. S Manimaran said that delegations from two companies were coming here on Thursday. Several units would be joining together to install a solar power plant. “Small industries going for this solar project can source 60 per cent of their power from this power plant while reducing the dependency on the State power grid drastically,” according to Guna Singh Chelladurai, Chairman of TANSTIA-FNF Service Centre, which is coordinating with the solar firms.

With policies on subsidies for diesel, coal and commercial gas changing, the tariffs of government supplied power would increase to Rs. 13 to Rs. 14 per unit in a few years. However, with China having entered the solar field in a big way, the cost of panels would come down soon.

Companies could adopt a cluster approach and go for solar power, which was both a constant and a clean source of power.

While 250 KW was the entry threshold, the industrial units could scale up based on the demand. Also, in the power sector, the country was constantly facing a significant gap in supply-demand.

The TANSTIA-FNF Service Centre, which provides supporting services to small scale industries, is a collaborative venture between TANSTIA and Friedrich Naumann Foundation, a German organisation established in 1958 by Theodor Heuss, the first president of the West Germany.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/small-units-plan-to-tap-solar-power-in-a-big-way/article4002924.ece

This is what I have been saying all along. Guess better late than never!

With minimal battery back up, you could get reliable power atleast during daytime for more than 300 days a year. With robust storage infrastructure, you can get high quality power on demand (albeit at a higher capital cost). It gets even better if it is done in a cooperative way like the one mentioned in the article.

With demand growing exponentially and installed power only creeping up in excruciatingly lengthy steps, the SME sector can either throw tantrums, whine and go down shouting or take matter on to their hands and do something like this. Those who does that will survive and others will become extinct as I dont see the official sector putting up enough supply to meet the upcoming demand in the foreseeable future. There is simply way too much bottlenecks to overcome.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/small-units-plan-to-tap-solar-power-in-a-big-way/article4002924.ece

This is what I have been saying all along. Guess better late than never!

With minimal battery back up, you could get reliable power atleast during daytime for more than 300 days a year. With robust storage infrastructure, you can get high quality power on demand (albeit at a higher capital cost). It gets even better if it is done in a cooperative way like the one mentioned in the article.

With demand growing exponentially and installed power only creeping up in excruciatingly lengthy steps, the SME sector can either throw tantrums, whine and go down shouting or take matter on to their hands and do something like this. Those who does that will survive and others will become extinct as I dont see the official sector putting up enough supply to meet the upcoming demand in the foreseeable future. There is simply way too much bottlenecks to overcome.

This is similar to what was already done in Standard Chartered Bank (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3013263.ece) in chennai. Good move. :cheers: SME's can opt for crowdfunding also, to implement similar ones... :cheers:

TN has/had taken lead in renewable energy source by installing huge wind mill capacity. Now its time to focus on solar energy - huge potential and govt can get into PPP model for it - am sure there won't be any issues in finding institutions to fund these projects. And am wondering how are the CERs (CDM benefits) earned from wind power being used - they should be used to invest in solar power.

India Wind Energy Grid Code

http://www.cwet.tn.nic.in/Docu/Wind_grid_code_for_India%20.pdf

New Design for Grid Tie Inverter for Solar PVs

http://www.iject.org/vol2issue3/2/gohul.pdf

Nithya's Blog on Solar:

Lot of Info.

http://www.eai.in/club/users/Nithya/blogs/1086

Power Procurement from New and Renewable Sources of Energy Regulations

http://www.tn.gov.in/stationeryprinting/gazette/2011/13-vi-2a.pdf

4 MW Bundled Grid Connected Wind Power Project in Tamilnadu, India

http://cdm.unfccc.int/filestorage/Z/P/7/ZP7OSEV9XHAY6LC0TKGMIWQUB45RJ3/1306%201%20Monitoring%20Report.pdf?t=U1h8bWMzMnY3fDBn8-UCgO_pKLcgAO7Ejs-U

Nanotechnology has enormous potential to resolve energy crisis, says expert (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Nanotechnology-has-enormous-potential-to-resolve-energy-crisis-says-expert/articleshow/16831628.cms)

COIMBATORE: Nanotechnology has enormous potential to make the exorbitantly priced solar energy affordable and in so doing, resolve the existing power crisis, says New Delhi based Solid State Physics Laboratory Director R Muralidharan. According to Muralidharan, nanotechnology can be applied to a wide variety of power generating devices including rechargeable batteries and solar panels. Large scale solar-based power houses can be established by installing several nanotechnology-based units under a common roof.

Interacting with media persons after inaugurating a two day seminar on 'Nanotechnology for Energy, Environment and Health' at PSG Institute of Advanced Studies here on Monday, he said nanotechnology based research works in the energy sector can help resolve the deteriorating power situation in the country.

"Solar energy is the answer to power scarcity and it is one of the top renewable sources of power. Though it is safe and clean, the present challenge is it is very costly and far behind in meeting demands. The challenge before us is to make it less expensive and more effective," he pointed out.

The laboratory, being run by Defense Research Development Organisation (DRDO), is presently focusing on developing a set of nanotechnology based facilities which can help make life easier not just in the defense sector but also in other walks of life, he said.

Prof. Pradeep Haldar, a member of the nano-science department at Albany University, who was also present on the occasion said that 'piezo materials' are being inserted in the shoes of soldiers to help them develop power for recharging batteries meant for use in electrical equipment in remote and difficult terrains. "Around half of the weight carried by an American soldier at present is the fuel for his vehicle or himself. With developments in nanotechnology, this could be done away with," he said. Techniques to charge batteries for battle field tanks using solar energy are also being developed. If successful, batteries can be charged automatically and not manually which is both dangerous and time consuming, he said.

In future, nano-materials may be used to transform heat generated from various equipment. Heat generated from fuel tanks and computer systems due to extended use may be captured to power lights and other instruments that require energy, he said.

Solar Junction Does it Again, Sets New CPV Efficiency Record (http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/10/solar-junction-does-it-again-sets-new-cpv-efficiency-record)

World records are broken every day, some to more fanfare than others. While earlier this week the eyes of the world were watching daredevil Felix Baumgartner's 24-mile skydive from the edge of space, a San Jose-based solar energy company called Solar Junction was busy breaking another kind of record.

As a company that specializes in the development of high efficiency multi-junction solar energy cells for the CPV (concentrated photovoltaic) market, Solar Junction is no stranger to breaking through previously established barriers and setting new records. Especially when those records are their own. In April of 2011, the company set a new standard for the energy efficiency of commercial-ready production solar cells, reaching 43.5 percent efficiency at 418 suns. Their new world record, announced on October 15 and verified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), brings that new standard up a significant notch, establishing 44 percent efficiency at 947 suns.

Solar Junction’s multi-junction cells are used in CPV solar panels, which focus concentrated sunlight onto the cells through the use of special optics. “CPV is different from standard flat-plate solar,” says Jeff Allen, VP of Business Development at Solar Junction. “Think of a magnifying glass. Basically, you have a very high performance solar cell that sits at the focal point of these focusing optics. The solar cell converts the photon flux into electrons, and power.”

The company’s trend of record breaking is welcome news in an industry that has lately hit a plateau in improvement, according to Allen. “Up until about five years ago, multi-junctions were running at about a one percent clip in terms of annual efficiency improvements,” Allen says. “Because the maturation of the three-junction technology was occurring, and because there was a lack of clarity about how to get to higher efficiency, that one percent per year diminished drastically over the last three to five years from the current technology providers.”

Allen says Solar Junction’s latest accomplishment, fueled by its proprietary Adjustable Spectrum Lattice Matched materials, is a sign that the sky’s the limit with respect to the capacity of CPV technology and the multi-junction cells that are integral to its efficient operation. “Flat-plate silicon type solar cells have largely met their physics limits in terms of increasing efficiency,” Allen says, “whereas multi-junction solar cells have not. You can actually add additional junctions to increase the efficiency over the coming years.”

2012 has been a period of exciting growth for Solar Junction, which has seen the formation of several key partnerships and the receipt of an esteemed government grant. Earlier in the year, Solar Junction announced separate partnerships with semiconductor company IQE, which has a facility in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and solar module manufacturer Semprius, which recently opened its first solar module production facility in Henderson, North Carolina. In addition, Solar Junction was named one of three recipients of the highly sought after SUNPATH grant from the Department of Energy, which has resulted in the company commissioning a 6” production fabrication facility in Sunnyvale, California. Allen predicts between 30 and 50 new jobs will be created at the company’s forthcoming Sunnyvale location.

“The nice thing is,” Allen says, “is that as capacity expands for us, that drives employment in North Carolina, it drives employment in Pennsylvania, and in California.”

:cheers:

^^ So, now we are able to achieve 44 percent PLF with solar energy through photovoltaics. :cheers: CMIIAW...

Sun to the rescue

A recent report released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), an independent policy research institution in collaboration with the U.S. based Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC), has shown that concentrated solar power could play an essential role in achieving a secure and diversified energy future for India, especially to deal with the issues of energy blackouts.

The report titled “Concentrated Solar Power: Heating up India’s Solar Thermal Market under the National Solar Mission” states that India has jump started its solar energy industry in just over two years, thanks to Phase-I of the National Solar Mission. A major contributor to this growth is solar thermal power, including seven large-scale concentrated solar power (CSP) projects now underway in India.

Concentrated solar power involves systems of mirrors that concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a small area. The concentrated light is converted to heat, with a turbine and electrical power generator — converting the heat into electricity. Since CSP allows for storage of electricity, large-scale CSP presents several potential benefits for India’s energy profile. These include supplying electricity to help India meet its base-load needs, providing supplemental electricity during times of peak usage and ensuring grid stability.

The report focuses on the progress of CSP projects during Phase-I, identifying the benefits of and barriers to CSP growth in India. The report also provides recommendations to strengthen the role of CSP in subsequent phases of the mission. “It is essential that under Phase-II, the government does not force a false choice between concentrated solar power and photovoltaic technologies,” Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, the New Delhi-based policy research institution said.

“With greater confidence, investment, and transparency, both sectors have the potential to strengthen India’s energy profile while creating new business opportunities for domestic developers, manufacturers and suppliers, and technology innovators,’’ he added.

The first phase sparked India’s CSP market, as the government allocated power production evenly between CSP and photovoltaic (PV) technologies. The large-scale CSP projects now underway in India will provide a projected 500 MW in energy capacity, a huge jump from the 8.5 MW of energy capacity under CSP projects before the National Solar Mission began in 2010.

Despite the anticipated acceleration of CSP, however, several barriers exist that challenge the long-term sustainability of India’s CSP industry. These include the length of time required to develop CSP projects, high initial capital costs and a lack of confidence in the CSP market as a whole. CEEW and NRDC’s report provides recommendations for the Indian government, private sector and other stakeholders to ensure a robust CSP ecosystem develops to support long-term feasibility.

The report recommends that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy could help ramp up India’s solar mission by laying out a clear roadmap for Phase-II, without locking in one technology.

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/sun-to-the-rescue/article4009655.ece?homepage=true

But the worst part is that the technology companies lobby hard with the Govts and the most obsolete technology guy pays max and bags the license / order. Hmm...

Why Agriculture dept is not anything on this

Innovative Strategies for Employment Generation & Rural Prosperity in Agriculture [1]



This paper examines economically viable, employment-oriented programmes for production of biomass fuels for electric power, fuel for motor vehicles and edible oils on India’s huge extent of degraded wastelands and for production of ethanol from sugarcane for blending with petroleum based motor fuels. In combination, these programmes can generate more than 15 million additional employment opportunities within five years, while creating more than fifty thousands crores of additional rural income, reducing India’s dependence on imported fuel and edible oils, establishing a national network of rural power plants, and reducing environmental pollution.

I. Wasteland Development Programmes
India has approximately 50 million hectares of degraded wasteland that lie outside the areas demarcated as national forests. Development of these wastelands offers enormous potential both for economic development and sustainable employment generation.

A. Challenges of Wasteland Development
· Low soil fertility

· Little or no irrigation potential

· Not Suitable for cash crops that require fertile soil & continuous water supply

· High cost of investment in soil & irrigation development (cost per acre) beyond the reach of most rural families

· Improved technology required to make lands productive is beyond the skill levels of poor families

· Complex organization required for land development, cultivation, production & marketing

B. Viable Programmes
These wastelands can be developed in a variety of ways designed to meet the needs of a growing India economy:

· Biomass energy plantations for fast-growing tree and bush crops to generate electricity on marginal waste land.

· Oilseed plantations to produce edible and fuel oil on medium grade waste land.

C. Employment Potential
A combination of these programmes can be simultaneously launched in virtually all parts of the country. All of the programmes would create large numbers of jobs for landless rural families. It is estimated that two hectares of cultivated waste land can generate an annual income of approximately Rs 15,000-25,000 and year-round employment for one person. If the programmes discussed below are extended over an additional four million hectares each year, then year-round employment can be created for 12.5 million persons within five years.

2. Energy Plantations for Biomass Power Generation
A. Concept
Cultivation of fast-growing trees such as casurina equistifolia and bush crops such as prosopis juliflora can serve as biomass fuel for establishing a national network of decentralized rural power plants. These power plants, ranging in size from 10-25 MW, can generate thousands of megawatts of power from renewable, forest-based fuel sources in a cost-effective manner. This would reduce India’s dependence on imported fuel oils, stimulate private investment in the power sector, and generate massive income and employment opportunities for the rural poor.

In order to meet pent up demand, India needs to create an additional 100,000 MW of power generation capacity during the 10th Plan period. Establishment of 10 million hectares of energy plantation will be sufficient to generate 25,000 MW of power generation and provide year-round employment for 7.5 million people.

B. Energy Plantation
Casurina is a fast growing tree that can be cultivated on marginal waste land and harvested on a rotating basis from the third to fourth year onwards. Casurina is already commercially cultivated over wide tracks in the southern states, primarily as a rain-fed crop for fuel and construction. It can also be used as pulp for papermaking. It has been found an excellent species for environmental control of erosion, stabilization of soils and reclamation of poor soils. Casurina has a calorific value of about 3500 k calories and contains less water than most wood species.

· One hectare of casurina under rainfed conditions can produce on average 200 tons of fuel in four to five years, an average of 40 to 50 tons per annum.

· It requires 10,000 tons of casurina to generate one megawatt for a year.

· By harvesting the crop on a rotating basis, a standing plantation of 250 hectares is sufficient to generate one megawatt of power. A 2500 hectare casurina energy plantation can support a 10-12 MW power plant.

· Assuming a net farm selling price of Rs 700 per ton, one hectare of casurina can generate year-round net income of Rs 28,000.

· Allocating one hectare per person, each 10 MW power plant can provide employment for 2500 persons.

Prosopis is a thorny plant that already grows wild on extensive areas of wasteland and serves as a fence, but is not being harvested or utilized for commercial purposes. It grows rapidly, producing about 10 tons of biomass on dry-weight basis per hectare per annum. The wood is hardy with calorific value of about 4000, as compared with 3000 for coal. It grows well in sandy, loamy, sodic, saline, alkaline and marshy soils with very little input and at very low cost. The biomass is an excellent raw material for power generation. A 1000 hectares of rain-fed prosopis can provide sufficient fuel to generate one MW of electric power.

· One hectare of prosopis under rainfed conditions can produce on average 10 tons of fuel per hectare per year, from the 3rd year onwards.

· By harvesting the crop on a rotating basis, a standing plantation of 1000 hectares is sufficient to generate one megawatt of power. A 10,000 hectare prosopis energy plantation can support a 10 MW power plant.

· Assuming a net farm selling price of Rs 700 per ton, one hectare of prosopis can generate year-round net income of Rs 7,000.

· Each hectare requires 100 man-days per annum of labour input.

· Allocating two hectares per person, a 10 MW power plant can provide employment for 5,000 persons, each earning Rs 14,000 per annum.

A portion of the wasteland needed for energy plantation can be leased out to private parties and cultivated by landless families using advanced practices with fast growing tree crops. Corporate control of a portion of the land will ensure availability of raw material which is essential to attract private investment in the power plants. Local landless labour will be employed by the corporates for cultivation and harvesting. An equal area can be leased directly to landless families to cultivate the same crops and register their crop with the power plant to obtain bank finance to meet the cost of cultivation.

C. Economics of Cultivation



Casurina
Prosopis

Initial cost of cultivation 1st year (w/o labour)
Rs 2000
Rs 500

Gestation period
5 years
3 years

Capital cost till harvesting begins/hectare
Rs 6000
Rs 500

Average yield per hectare per year
40 tons
10 tons

Price per ton (net at farm)
Rs 700
Rs 700

Average annual gross income per hectare
Rs 28,000
Rs 7000

Average annual net income per hectare
Rs 27,000
from year 5
Rs 7000
from year 3

Plantation for 10 MW power
2500 hectares
10,000 hectares

Employment generation per plantation
2500 persons
5000 persons

Average annual income per person
Rs 27,000
Rs 14,000


D. Power Plants
*Mini-power plants in the size range of 10 to 25 MW utilizing biomass such as casurina, prosopis and paddy straw are already operational and commercially viable in several Indian states.
The local power plants will provide an assured market for the energy plantation crops at pre-negotiated prices and reduce the cost of transporting the crop from field to market.
All power generation equipment is indigenously fabricated and readily available.
The power plants will cost approximately Rs. 3 crores per megawatt. The low capital investment in the power projects will make them attractive to Indian entrepreneurs and reduce dependence on large power projects with long gestation periods and foreign investment.
Based on a farm sale price of Rs. 700 per ton for the fuel, the cost of power generation is Rs. 3.00 per unit, compared to Rs 2.50 for coal and Rs. 4.00 for petroleum based power plants utilizing imported fuels. In addition, wood generates far less pollution than either coal or oil.
E. Programme Benefits
These rural plantation and power projects offer a variety of advantages:

Establishment of 10 million hectares of energy plantation will be sufficient to generate 25,000 MW of power generation
Cultivation of 10 million hectares of energy plantations alone will generates direct year-round employment for 7.5 million persons and rural income of Rs 20,000 crores.
Purchase of fuel from rural families generates rural jobs and rural prosperity rather than expenditure of foreign exchange.
Power plants can be located in every district and taluq of the country, providing the essential infrastructure for rural industrialization.
Local power distribution will also reduce transmission losses from the current 18-13% down to 10%.
Locally grown bio-fuel will reduce dependence on imported fuels.
General improvement in water harvest and increases the sub-soil water table.
o Better soil Conservation and fertility improvement.

o The expansion of forest area will increase rainfall, reduce the run-off of rainwater and raise the water table throughout the state.

F. Implementation Strategies
The challenge is how to implement the projects in a manner that will generate maximum income and employment for the rural poor. Several options need to be considered:

1) Development and cultivation of wastelands by small farmers & landless labour suffers from the following limitations --
o Lack of capital among this group

o Lack of technical expertise among this group

o Lack of commercial organization among this group

o Difficult to organize

o Will end up subletting land or not using it

2) Development and cultivation of wastelands by Government / Co-operative suffers from the following limitations --
o Requires heavy capital investment

o Commercial expertise needed

o Continuous management required

3) Development and cultivation by private sector/Small farmer in collaboration has the following advantages --
o Private sector has capacity to invest in industrial projects and land development

o Private sector has access to technology and capacity to disseminate it

o Private sector has commercial organization for marketing

o Small farmers & landless labour can supply labour and also cultivate land

4) Viable Approach
o Assign suitable land for each project in different parts of the state

o Lease 50% of the required land to corporates willing to invest in the approved agro-enterprises

o Assign the balance 50% to rural families for cultivation as a registered crop and supply of produce to the power plants.

o Cooperative power plants can also be established in regions such as Maharashtra where agricultural cooperatives have proven effective.

o Nationalized banks can be directed to extend crop loans to farmers based on registration of their crops with the local power plant, in the same manner as crop loans are now commonly extended to sugarcane cultivators whose crops are registered with nearby local sugar factory.

G. Policy Issues
1) Government should permit and encourage 30 year leasing of wastelands to corporates based on contractual commitments to cultivate fuel wood and oil crops and to purchase similar materials from farmers in surrounding areas.
2) Government power policy should encourage private sector investment in biomass-based power plants.
3. Oilseed Plantations
A. Concept
Cultivation of oil bearing crops such as Paradise tree and Curcas plants on medium grade wastelands can serve as an economically attractive alternative to the import of fuel oil and edible oils. Establishment of local oil extraction units can stimulate rural industrialization. Establishment of 10 million hectares of oilseeds plantation will be sufficient to provide 5 million year-round employment opportunities.

B. Crops
1) Paradise tree (simaruba glauca) -- This Brazilian oilseed bearing plant is a drought-resistant, high-yielding, perennial ever-green tree ideally suited for wasteland areas of India. It grows under rainfed conditions and requires minimal inputs. It starts bearing seeds from the 3rd or 4th year. The seeds contain 50% oil, which when refined is very similar in characteristics to groundnut oil. India currently produces 18 million tons of edible oil per annum, a shortfall of 3 million tons less than current domestic consumption. The National Oilseeds & Vegetable Development Board has already identified this crop and recommended its widespread cultivation in India. Cultivation of 5 million hectares of Paradise tree over five years can meet the entire shortfall in the country’s edible oil production.
o Planting pattern – 250 plants per hectare @ Rs 10 per plant

o Cost of cultivation per hectare – Rs 3000 in 1st year for plants & fertilizer (labour till maturity not included)

o Gestation – 3-4 years

o Yield per hectare –1500 kg seeds & 750 kg oil

o Sale price of oil – Rs 30/kg (assume Rs 20 to farmer, Rs 10 to expeller)

o Income per hectare – Rs 15,000 per annum from 4th year onwards

o Edible oil produced per hectare – 750 kg

o Proposed area for cultivation – 5 million hectares in five years

o Employment – 100 man-days per hectare per year

o Total employment – 2.5 million permanent jobs

o Total income generated – Rs 7500 crores



2) Curcas (jatropa curcas) – This plant was introduced from Africa, where it grows in the wild. A wild species already grows in India and is often used as a fence crop. The plant produces large quantities of seeds which contain up to 35% oil. The oil is a bio-fuel and substitute for No.2 diesel and kerosene. It can be blended in diesel motor fuels up to 15%. The cost of production is competitive with other fuel oils. In addition, curcas oil can be utilized in the manufacture of soap, paints and varnishes. The oil cake is highly nutritive as an organic manure which is superior to poultry manure. The crop starts yielding from the 3rd year and continues bearing contcfor 25-30 years.
o Planting pattern – 1200 plants per hectare @ Rs 2 per plant

o Cost of cultivation per hectare – Rs 3000 in 1st year for plants & fertilizer (labour till maturity not included)

o Gestation – yield from 3rd year onwards

o Farm yield per hectare –

· 2250 kg of oil seed containing 750 kg of oil

· 1500 kg of oil cake

· 1000 kg of pulp manure (nitrogen rich manure can be used to extract biogas for power generation and then used as a fertilizer).

o Sale price of farm produce – Rs 5/kg of seed; Rs 3-4 for oil cake, and Rs 1.50-2.00 /kg of manure

o Income of farmer per hectare – Rs 18,000 per annum from 3th year onwards

o Value added income of oil industry – Rs 6,000 per hectare per year

o Oil Produced – 750 kg per hectare valued at Rs 20 per kg = Rs 15,000

o Employment – 100 man-days per hectare per year

o Proposed area for cultivation – 5 million hectares in five years

o Total employment – 2.5 million permanent jobs

o Total income generated – Rs 12,000 crores



C. Oilseed extraction industries
Oil can be extracted from both Paradise seeds and Curcas by means of small oil expeller units suitable for operation in rural areas. Establishment of 2500 units to process the oil from these plantation crops will serve as a stimulus to rural entrepreneurship and rural industrialization.

o Investment per 10 ton per day oil expeller unit – Rs 10 lakhs, including

· Plant & machinery – Rs 5 lakhs

· Civil works – Rs 5 lakhs

o Capacity – 10 tons of oil per day, equivalent to 4000 hectares per annum

o Number of expeller units –

· 250 expellers per million hectares

· 2500 expellers for 10 million hectares

II. Bio-Fuel from sugarcane
A. Concept
India is currently producing surplus sugar and is holding stocks equivalent to 8 months domestic requirement. Export of the sugar is not viable because low productivity and high cost of production make Indian sugar uncompetitive on the international market. This proposal is to utilize sugarcane and molasses as raw material for the production of ethanol that can be mixed with petroleum products as a fuel for motor vehicles.

The programme will derive the sugarcane for ethanol production from three sources

· Diversion of excess cane from sugar to ethanol production – this will reduce the current unmarketable surplus and stimulate additional production.

· Increasing productivity of existing irrigated sugarcane fields by a minimum of 25% (actual potential is to increase average yields up to 100%) -- this will reduce the cost of cultivation and make Indian sugarcane internationally competitive.

· Expansion of the total area under sugarcane by 20% utilizing advanced cultivation practices – this will generate new job opportunities and generate sufficient ethanol as well as exportable (low cost) sugar.

B. Ethanol Fuel
Ethanol can be blended with motor fuels up to 5-10% without any modification of vehicles with fuel injection systems and can be used in higher blends up to 95% in modified vehicles. Ethanol blends generate significantly less pollution than alternative petroleum-based fuels.

Ethanol based motor fuel (gasohol) has been proven both technologically and economically viable and is widely used in over 20 countries, such as Brazil, Canada, Sweden and USA. The USA consumes nearly 4 billion liters of ethanol as mixed fuel annually. Currently about 41% of Brazil’s demand for transportation fuel is met by ethanol, equivalent to more than 200,000 barrels of oil per day. Brazil has more than 4 million vehicles running on a 95% ethanol blend. The country is consuming more than 16 billion liters of ethanol annually, enabling it to reduce its oil imports by 70% between 1979 and 1992 while cutting reliance on imported oil from 43% to 22%.

Government of India has recently granted approval for adding up to 5% ethanol to petrol. Experience in other countries indicates that a 10% blend can be utilized in unmodified engines. Ethanol can also be blended with diesel fuels in unmodified engines up to 10% as well.

India presently consumes approximately 40 million tons of diesel fuel and 6 million tons of petrol per annum. Assuming a 10% blend of ethanol with petrol and diesel, the total requirement of ethanol would be 4.6 million tons per annum, equivalent to 4.6 billion liters. With engine modification, much higher ethanol blends can be utilized, created a potential demand for more than 10 billion liters of ethanol per annum.

The cost of production of ethanol fuel from sugarcane will be approximately Rs 18 liter, of which 2/3rd will go as income to farmers.

Total current production of ethanol in India (primarily from molasses) is 1.3 billion liters, of which 50% is used for industrial purposes and 50% for potable purposes.

C. Sugarcane
India currently produces approximately 300 million tons of sugarcane annually, of which 60% is crushed for sugar production and 40% for jaggary and other products. The 180 million tons of cane is converted into 18 million tons of sugar and 8 million tons of molasses annually. Current domestic sugar consumption is only 15 million tons. Since the cost of production in India is above the international level, surplus sugar accumulates. India’s current stock of surplus sugar is 10 million tons, equivalent to 8 months consumption.

Assuming that 25 million tons of sugarcane is diverted from sugar production for production of ethanol fuel, an additional 1.6 billion liters of ethanol can be produced. Additional ethanol can be produced by increasing the yield of sugarcane and total area under sugarcane.

By international standards, productivity of sugarcane is extremely low in India. Introducing improved agricultural practices can raise average yields up to 100%. A national farm school education programme demonstrating internationally proven practices can easily increase average productivity by 25%.

D. Programme
1. Divert 25 million tons of sugarcane (8% of total cane) to ethanol production, resulting in production of 1.6 billion liters of ethanol fuel.

2. Establish sugarcane farm schools in all sugarcane growing areas to demonstrate advanced agricultural practices to increase the average productivity of existing sugarcane fields by 25%. This can result in production of an additional 75 million tons of sugarcane, sufficient for production of 4.8 billion liters of ethanol.

3. Expand the total area under sugarcane cultivation by 20% or 800,000 hectares utilizing advanced cultivation practices. This can result in additional cane production of 75 million tons, sufficient to produce and additional 4.8 billion liters of ethanol.

4. Establish 400-450 new processing plants to convert 175 million tons of sugarcane. The additional six million tons of molasses can be processed into ethanol in India’s existing distilleries, which are underutilized.

5. Total ethanol production from these programmes would be 11.2 billion liters per annum.

6. The additional begasse produced by the programme would be sufficient to generate more than 20 billion units of electricity valued at Rs 6000 crores.

E. Programme Benefits
1) The programme produce 11.2 million tons of ethanol fuel per annum, valued at Rs 17,000 crores, as a substitute for imported oil.
2) The most significant benefit of the programme is that it can help meet the nation’s energy requirements in a manner that generates additional rural income of Rs. 10,000 to 12,000 crores, rather than by expenditure of foreign exchange to generate prosperity in petroleum producing countries.
3) Improving the productivity of sugarcane can bring down the price of sugar to internationally competitive levels so that surplus production can be exported.
4) The higher cane yields and additional area cultivated will generate 2.5 million additional employment opportunities.
5) The programme can produce 30 billion units of electricity from begasse valued at Rs 9000 crores.
F. Approach
1) Since sugarcane production is presently in excess of domestic requirement, a portion of present production can be diverted to ethanol production. Additional areas can be identified for growing sugarcane exclusively for ethanol production. In addition, availability of sugarcane can be increased by a concerted effort to improve the productivity and efficiency of existing sugarcane cultivation.
2) Apply advanced soil management and cultivation practices based on technology offered to double the average yield of sugarcane production, while utilizing less water per acre by introducing improved methods for land preparation, improved methods to enrich soil fertility, and improved water utilization
3) Convert the additional sugar production into ethanol for use as cleaner burning automotive fuel in mixture with petrol. The locally produced alcohol mixed fuel will be fully price-competitive with imported oil.
G. Policy Issues
1) Government of India should sanction ethanol blends up to 10% in both petrol and diesel fuel.
2) Existing sugar factories should be licensed to produce ethanol in areas where they can increase sugarcane productivity or expand the area under sugarcane.
3) New ethanol factories should be licensed in areas where additional cane can be cultivated.
III. programme summary




Project
Area
(Ha)
Plan Investment

(Crore Rs)
Income
Generation
(Crore Rs)
Job
Creation
Gestation

Energy plantations
Prosopis
Casurina

5 million
5 million
wasteland

250
2500

6,500
13,500

7.5 million

3 years
5 years

Oilseed plantations
Edible oil
Fuel oil

5 million
5 million
wasteland

Crop 3000
Industry 250


20,000

5.0 million

3-4 years

Ethanol plantations
800,000
irrigated
Crop 4,800

Industry 21,000

Power
12,000

5,000

6,000
2.5 million
1 year

Total
20 million wasteland

800,000 irrigated
Rs 33,000 crores
Rs 63,000 crores
15 million jobs


http://www.motherservice.org/Essays/Innovative%20Strategies%20for%20Wasteland%20Development%20&%20Ethanol%20.htm

CHENNAI, OCT 20:
The Tamil Nadu Government has announced a solar energy policy for the State to encourage the development of the renewable energy.

According to an official press release, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa released the Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy 2012 in the Secretariat today.

The important objectives of the policy are energy security, establishing 3,000 MW of solar power generation capacity and creating domestic production facilities for solar energy equipment.

The proposed addition to generation capacity will be over the next three years with 1,000 MW of solar power generation facilities being added each year, the release said.

The policy envisages using clean, renewable energy source to contribute to energy security and development of the State.

^^

Tamilnadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today unveiled the new Solar Energy Policy-2012 aimed at generating 3,000 MW of power from 2013 to 2015.

Stating that solar energy was a clean and eco-friendly form of power, the new policy was aimed at making Tamilnadu the leading State in generating power through solar energy.

.
An official release said the policy envisaged generation of 3,000 MW of power over a three-year period.
''The State government is planning to generate 1000 MW of solar power each in 2013, 2014 and 2015,' the release added.

The government's move to give a boost to solar power generation comes at a time when the State was reeling under acute power crisis.

Under the new policy, the government would create new solar energy parks across the State, besides offering incentives to domestic consumers coming forward to install solar- powered systems on their roof tops.

The release said installation of solar energy systems would be made mandatory in all the new government buildings and those coming up in local bodies.

'This will be implemented in a phased manner in the existing government and local bodies buildings', the release said, adding, solar energy would be used for all street lights and drinking water systems in local bodies.

The policy would also make major industries and high tension consumers to use a certain percentage of solar power in their units.

Apart from offering incentives to those manufacturing solar energy equipment manufacturers, they would also be exempted from electricity tax and power cuts.

http://newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=28840%20&%20section=6

SCENERIO OF SOLAR PROJECTS IN TAMIL NADU


http://www.renewablemarketsindia.com/attachments/6872_Mr.%20Said%20Ahamad_TEDA.pdf

New solar energy policy aims to produce 3000 MW power in 3 yrs

The policy also involves large-scale power consumers into the initiative by mandating six per cent SPO on them

http://business-standard.com/india/news/new-solar-energy-policy-aims-to-produce-3000-mw-power-in-3-yrs/192205/on

RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES: COST ANALYSIS SERIES

Solar Power

A very detailed Cost Analysis

http://www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/Publications/RE_Technologies_Cost_Analysis-CSP.pdf

A case study of 3-MW scale grid-connected solar photovoltaic power plant at Kolar, Karnataka

Performance assessment & recommendations



http://www.dccc.iisc.ernet.in/3MWPV_Plant.pdf

3000 மெவா மின் உற்பத்தி செய்யும் 'தமிழ்நாடு சூரிய சக்தி கொள்கை 2012' - வெளியிட்டார் ஜெ! (http://tamil.oneindia.in/news/2012/10/20/tamilnadu-jayalalithaa-releases-new-solar-power-policy-2012-163475.html)

சூரிய சக்தி மூலம் 3000 மெகாவாட் மின்சாரம் உற்பத்தி செய்யும் புதிய மின்சக்தி கொள்கையை இன்று வெளியிட்டார் முதல்வர் ஜெயலலிதா.

இதுகுறித்து தமிழக அரசு வெளியிட்டுள்ள செய்தி குறிப்பு:
சூரிய சக்தியானது, மனித குலத்திற்கு தூய்மையானதும், சுற்றுப்புறச் சூழலை மாசு ஏற்படுத்தாததும், அளப்பரியதும் மற்றும் குறைவற்ற எரிசக்தி ஆதாரம் ஆகும். சூரிய சக்தியைப் பயன்படுத்தி மின்சாரம் உற்பத்தி செய்து தமிழ்நாட்டை முன்னோடி மாநிலமாக மாற்ற வேண்டும் என்ற தொலைநோக்கு திட்டத்துடன் முதல்வர் ஜெயலலிதா செயல்பட்டு வருகிறார்.

எரிசக்தி பாதுகாப்பு, சூரிய சக்தியை கொண்டு 3000 மெகாவாட் மின்சாரம் உற்பத்தி செய்தல் மற்றும் உள்நாட்டிலேயே சூரியசக்தி சாதனங்களை உருவாக்கும் வசதி ஆகியவை சூரிய சக்திக் கொள்கையின் முக்கிய குறிக்கோள்கள் ஆகும்.

உத்தேசித்துள்ள 3000 மெகாவாட் மின் உற்பத்தியில் 2013, 2014 மற்றும் 2015-ஆம் ஆண்டுகளில் தலா 1000 மெகாவாட் மின்சாரம் உற்பத்தி செய்ய தமிழக அரசால் திட்டமிடப்பட்டு, தமிழ்நாடு சூரிய சக்திக் கொள்கை 2012 என்ற கொள்கை ஆவணத்தை முதல்வர் ஜெயலலிதா இன்று வெளியிட்டார்.

தமிழ்நாடு சூரிய சக்திக் கொள்கை 2012-ன் சிறப்பு அம்சங்கள்:

* சூரிய சக்தி பூங்காக்களை உருவாக்குதல்.

* வீட்டு உபயோக மின் நுகர்வோர்கள் மேற்கூரை சூரியசக்தி அமைப்புக்களை நிறுவ ஊக்குவிக்கும் வகையில் மின் உற்பத்தி அடிப்படையிலான ஊக்கத் தொகை அளித்தல்.

* அனைத்து புதிய அரசு கட்டடங்கள், உள்ளாட்சி நிறுவனங்களின் கட்டடங்களில் சூரிய சக்தி மேற்கூரை சாதனங்கள் அமைப்பது கட்டாயமாக்கப்படும்.

* தற்போதுள்ள அரசு மற்றும் உள்ளாட்சி நிறுவனங்களின் கட்டடங்களில் சூரிய சக்தி மேற் கூரை சாதனங்கள் அமைப்பது படிப்படியாக செயல்படுத்தப்படும்.

* உள்ளாட்சி நிறுவனங்களின் அனைத்து தெரு விளக்குகள் மற்றும் குடிநீர் வழங்கும் அமைப்பு கள் படிப்படியாக சூரிய சக்தியைக் கொண்டு இயக்கப்படும்.

* பெரும் தொழிற் சாலைகள் மற்றும் உயர் அழுத்த மின் நுகர்வோர் குறிப்பிட்ட சதவீத மின்சாரத்தை சூரிய சக்தி மின்சாரத்திலிருந்து பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும்.

* சூரிய சக்தி சாதனங்களைத் தயாரிப்பவர்களுக்கு ஊக்கத் தொகை அளிக்கப்படும்.

* சூரிய சக்தி மின் உற்பத்தி தயாரிப்பாளர்களுக்கு கீழ்க்கண்ட முனைப்பான கொள்கைகள் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. அ) நிகர அளவியல். ஆ) மின்சாரவரி செலுத்துவதிலிருந்து விலக்களித்தல். இ) மின்தேவை வெட்டிலிருந்து விலக்களித்தல்.

இந்த நிகழ்ச்சியில், மின்சாரம், மதுவிலக்கு மற்றம் ஆயத் தீர்வைத் துறை அமைச்சர், தலைமைச் செயலாளர், எரிசக்தித் துறை முதன்மைச் செயலாளர், தமிழ்நாடு மின்சார வாரியத்தின் தலைவர் மற்றும் மேலாண்மை இயக்குநர், தமிழ்நாடு எரிசக்தி மேம்பாட்டு முகமையின் தலைவர் மற்றும் அரசு உயர் அலுவலர்கள் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

இவ்வாறு அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Tamil Nadu eyes 3,000MW solar energy by 2015 (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tamil-Nadu-eyes-3000MW-solar-energy-by-2015/articleshow/16896248.cms)

CHENNAI: Intent on increasing dependence on clean, climate-friendly, abundant energy resource, the state government on Saturday unveiled a new policy hoping to clock a production of 3,000MW of solar power by 2015. The falling prices of solar panels coinciding with the growing cost of grid power in India prompted the government to look at solar energy as a viable option, said the policy.

It has brought large-scale power consumers into the initiative by mandating 6% solar purchase obligation (SPO). The SPO will be administered by Tangedco. The high tension consumers can fulfil obligation by generating captive solar power equivalent to or more than their SPO; or by buying equivalent to or more than their SPO from third party developers; or buying renewable energy certificates (by trading solar power) generated by projects equivalent to or more than their SPO and purchasing power from Tangedco at solar tariff.

However, all were not happy with the government's new move. "The rate of solar power at present is around 10 to 12 per unit. The high tension users are now going through rough patch. Some subsidies should be given and solar energy as an alternative power source should be introduced in commercial and domestic sector also," said Mahendra Ramdas, former president of Tamil Nadu Electricity Consumers Association.

The initiative, with a slew of encouraging features, finds opportunity in the rapidly declining solar power costs and aims at tapping at least 1,000MW energy annually.

Elaborating on how the 3,000MW would be generated, the policy said, "In utility scale, out of 1,500MW, 1,000MW will be funded through SPO and the balance 500MW through generation-based incentives." The policy also promotes solar rooftops in domestic and government buildings. The state government, in all its new buildings, will provide solar rooftops, while all existing buildings will be provided solar panels in a phased manner. The government would also energise more than one lakh street lights through solar energy by 2015-16 and water supply installations in local bodies will be energised through solar power in a phased manner. Solar parks with a capacity of 50MW each will be developed in 24 districts across the state.

The government also announced a slew of incentives to solar power manufacturers, including tax concessions. An empowered committee comprising chief secretary, finance secretary, energy secretary and others will accord solar project clearances.

Good initiative. Let's hope it gets implemented and doesn't remain just on papers.

Disappointed not to find a e-version of the policy.. :(

தமிழகசூரிய சக்தி கொள்கை- நிறைகளும், குறைகளும் (http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=570525)
மின்சார உற்பத்தியை பெருக்க, நேற்று முன்தினம் அறிவிக்கப்பட்ட, தமிழகசூரிய சக்தி கொள்கையை, மின் துறை முதலீட்டாளர்கள் வரவேற்று உள்ளனர். அதே நேரத்தில், அமலாக்க தேதிகள் உட்பட, பல கொள்கை முடிவுகள் தெளிவில்லாமல் உள்ளன. இவற்றை தெளிவுபடுத்த, தமிழக மின் வாரியம் மற்றும் மின்சார ஒழுங்குமுறை ஆணையம் இணைந்து, முதலீட்டாளர் களுக்காக ஒரு கூட்டம் நடத்த வேண்டும் என்ற, கோரிக்கை எழுந்துள்ளது.

கொள்கையின் நல்ல அம்சங்கள்



* இந்தியாவிலேயே முதல் முறையாக நிகர கணக்கீடு (நெட் மீட்டரிங்) முறை அறிமுகப் படுத்தப் பட்டு உள்ளது. இதன் மூலம், வீடுகளில் நிறுவப்படும் ‹ரிய சக்தி மின் தகடுகளில் இருந்து உற்பத்தி யாகும் மின்சாரத்தில், சொந்த தேவை போக, மீதம் உள்ளதை மின் வாரியத்திற்கு விற்றுவிடலாம்.
* வீடுகளில் மின்சார உற்பத்தியை ஊக்குவிக்க, உற்பத்தி சார்ந்த ஊக்கத்தொகையும் அறிவிக்கப் பட்டு உள்ளது.
* உயரழுத்த மின்சாரத்தை பெறும் நுகர்வோர் மற்றும் சில வகையான வர்த்தக நுகர்வோர், தங்கள் மொத்த பயன்பாட்டில், 6 சதவீதத்தை சூரிய சக்தியில் உற்பத்தியாகும் மின்சாரத்தில் இருந்து பெறுவது கட்டாயமாக்கப் பட்டு உள்ளது
இது, இரு கட்டங்களாக செயல்படுத்தப் படும். டிசம்பர் 2013 வரை 3 சதவீதமும்; ஜனவரி 2014ல் இருந்து 6 சதவீதமும் கட்டாயம்.
* வரும், 2020க்குள், மாநில மின்வாரியங்கள் வாங்கும் மின்சாரத்தில், புதுப்பிக்கத்தக்க எரிசக்தியில் இருந்து உற்பத்தியாகும் மின்சாரம், குறைந்தபட்சம், 3 சதவீதம் இருக்க வேண்டும் என, தேசிய மின் கட்டண கொள்கை கூறுகிறது
தமிழகத்தில், சில மாதங்களில், 40 சதவீதம் மின்சாரம், காற்றாலைகளில் இருந்து தான் உற்பத்தியாகிறது. இதனால், தேசிய கொள்கை கட்டுப்பாடுகளை எளிதில் கடந்துவிடலாம். இதன் மூலம், தமிழகத்தில் ‹ரிய சக்தி மின்சாரம் பின்தங்கிவிடும் என, கருதி, 6 சதவீதம் கட்டுப்பாடு, சாதுர்யமாக சேர்க்கப் பட்டு உள்ளது.
* இந்த கட்டுப்பாடு,சூரிய சக்தி மின் நிலையம் அமைப்பவர்களுக்கு, ஆயத்த நிலை சந்தையை உருவாக்கி, பெரும் ஊக்கத்தை தரும்.
* தமிழகத்தில், 24 மாவட்டங்களில், தலா, 50 மெகாவாட் திறன் உள்ளசூரிய சக்தி மின்சார பூங்காக்கள் அமைக்கப் படும். இது தவிர, பெரிய அளவிலான மின் பூங்காக்களும் அமைக்கப் படும். இதன் மூலம், சூரிய மின் திட்டங்கள் அமைப்பதற்கான மூலதன செலவும், பராமரிப்பு செலவும் குறைவதற்கான வாய்ப்பு உள்ளது.
* தொகுப்புடன் இணைந்த உற்பத்தியாளர்கள், 240 வோல்ட் அழுத்தத்திலேயே தொகுப்புக்கு மின்சாரம் அனுப்ப வசதி செய்யப் பட்டு உள்ளது; இது, வீடுகளில் நிறுவப்படும் திட்டங்களுக்கு மிகவும் வசதியாக இருக்கும்.
* அதே போல், 100 கிலோவாட்டிற்கு மேல் உற்பத்தி செய்பவர்களும், 11 கே.வி., அழுத்தத்திலேயே தொகுப்புக்கு மின்சாரம் அனுப்பலாம். பெரும்பாலான கிராமப்புறங்களில், 11 கே.வி., வசதி தான் உள்ளது. இந்த கொள்கை முடிவு, திட்டங்களை பரவலாக செயல்படுத்த வழிவகை செய்கிறது.
* இதுவே, குஜராத்தில், 66 கே.வி., ஆந்திராவில், 33 கே.வி., என, நிர்ணயிக்கப் பட்டு உள்ளது. அவற்றை ஒப்பிடுகையில், தமிழகத்தின் கொள்கை முற்போக்காகவே உள்ளது.

கொள்கையின் குழப்பமான அம்சங்கள்



* கொள்கை எந்த தேதியில் இருந்து அமலாக்கப்படும் என்பது, குறிப்பிடப் படவில்லை.
* அதே போல், கொள்கையின் ஆளுமை எந்த ஆண்டு வரை இருக்கும் என்பதும் குறிப்பிடப் படவில்லை. இதனால், அரசியல் மாற்றங்கள் ஏற்படும் போது, கொள்கையில் நிலையின்மை ஏற்பட வாய்ப்பு உள்ளது. முதலீட்டாளர்களுக்கு இதில் சந்தேகம் ஏற்பட்டால், முதலீடு செய்ய முன்வர தயங்குவர். குஜராத், ஆந்திரா மாநிலங்களின் ‹ரிய சக்தி கொள்கையில் இது தெளிவாக குறிப்பிடப் பட்டு உள்ளது.
*சூரிய மின் நிலையங்களில் இருந்து, மின் வாரியம், என்ன விலையில் மின்சாரத்தை வாங்கும் என்பது குறிப்பிடப் படவில்லை. இது கொள்கையில் இல்லாமல், மின்சார ஒழுங்குமுறை ஆணயம் முடிவு செய்யும் ஒன்றாக இருந்தால், முதலீட்டாளர்கள் தயங்குவதற்கு வாய்ப்பு உள்ளது.
* நிகர கணக்கீட்டு முறை, வீடுகள் மற்றும் அலுவலக கட்டடங்களில்சூரிய மின் உற்பத்தி வசதி களை நிறுவுபவர்களுக்கு தான் பெரும்பாலும் பயன்படும் என்பதால், அது குறித்த மொத்த விதிக ளும் வெளிப்படையாக அறிவிக்கப் பட வேண்டும். தற்போது, இது எப்படி செயல்படும் என்பது தெளிவாக இல்லை.
* உற்பத்தி சார்ந்த ஊக்கத்தொகையில், உற்பத்தியாகும் அனைத்து, "யூனிட்'டுகளுக்கும் ஊக்க தொகை உண்டா அல்லது தேவைக்கு மிகுதியான,"யூனிட்'டுகளுக்கு மட்டும் தான் ஊக்கத் தொகை யா என்பது தெளிவாக இல்லை
* இத்தகைய உற்பத்தியாளர்களுக்கு, மூலதன மானியம் கிடைக்குமா என்பதும் குறிப்பிடப் படவில்லை. "யூனிட்'வாரியான ஊக்கத்தொகை இருந்தாலும், இத்தகைய வசதியை நிறுவுவதற்கு அதிக செலவு பிடிக்கும் என்பதால், மூலதன ஊக்கத்தொகை இருந்தால் தான், தனி நபர்கள் இதை செயல்படுத்த முன்வருவர்.
* கட்டாய சூரிய சக்தி மின்சார பயன்பாடு, எந்த தேதியில் இருந்து அமலாக்கப்படும் என்பது குறிப் பிடப் படவில்லை.

தெளிவுபடுத்த கூட்டம் தேவை:



முடிவெடுக்கும் குழுவில் தொழில்நுட்ப வல்லுனர்கள் தேவை'

டி.பி. குமரேசன்

சூரிய சக்திக்கான புதிய கொள்கை, ஒரு முன்னோடியான கொள்கை என்பதில் சந்தேகம் இல்லை. இதில், மூன்று ஆண்டுகளில், உற்பத்தியை 3,000 மெகாவாட் அதிகரிக்க இலக்கு நிர்ணயிக்கப் பட்டு உள்ளது.
ஒரு மெகாவாட், சுமார் பத்து கோடி என்ற முறையில், 3,000 ஆயிரம் மெகாவாட்டிற்கு, சுமார், 30 ஆயிரம் கோடி ரூபாய் முதலீடு தேவைப்படும். சூரிய சக்தி உபகரணங்களை உற்பத்தி செய்யும் நிறுவனங்களை தொடங்குவதற்கு மற்றும் வீடுகளில் சூரிய சக்தி மேற்கூரை அமைப்புக்கு, சுமார், 20 ஆயிரம் கோடி ரூபாய் தேவைப்படும்.
* தமிழக அரசு அமைத்திருக்கும், அதிகாரமளிக்கப் பட்ட குழுவில், தொழில்நுட்ப மற்றும் பொருளாதார நிபுணர்கள் இடம்பெறவில்லை. இந்த தொழிலில் அனுபவம் உள்ள, தொழில் முனைவோர்களும் பங்கு பெற வேண்டும். அப்போதுதான், இந்த கொள்கையை செயல்படுத்தும் போது ஏற்படும் சிக்கல்களை முறைப்படுத்தி, வெற்றி காண முடியும்.
* சில வகையாவ நுகர்வோருக்கு, ஆறு சதவீதம், சூரிய சக்தி மின்சாரம் வாங்குவது கட்டாயமாக்கப் பட்டு உள்ளது. ஆனால், அதற்கான விலை நிர்ணயம் எதையும் தெளிவாக குறிப்பிடப் படவில்லை.
* விடுகளில் உற்பத்தியாகும், சூரிய சக்தி மின்சாரத்தை மின் தொகுப்புக்கு வழங்கும்போது, தமிழ்நாடு மின் உற்பத்தி மற்றும் பகிர்மான கழகத்திடம் இருந்து, கிடைக்க வேண்டிய மொத்த தொகை எவ்வளவு என்பதை தெளிவுப் படுத்தவில்லை.
* முந்தைய மத்திய அரசின் திட்டங்களை செயல்படுத்தும்போது, "டெடா' மூலம் கட்டணம் வசூலிக்கப் பட்டது. அதே போல், தற்போது, கட்டணம் எவ்வளவு என்பதை, தெளிவுப்படுத்த வேண்டும்.
* சோலார் பூங்கா அமைக்கும் போது, அமைப்பவர்களுக்கான முன் அனுபவம், என்ன என்பதையும் தெளிவுப்படுத்த வேண்டும்.
டி.பி.குமரேசன், செஞ்சுரி கன்சல்டிங் குரூப்பின், துணை தலைவர். இந்த நிறுவனம் புதுப்பிக்கத்க்க எரிசக்தி மின் திட்டங்களை செயல்படுத்தும் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு ஆலோசனை வழங்குகிறது.

ஐந்து சதவீத விற்பனை வரியை தளர்த்தி இருக்கலாம்'



சூரிய சக்தி மூலம், 3,000 மெகாவாட் மின் உற்பத்தி செய்யும், தமிழக அரசின், புதிய கொள்கை வரவேற்கத்தக்கது. இந்த திட்டத்தை முன்னரே செயல்படுத்தி இருந்தால், மின் பற்றாக்குறை நெருக்கடி நிலை ஏற்பட்டு இருக்காது.
உயர் அழுத்த மின்சாரம் பயன்படுத்துவோர், 6 சதவீத சூரிய சக்தி மின்சாரத்தை பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும் என்று, கட்டாயமாக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. இது, ஒரு நீண்ட கால கொள்கை. இது போன்ற திட்டம், வேறு எந்த மாநிலத்திலும் கிடையாது.
அதே நேரத்தில், குறைந்த அழுத்த மின்சாரத்தை பயன்படுத்தும், சிறு, குறு மற்றும் நடுத்தர தொழில் நிறுவனங்கள், சூரிய சக்தியை உற்பத்தி செய்வதில் அதிக முதலீடு செய்வது கடினம்.
சூரிய சக்தி மூலம் மின்சாரத்தை உற்பத்தி செய்ய ஏற்படும் அதிக செலவை குறைப்பதற்கான எவ்வித திட்டத்தையும், அரசு அறிவிக்கவில்லை. இதை சரி செய்ய, விற்பனை வரியை தளர்த்தி, வாங்குபவர்களுக்கு மானியம் வழங்கி இருக்கலாம்.சாதாரணமாக, வீடுகளில், 1 கிலோவாட் சூரிய ஒளி மின் கட்டமைப்பை ஏற்படுத்த, 2.50 லட்சம் ரூபாய் செலவாகும்.
இதில், 75 ஆயிரம் ரூபாயை, மத்திய அரசு மானியமாக அளிக்கிறது; இதற்கு விற்பனை வரி தனி.
ஒரு நாளுக்கு, 1 கிலோவாட் சூரிய ஒளி மின் கட்டமைப்பில், 5 யூனிட் வரை உற்பத்தி செய்ய முடியும். இவ்வாறு உற்பத்தி செய்யப்படும் மின்சாரத்திற்கு, உற்பத்தி சார்ந்த ஊக்கத் தொகையை, புதிய திட்டம் அளிக்கிறது.அதன்படி, 1 யூனிட்டுக்கு இரண்டு ரூபாய் வீதம், ஒரு நாளுக்கு, 10 ரூபாய் ஊக்கத் தொகை கிடைக்கும். தொடர்ச்சியாக, 300 நாட்கள் உற்பத்தி செய்தால், ஆண்டுக்கு, 3,000 ரூபாய் மட்டுமே ஊக்கத்தொகையாக கிடைக்கும்.

மாநில அரசு, இதற்கான மூலதன செலவிற்கு, எவ்வித மானிய தொகையையும் அறிவிக்க வில்லை; அதிக முதலீட்டிற்கு, இந்த ஊக்கத் தொகை மிகவும் சொற்பமே. அதனால், இது எப்படி முதலீட்டாளர்களை ஊக்குவிக்கும், என்பது சந்தேகமாக உள்ளது. சூரிய ஒளி மின் கட்டமைப்பை ஏற்படுத்த தேவையான முதலீட்டு தொகை சுமையைக் குறைக்க, வங்கி அல்லது "சிட்கோ' மூலம் கடன் பெறும் வசதியை ஏற்படுத்தி, 5 சதவீத விற்பனை வரியை தளர்த்தி இருக்கலாம்.
புதிய கொள்கை நீண்ட கால திட்டம். நாள்தோறும் மின் தடையால், அவதிப்படும் பாமர மக்களுக்கு, இத்திட்டம் ஒரு அவசர தீர்வாகாது. தற்போது நிலவும், 14 மணி நேர மின் தடை மற்றும் 3,500 மெகாவாட் பற்றாக்குறைக்கு, இப்புதிய கொள்கை எப்படி அவசர தீர்வாகும் என்பது சந்தேகமாக உள்ளது. ரகுநாதன், சோல்கர் சோலார் தொழில் நிறுவனத்தின் மேலாண் இயக்குனர்

from Ananda Vikatan: article on Solar Energy. it discuss on pros and cons of Solar energy.
1. solar energy is optimum for a middle class/upper class family with a min investment of 50k and they might need the space in their own property.
2. massive production of Solar energy is not yet implemented.bigger ones are 1 in Gujarat with 214 MW and 1 in china with 200 MW.

தாங்க முடியாத மின்வெட்டில் தவிக்கிறது தமிழகம். ஒரு நாளில் மின்சாரம் இருக்கும் நேரத்தைவிட, இல்லாத நேரமே அதிகம். பாதிப்பின் உச்சத் தில் மின் வாரிய அலுவலகங்களை தீயிட்டுக் கொளுத்தும் அளவுக்கு மக்களின் கோபம் கொழுந்துவிட்டு எரிகிறது. இந்தப் பிரச்னைக்கு என்னதான் தீர்வு? மின்சார உற்பத்தியை மேம்படுத்த அரசு எடுக்கும் முயற்சிகள், மக்களே மின் உற்பத்தி செய்து தேவையைப் பூர்த்தி செய்துகொள்வது என்று இரு தீர்வுகள் முன்வைக்கப்படுகின்றன. மின்சார விநியோகத்தில் ஏற்படும் மின் இழப்பைச் சரி செய்வது, பழுதடைந்த மின் நிலையங்களைச் சீரமைப்பது, புதிய மின் நிலையங்களை உருவாக்குவது, மரபுசாரா மின் உற்பத்தியை ஊக்குவிப்பது எனப் பல யோசனைகள் அலசப்படுகின்றன. இவற்றை எல்லாம் உடனடி யாக அரச£ங்கம் செய்ய வேண்டும்.

மக்களால் செய்யக் கூடியது என்ன?

நடைமுறையில் மின்வெட்டு பிரச்னையைச் சமாளிக்கப் பலரும் இன்வெர்ட்டர் மற்றும் யு.பி.எஸ். இயந்திரங்களைப் பயன்படுத்துகிறார்கள். இவை மின்சாரத்தை உற்பத்தி செய்வது இல்லை. மின்சாரம் இருக்கும்போது சேமித்துவைத்து, இல்லாதபோது பயன்படுத்த உதவுபவை. இவற்றிலும் சேமிப்பதற்குத் தொடர்ச்சியாக சில மணி நேரம் மின்சாரம் வேண்டும். ஆகவே, இதுவும் பல இடங்களில் கை கொடுக்கவில்லை. வேறு என்னதான் வழி? காற்றாலை, சாண எரிவாயு, காய்கறிக் கழிவுகள் எனப் பல முன்மாதிரிகள் இருந்தாலும் இவை யாவும் சாதாரண மக்கள் பயன்படுத்தும் தொழில்நுட்பத்திலும் செலவிலும் இன்னும் வரவில்லை. அதனால், நடப்பில் உள்ளதும் மக்களுக்குச் சாத்தியமானதுமான மாற்றுவழி சூரிய சக்தி மின்சாரம் மட்டும்தான். இப்போது மாநிலம் முழுக்கப் பல மருத்துவமனை களிலும், கல்லூரிகளிலும், வீடுகளிலும் 'சோலார் பவர் பேனல்கள்’ தென்படுகின்றன.

என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும்?

நமக்குச் சூரிய மின்சாரம் புதிது அல்ல. தமிழகத்தின் பல்வேறு மலைக் கிராமங்களில் பல ஆண்டுகளாக சூரிய மின்சாரம் நடைமுறையில் இருக்கிறது. பொதுவாக, ஒரு நடுத்தர வர்க்க வீட்டில் இருக்கும் மின் சாதனங்கள் நான்கு விளக்குகள், இரண்டு மின் விசிறிகள், ஒரு டி.வி., ஒரு கிரைண்டர், ஒரு மிக்ஸி, ஒரு மோட்டார். இவற்றைப் பயன்படுத்த சுமார் ஒரு கிலோ வாட் மின்சாரம் தேவைப்படும். இதைச் சூரிய சக்தி மூலம் தயாரிக்க இரண்டு லட்ச ரூபாய் செலவாகும். இதில் 40 சதவிகிதம் பணத்தை அரசு மானியமாக வழங்குகிறது. அரசு நிறுவனமான தமிழ்நாடு எரிசக்தி மேம்பாட்டு முகமை, மாநிலம் முழுக்க சுமார் 90 தனியார் முகவர்களுக்குச் சூரிய மின் சக்திக் கட்டுமானத்தை அமைத்துத் தருவதற்கான அங்கீகாரத்தை வழங்கி இருக்கிறது. இவர்களை அணுகினால் நேரடியாக நமது இருப்பிடத்துக்கே வந்து அமைத்துத் தருவார் கள். சூரிய மின்சாரம் தயாரிக்க, சூரிய ஒளியைக் கிரகித்து மின்சாரமாக மாற்றும் பேனல்கள் முக்கியம். இடம் இருந்தால் தனி இடங்களில் அமைக் கலாம். இல்லை எனில் வீடுகளின் மொட்டை மாடிகளில் அமைக்கலாம். அடுக்குமாடிக் குடியிருப்புகளில் வசிப் பவர்கள் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து மொட்டை மாடியில் சோலார் அமைத்தால் செலவு குறையும். ஆனால், ஆரம்பச் செலவு அதிகம் என்பது இந்தத் தொழில்நுட்பம் மீது சொல்லப்படும் குறை.

''அப்படிப் பயப்படத் தேவையில்லை. ஒரு முறை இதற்கு முதலீடு செய்து விட் டால், 20 வருடங்களுக்குப் பிரச்னை இல்லை. நீண்ட நாள் நோக்கத்தில் இது லாபம்தான். இப்போது எங்கள் வீட்டின் மின் கட்டணம் கணிசமாகக் குறைந்து உள்ளது. தவிர, எங்கள் வீட்டில் 24 மணி நேரமும் மின்சாரம் இருக்கிறது'' என்கிறார் கோவையைச் சேர்ந்த வேலுமணி. 50 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் செலவில் இவர் அமைத்திருப்பது மின் இணைப்புடன் கூடிய சூரிய மின் சக்தி அமைப்பு. மேலே சொன்ன 1.2 லட்ச ரூபாய் செலவில் அமைப்பது முழுவதுமாக சூரிய சக்தி மூலம் பெறப்படும் மின்சாரம். ஆனால், இதனுடன் ஒப்பிட்டால் செலவு குறைவு என்பதால் மின் இணைப்புடன் கூடிய சோலார் சிஸ்டத்தையே பலரும் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கின்றனர்.

மழைக் காலத்தில் இந்தத் தொழில்நுட்பம் செயல்படுமா? பலரும் கேட்கும் கேள்வி இது. ''நவீன தொழில்நுட்பப்படி சூரிய வெப்பத்தில் இருந்து அல்ல... வெளிச்சத்தில் இருந்துதான் மின்சாரம் உற்பத்தி ஆகிறது. ஆகவே, இரவு நேரத்தைத் தவிர பகல் முழுவதும் மின்சாரம் உற்பத்தி ஆகும்'' என்கிறார் கோவையில் சூரிய மின் சக்தி அமைப்பு முகமையை நடத்தும் சசிகுமார். ''ஒரு முறை சூரிய மின் சக்திக் கட்டமைப்பை அமைத்துவிட்டால் பராமரிப்புச் செலவு என்று எதுவும் இல்லை. சில வருடங்களுக்கு ஒரு முறை பேட்டரி மாற்றினால் போதும். இடையில் ஏதேனும் பழுது என்றால் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட முகவாண்மை நிறுவனமே வந்து சரிசெய்து தரும்.

சூரிய மின்சாரம் சரியான தீர்வா?

சூரிய சக்தி மின்சாரம்தான் இருப்பதிலேயே சாத்தியமானது என்று பலரும் கை காட்டி னாலும், சூரிய மின்சாரத்தை மட்டுமே முழுமை யான தீர்வாகக் கருதிவிட முடியாது. உதாரணமாக, இதை ஒரு தனி நபர் அமைக்கக் குறைந்தது 50 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் பணமும் சொந்த வீடு இட வசதியும் வேண்டும். மூன்று வேளை உணவுக்கே வழியற்ற ஏழை மக்கள் இவ்வளவு பணத்துக்கும் இடத்துக்கும் எங்கே செல்வார்கள்? ஆகையால், நடுத்தர வர்க்க மக்களுக்கும் உயர் வர்க்க மக்களுக்கும் இது ஒரு தீர்வைக் கொடுக்கலாம்.

இதே நிலைமைதான் அரசாங்க அளவிலும். உலகிலேயே மிகப் பெரிய சூரிய மின்சார உற்பத்தி நிலையம் சீனாவில் இருந்தது. இதன் மொத்த மின் உற்பத்தித் திறன் 200 மெகா வாட். கடந்த ஆண்டு சீனாவைவிட பெரிய சூரிய மின் உற்பத்தி நிலையத்தை குஜராத்தில் அமைத்தார் நரேந்திர மோடி. அதன் உற்பத்தித் திறன் 214 மெகா வாட். ஆனால், அனல் மின் நிலையம் மற்றும் அணு மின் நிலைய உற்பத்தியுடன் ஒப்பிட்டால் இது சொற்பம்தான். ஆகையால், நாடு எதிர்கொள்ளும் மிகப் பெரிய அளவிலான மின் தட்டுப்பாட்டுக்கு முன் சூரிய மின்சார உற்பத்தி என்பது யானைப் பசிக்கு சோளப்

Tamil Nadu Govt Unveils New Solar Energy Policy
http://www.kseboa.org/news/tamil-nadu-govt-unveils-new-solar-energy-policy-21102470.html

Attempting to capitalise on 300 clear sunny days available in the state annually, Tamil Nadu government unveiled a new solar energy policy, envisaging to produce over 3000 MW of power, exclusively from solar power, in the next three years. Christened as 'Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy 2012,' the new initiative of the Jayalalithaa government, with a slew of encouraging features, finds opportunity in the rapidly declining solar power costs and aims at tapping at least 1000 MW through solar power annually in the power-starved state.
".. (the policy) intends to made solar energy a people's movement just as it did earlier in the case of rain water harvesting," the policy said.

Targeting to clock a production of 3000 MW of power by 2015, the new policy says the falling prices of solar panels were on the verge of coincidence with the growing cost of grid power in India.

The policy also involves large-scale power consumers into the initiative by mandating six per cent SPO (Solar Purchase Obligation) on them.

The SPO to be administered by TANGEDCO (Tamilnadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd) will be applicable to all High Tension (HT) consumers, including SEZs and IT parks, but Low Tension (LT) consumers like domestic consumers, powerlooms, cottage and tiny industries, agricultural consumers will be exempted from the mandate, the policy said.

Elaborating on how 3000 MW of power would be generated, the policy said, "In utility scale out of 1500 MW, 1000 MW will be funded through SPO and balance 500 MW through Generation Based Incentive (GBI) provided by the government."

The policy also promotes solar rooftops in domestic and government buildings.

As for the domestic rooftop, a GBI of Rs two per unit for the first two years, Re one for next two years and 50 paise per unit for subsequent two years will be provided for all solar or solar-wind hybrid rooftops beign installed before March 31, 2014.

The state government, in all its new buildings, will provide solar rooftops, while all existing buildings will be provided solar panels in a phased manner.

The government would also be energising over one lakh street lights through solar energy by 2015-16 and water supply installations in local bodies will be energised through solar power in a phased manner.

Solar parks with a capacity of 50 MW each will be developed in 24 districts across the state.

The government has also announced a slew of incentives to power manufacturers, encouragaing them into solar power. "Appropriate tax incentives as per the Tamil Nadu Industrial Policy will be provided to attract investors from India and abroad," it said.

In a bid to reduce the transmission and distribution losses, aggregate technical and commercial losses and other infrastructure expenditure, solar power plants will be set up in all industrial estates, subject to availability of land at reasonable cost.

Encouraging households into producing solar power, the government will also promote net metering to promote rooftop penetration.

It has also announced exemption from electricity tax, tax concessions, exemption from demand cut to those who produce solar power from their rooftop.

An Empowered Committee comprising Chief Secretary, Finance Secretary, Energy Secretary, CMD-TANGEDCO, CMD-Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency - Member Secretary and TANGEDCO technical member will accord project clearances for the establishment of solar power projects in the state.


^^
Good Move..All the moves are Happening in Paper only...No Execution...!!!!

Tamil Nadu Govt Unveils New Solar Energy Policy
http://www.kseboa.org/news/tamil-nadu-govt-unveils-new-solar-energy-policy-21102470.html

As for the domestic rooftop, a GBI of Rs two per unit for the first two years, Re one for next two years and 50 paise per unit for subsequent two years will be provided for all solar or solar-wind hybrid rooftops beign installed before March 31, 2014.



Good move. :cheers:

But, GBI for rooftop can be implemented only through FIT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feed-in_tariff). This requires a different infrastructure for distribution. Can some one please say, how the govt is planning to proceed in this regard?

Solar plant project takes off (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/solar-plant-project-takes-off/article4021578.ece) :cheers:

Coimbatore district, which is known for the large number of wind mills, is getting into solar power plants. The district's renewable energy initiatives now cover solar energy too. A one MW solar power plant has been set up in Coimbatore and the energy generated is supplied to the grid.

The crucial factor in making any Solar project viable is the JNNSM subsidy from CG.

TEDA is the nodal agency in TN for the same.

The success & failure of the Solar Dream Projects of TN is mainly dependent on this.

For Bulk Consumers:

TN SG is suggesting approx 6% of total consumption from Renewable energy sources.

That means any big consumer will buy 94 % at normal current rates say Rs. 3 per KWH and 6% at a higher rate - may be Rs. 14 per KWH. The average price works out to Rs. 3.66 per KWH.

Really a workable solution provided that they are able to put up an equivalent plant for 6% or buy from other solar energy suppliers 6% of their total requirement. (Last Mile Connectivity is still the issue to be sorted out by SG)

Good move. :cheers:

But, GBI for rooftop can be implemented only through FIT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feed-in_tariff). This requires a different infrastructure for distribution. Can some one please say, how the govt is planning to proceed in this regard?

Hope govt implements a similar one in TN well ahead of March 31, 2014(last date to avail GBI), so that rooftop owners get benefited.

Smart grid project inaugurated (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/smart-grid-project-inaugurated/article4015596.ece) :cheers:

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy inaugurating the Puducherry Smart Grid Project in Puducherry on Friday. —Photo: T. Singaravelou
The Smart Grid project evolved by the Power Ministry’s India Smart Grid Task force was on Friday inaugurated in Puducherry on a pilot basis. Chief Minister N Rangasamy in the presence of Power Minister T. Thiagrajan inaugurated the pilot project.

The main highlights of the project are installation of advance metering infrastructure in houses with a Control Data Centre in the Electricity Department, which would help consumers as well as the department. The installation of the advanced meters would help consumers monitor real-time power consumption data and at any point of time know the exact billing amount. Since consumers could know the billing on a real time basis, they could appropriately manage power usage, an official in the Electricity Department told The Hindu.

As far as the department was concerned, they would be able to monitor online energy usage patterns and detect malpractices, energy theft and thus enabling them to connect or disconnect supply online. This would help the department save power. Besides, the advance metering system would help the department to bill power tariff online and collection of dues online, said the official.

As a beginning, the department installed 150 meters in Saram and another 3000 meters would be installed in Marapalam area shortly, he added.

Smart grid may cut power bills (http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article1307300.ece)

2001-02 wind policy brought more than 7000MW installation to the state by 2012.

Will this solar policy bring 5000MW of solar power to state by 2022??

2001-02 wind policy brought more than 7000MW installation to the state by 2012.

Will this solar policy bring 5000MW of solar power to state by 2022??

FIT pilot project has started in a TNEB office in chennai and in auroville. Smart grid has started in puducherry. TN govt has announced GBI for rooftop solar. Panel prices are coming down. So, with all these good factors, we are most likely to achieve that. Most probably before 2022. :cheers:

To start with, they should make it mandatory for all high rises to have solar panels on rooftop.

Rs 8.35 million for erecting 16 solar-powered bus shelters in Tiruchi city (http://panchabuta.com/2012/10/23/rs-8-35-million-for-erecting-16-solar-powered-bus-shelters-in-tiruchi-city/) :cheers:

According to reports, even as the corporation is all set to take up a project to refurbish bus shelters across the city with private participation, Tiruchi MP P.Kumar, AIADMK, has sanctioned Rs.83.50 lakh for erecting 16 solar-powered modern bus shelters in the city. The modern bus shelters would be on the lines of the one installed in New Delhi and fitted with solar panels for lighting and come with a mobile phone charger, Mr.Kumar told The Hindu over phone.

The move comes amidst a corporation initiative to attract private sponsors to renovate the bus shelters, traffic islands and parks as part of the city beautification initiative.

The district authorities have already had a couple of rounds of meetings with private sponsors, at the behest of N.R.Sivapathi, Minister for School Education, Law, Youth Welfare and Sports.

According to sources in the corporation, the civic body is in the process of finalising the designs, estimates, and allocation of sites to private sponsors for development. There are about 240 bus shelters in the city. Sources indicated that the contract could be awarded in 25 packages. Meanwhile, Mr.Kumar has sanctioned funds from his MP’s Local Area Development Fund to erect 16 bus shelters. The type-design of the bus shelters is likely to be on the lines of the few modern bus shelters put up by the corporation in the city a few years ago, though their sizes could vary.

The bus shelters would come up at Karumandapam (3) , Ponamalaipatti (2), Government Hospital at Puthur, Thennur High Road, Woraiyur Linga Nagar, Anna Statue near Chinthamani, Uyyakondan Thirumalai, Srirangam Amma Mandapam, Court campus, Head Post Office, TVS Tollgate, and G.Corner.

The new bus shelters would be set up at an estimate of about Rs.4.50 lakh on an average though the ones at GH and Anna Statue would entail an investment of Rs.9 lakh and Rs.7 lakh respectively.

The shelters would be fitted with stainless steel seats for commuters.

Investments in wind energy fall in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu may soon get the wind knocked out of it. Swathi Narayanan of CNBC-TV18 reports that investments into wind energy in the state have fallen nearly 75 percent this fiscal. And the state's attempts to improve its power situation may scatter to the winds.

Tamil Nadu may soon get the wind knocked out of it. Swathi Narayanan of CNBC-TV18 reports that investments into wind energy in the state have fallen nearly 75 percent this fiscal. And the state's attempts to improve its power situation may scatter to the winds.



Tamil Nadu, a state that depends on wind energy for nearly 15 percent of its total power generation is in dire straits.



Last fiscal, wind power projects to generate 1,083 megawatts were installed in the state which is struggling with an acute power shortage but in the first half of this year, the installed capacity has dropped to a mere 150 megawatts.



Ramesh Kymal, CMD, Gamesa, chairman, IWTMA, says that compared to more than 1000 mw last yearr we have done only 150 mw in the first half. And I can assure you between now and March we will have another 50 mw.
So about 1100 mw, we are talking about Rs 7000 crore investment made in TN. This year only 200 mw is going to come which is only Rs 1300 crore.



For the Jayalalithaa government, this steep fall in investment also means a sharp drop in revenue potential.



Kameswara Rao, leader - energy, utilities, & mining, PwC, say that it is an immediate decline in capex in the state and the as well as loss of revenue that the state would have got by selling this power to other parts of the country. Experts blame this loss in investment interest on two factors.



First, from the 31st of March, the tax credits available to investments in the sector have been withdrawn, making it unattractive. Second, payments from the debt-ridden Tamil Nadu Electricity Board have dried up.



"The feed and tariff market that is selling to the utility is anyway more or less dead because the TNEB has not paid people supplying wind for the last year. For a little more than a year they have not paid anybody," says Kymal.



Add to this the poor infrastructure in the state, and wind energy players are increasingly looking at taking their money to states like Maharashtra and Gujarat.



Unless the state government acts fast to rectify some of these problems, chances are Tamil Nadu's power short fall of 4,000 megawatts will grow exponentially and this will leave the state literally powerless to fuel growth.



http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/cnbc-tv18-comments/investmentswind-energy-fallstamil-nadu_772766.html

State rolls out incentives for residents to go solar


http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01246/TH25_solar_eps_1246990f.jpg

The scheme of generation-based incentive (GBI), essentially aimed at covering domestic consumers, will be administered jointly by the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (Teda) and the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco).

Included in the recently-unveiled Solar Energy Policy, the scheme envisages providing Rs. 2 per unit for the first two years; Re. 1 per unit for the next two years and 50 paise per unit for the subsequent two years.

This will be applicable for all solar or solar-wind hybrid rooftop installations to be set up before March 31, 2014.

The State government’s incentive will be in addition to the subsidy being offered by the Union ministry of new and renewable energy. The incentive scheme will be, as of now, more relevant in the case of off-grid solar photovoltaic (SPV) plants for the benefit of domestic consumers.

If a domestic consumer wants to put up a kilo watt (KW) SPV plant, the cost will be around Rs. 2 lakh. Of this, the Union ministry’s subsidy will be Rs. 81,000. A 100-KW plant, which may be useful to a commercial establishment or an educational institution, costs around Rs. 1.8 crore, of which the Centre’s subsidy will be about Rs. 80 lakh.

Explaining features of the scheme, sources say the eventual consumers do not have to approach the Teda directly. There are about 120 vendors approved by the agency, from whom the SPV sets can be purchased.

The vendors will charge the consumers, excluding the amount of subsidy allowed. They will then apply to the Teda for approvals for the Central subsidy and the State government’s incentive.

As regards the role of Tangedco, assessors will visit the premises of those domestic consumers who have gone in for solar power installations.

There will have to be separate meters to calculate generation of solar power and Tangedco officials will prepare power bills, after adjusting the incentive amount.

With respect to solar power systems installed in individual homes which are connected to the grid, the facility of net metering will be allowed for feeding excess power to the grid with power credits accruing to photovoltaic energy producers.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/state-rolls-out-incentives-for-residents-to-go-solar/article4028644.ece

Disappointed not to find a e-version of the policy.. :(

Its here (http://www.eai.in/blog/2012/10/tamil-nadu-solar-energy-policy-2012-full-text.html)... :cheers:

Wind out but Sun is going to shine in TN. If they can make this a big sucess Solar may be the game changer.

With more than 70% from Coal. Tn Gov should focus on more renewable sources like off shore wind, Tidal and Bio mass.

Bio mass is a huge untapped oppurtunity. Chennai itself generates 3000 ton of waste. All Cities in TN will sum up to atleast 6000-8000 tons of waste. If they convert this into electricity and manure . It is like 2 mangoes in 1 stone.

Its here (http://www.eai.in/blog/2012/10/tamil-nadu-solar-energy-policy-2012-full-text.html)... :cheers:

:happy: Thanks a lot Senthil..

Interesting to read the comments section too..

Interesting comment by Mr. Periasamy in the above link:

It is unfortunate that thinking that we are " progressive" and also by
falling prey to popular sentiments, TN Government is yet again doing a
mistake on the power front.

In the past 15 years we encouraged Wind Mills in a big way. About Rs.50,000 crores has been invested to install about 6300 MW of Wind mills. From these Wind Mills, we are hardly getting
about 3000 MW maximum for just few months in a year. The PLF is hardly
14 % as against 70-80% for Coal / Nuclear plants.

If only we had invested this Rs.50,000 crores in Coal / Nuclear plants
we could have installed 7000 MW and we would be getting atleast 6000 MW
for all 365 days in a year and for all 24 hours a day.

Now we would not have had any power cut at all !

But today, every one is unhappy.

The State is struggling with power cut. The people are unhappy.

The wind mill owners could not repay the loans as the PLF of wind mills
is hardly 12-18% as against the promised level of 20-25% . TNEB is also
not able to pay its dues to the wind mill owners in time due to higher
cost of wind power. The CDM benefits are also practically nothing.

So, the Wind Mill Owners are unhappy.

The Accelerated Depreciation benefit has been withdrawn as originally
announced. The Wind mills are not giving the projected PLF. So, there is
no more demand for Wind mills.

The result, the Wind Mill manufacturing companies are also unhappy.

A similar situation is awaited for Solar power due to this Solar push !

Please look at the following facts :

1) The PLF of Solar plants can not be more than 20%. That means, this

3000 MW solar is just equivalent to 750 MW of Coal / Nuclear plant (3000
x 20/80). But we are going to spend close to Rs.25000 crores for this
750 MW !

2) Solar will be available only during day time. In another one year, after the commissioning of about 3000 MW of ongoing Coal / Nuclear projects, we will not have any
shortage in day time. We may have peak time shortage only, unfortunately when Solar
power will not be available.

Hence this investment will become redundant after one or two years
unless we are planning for atleast about 2000 MW Battery storage !

3) To use the Solar power effectively, Coal / Nuclear plants will be
proportionately asked to back down, like it is being done for utilising
the Wind Mills today.

Will this not affect the financial performance of Coal / Nuclear plants ?

4) The life of the Batteries is hardly 5-6 years. The replacement cost
and the disposal of batteries are going to be big challenges.

5) In TN, we have a combination of dust and humid climate. With this
combination, there is need for frequent cleaning of PV Cells. This adds
to operating cost and also decreases the life of PV cells.

In countries like Germany it is some what better due to frequent rain and clean air, though the PLF there is much lower.

6) Regarding the cost of solar power, the story is awful. If we take a
very optimistic figure of just Rs.1,50,000 per KW of installed capacity
for a typical roof top plant, the interest alone works out Rs.18,000 per
year @ 12% interest rate. The value of electricity produced is going to be just Rs.9,000
(5x300x6).

What about the Battery replacement cost, depreciation of the original plant investment, cleaning cost, etc ?

Does it make any economic sense ?

So, I fervently appeal to all the technical people to understand the
power resource options in the right perspective and intervene in this
matter.

We may at best encourage CSP Solar power plants with Gas / Coal /
Bagasse hybrid and reduce further investments in Gas Turbines to meet
Peak demand.

If at all we are bent on going Solar without the above hybrids, it is
better to install them atleast as hybrids along with Wind Mills. This
way we can utilize the infrastructure already created for Wind Mills in a
better manner. Moreover, many of the Wind Mills which are installed 10
to 15 years back are likely to be decommissioned soon.

Guide to choose Inverter for Home / Office with use of Solar Energy


http://solarresource.in/guide/Guide_for_Solar_Inverter.pdf