Gujarat Solar Power Thread

[jaadu]

The reason Gujarat and Rajasthan are hubs of solar power is mostly because of state policies. There are a lot of doubts if the projects under National Solar Mission will be completed as they have quoted very low prices , hoping that in "future" technology will make Solar Power generation Cheaper. If that does not happen according to their plan most of the projects won't be completed.

It is one of the reasons why the biggest private sector power company Tata Power did not bid for these projects.

Let's see what happens in future but state govt. incentives are important now !!

[senthilkumark]

Originally Posted by jaadu

The reason Gujarat and Rajasthan are hubs of solar power is mostly because of state policies. There are a lot of doubts if the projects under National Solar Mission will be completed as they have quoted very low prices , hoping that in "future" technology will make Solar Power generation Cheaper. If that does not happen according to their plan most of the projects won't be completed.

It is one of the reasons why the biggest private sector power company Tata Power did not bid for these projects.

Let's see what happens in future but state govt. incentives are important now !!

Originally Posted by senthilkumark

Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission: Status report

The first phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) is scheduled to be completed by 2013 only. However, as per progress available so far all the application segments of the Mission are going on as scheduled and on target, according to the Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

Projects sanctioned under the Phase-I of the JNNSM:

Projects under Migration Scheme (84 MW-Solar PV – 54MW, Solar Thermal – 30 MW)
Projects under New Project Scheme (Batch-I) (Solar PV- 150 MW, Solar Thermal- 470 MW)
Projects under New Projects Scheme (Batch-II) (Solar PV- 350 MW)
Projects under Roof top PV and Small Solar Power Generation Programme (RPSSGP) – 98.05 MW
Out of the above, PPA’s were signed with 21 selected bidders for 27 Solar Power projects (340 MW) by 27th January, 2012.
Projects under Roof top PV and Small Solar Power Generation Programme (RPSSGP) – 98.05 MW

Projects under Batch-II, Phase-I:

Solar PV Projects (340 MW) scheduled to be commissioned in 13 months from the date of signing of PPA (i.e. Feb, 2013)
Out of total 78 sanctioned Projects 11 Projects are to be commissioned by June, 2012.
The guidelines that deal with the import of solar modules for Phase-I are specified as under:
Batch-I: For Solar PV Projects, it is mandatory for Projects based on crystalline silicon technology to use the modules manufactured in India.

Batch-II: For Solar PV Projects to be selected in second batch, it will be mandatory for all the projects to use cells and modules manufactured in India. PV Modules made from thin film technologies or concentrator PV cells may be sourced from any country, provided the technical qualification criterion is fully met.

All the Developers using Crystalline Silicon technology have confirmed compliance of domestic content clause.

Following allegations in a section of the media about violation of guidelines by some companies, the Ministry has set up an inquiry committee. The committee comprises representatives from the Ministries of New & Renewable Energy, Power and Corporate Affairs. The inquiry committee is yet to submit its final report.

Crossposting this not to undermine Gujarat's contribution. But to say that JNNSM is also progressing well.

[senthilkumark]

What are the areas coming under Cambay Graben. Is the Gujarat govt taking any steps in this regard. There is lot of scope for Gujarat in this sector. Can someone please give some info?

Since there is no separate renewable energy thread for Gujarat, posting it here.

[senthilkumark]

ReNew Power commissions 25 MW wind power project in Gujarat

In keeping with its commitment to become one of the leading renewable energy producers in India, ReNew Wind Power Pvt. Ltd., an independent power producer, has commissioned its first wind farm project at Jasdan, Rajkot district, Gujarat. The 25.2 MW facility was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Narendra Modi.

Construction of the project began in October 2011 and was completed in March 2012. This facility comprises of 12 units of Suzlon S88 wind turbines with 2.1 MW capacity each. The project is selling its output under a under long-term PPA contract to Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (23.1 MW), and the remaining output to Philips India (2.1 MW).

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Modi said, “It gives me immense pleasure to welcome ReNew Power to Gujarat, our state has been a dominant player in the wind energy market and we look forward to have more and more projects and investments in the state to help build sustainable power source for energy starved India.”

The project demonstrates ReNew Power’s vision in recognizing the challenge of climate change, and its responsibility to combat it. “It gives us great pride to partner with the Government of Gujarat with its far reaching vision for wind potential in the state. We thank Mr. Modi for extending his support to ReNew Power and encouraging us by gracing today’s occasion,” Mr. Sumant Sinha, Founder Chairman and CEO, ReNew Power said.

Mr. Sinha added that in September 2011, global major, Goldman Sachs, had infused Rs 1,000 crore as equity. ReNew Wind Power bought 12 turbines of 2.1 MW each for the project from Suzlon Energy. The PTC India Financial Services Ltd (PFC) financed the wind power project in a 70:30 debt-equity ratio.

Mr. Tulsi Tanti, Chairman, Suzlon Group, said that ReNew’s growth is a clear marker of the evolution of the Indian wind sector and its emergence as the world’s third largest market. “We are pleased to partner with ReNew, and look forward to building a long term partnership. We are confident that ReNew Power will play a leading role in shaping the wind sector of tomorrow,” he said.

[aks_sky]

Originally Posted by senthilkumark

Since there is no separate renewable energy thread for Gujarat, posting it here.

Yea I was thinking about that too. I will see if the mods can transfer all the solar material and the wind material to this thread.. Link... Or we want to keep a separate solar thread and have a separate renewable thread?

[senthilkumark]

Originally Posted by aks_sky

Yea I was thinking about that too. I will see if the mods can transfer all the solar material and the wind material to this thread.. Link... Or we want to keep a separate solar thread and have a separate renewable thread?

Good idea. We can transfer all solar material to renewable energy thread.

[aks_sky]

Originally Posted by senthilkumark

Good idea. We can transfer all solar material to renewable energy thread.

Yea I think we will keep the solar energy thread as it is due to lot more activity ongoing in the solar sector compared to other renewables. The separate thread can cater to wind, tidal, geothermal etc.

[senthilkumark]

Update on Power Generation during March 2012 by Gujarat Solar Power Projects

Power India found that around 32 Solar Power Project Developers of Gujarat have started producing the sola energy and feeding the same to the Gujarat Grid.

Further, the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) of Gujarat have in its month Energy Accounts of March 2012 captured the generation from these solar plants.

As estimated by Gujarat SLDC,
Total Export: 71181.35 MWhs
Total Import: 919.63 MWhs
Net Solar Energy Generation: 70261.73 MWhs

[aks_sky]

Wow nice find man! Great numbers. Now to increase projects in other renewable energy sectors such as geothermal and wind and tidal.

[senthilkumark]

SOLAR POWER ROUTE to clean energy in Gujarat

The initiatives taken by the Gujarat government in the field of solar power generation are expected to help the state reduce carbon emissions by a staggering 8 lakh tonnes every year. Officials say this is a small but a definite step in the battle against global warming and climate change.
According to officials, a coal-based thermal power plant of 600 MW capacity consumes around 7.5 lakh tonnes of coal in a year.
"We will need to burn less coal because of this solar power generation capacity. This would result in significant reduction of 8 lakh tonnes of carbon emissions in a year," DJ Pandian, principal secretary, energy & petrochemicals department, says.
Also, at current costs, the state would save around Rs250 crore a year in terms of coal costs and freight charges because of the solar power capacity. Over the next 25 years, this would result into savings of a whopping Rs6,500 crore.
Officials concede that the government would pay significantly more for solar power when compared with power generated using coal or gas, but say that this is a small price to pay in the battle against climate change.
The 600 MW solar power generation capacity, including 214 MW at the Charanka Solar Park, has come up at an estimated investment of Rs9,000 crore. This capacity would enable generation of an estimated 1,000 million units of clean electricity every year at no additional cost.
Officials say that the state government also plans to replicate the 1 MW Chandrasan canal-top solar project, at other places.
"The Narmada canal network runs into thousands of kilometres. There is great potential for setting up solar panels on the canal to generate clean and green power. Installation of panels on the canal would eliminate the need to acquire huge tracts of land. It would also prevent evaporation of crores of litres of canal water," Pandian says.

[vadodra007]

Does anyone know of thermoelectric projects at all?

[UMANGSHUKLA]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIhHy8X0kCg

[senthilkumark]

Bollywood hero Ajay Devgan meets Gujarat Chief Minister Modi, discusses solar projects

According to reports, Bollywood actor Ajay Devgan on Tuesday met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and showed keenness to enhance participation in the solar power generation projects in the state, official sources said.

After setting up a 25 MW solar power plant through a joint venture in Gujarat’s solar park at Charanka, the actor evinced interest to partner in the state’s canal-based solar power generation project.

Devgan thanked Modi for the government’s cooperation for his solar energy venture, an official statement said.

Modi told Devgan about the success of pilot project for generating solar power by installing panels on Narmada canal, as well as research on generating power by putting micro hydro turbines in the flowing water.

Devgan expressed desire to partner in this project, the statement said.

[senthilkumark]

Farooq praises BJP-ruled Gujarat for use of solar power

In a rare compliment from a UPA Minister for the BJP government in Gujarat, New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah today said the solar power plant atop a water canal in the state has shown the nation the way and it will be replicated by Damodar Valley Corporation.

"Gujarat has shown the way" with the commissioning of the world's first 1 MW canal-top solar power plant in Mehsana district, he said during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha.

The Gujarat project virtually eliminates the requirement to acquire vast tract of land and limits evaporation of water from the 750 meter long canal.

Abdullah said DVC has over 2000 km of canal network on which it wants to mount solar panels that can generated up to 1,000 MW electricity.
"States like Gujarat and Rajasthan have done commendable work in solar power," he said adding his ministry is eager to help states irrespective of which party was in power.

His statement drew loud thumping of desks from Opposition benches with Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) congratulating the minister for speaking frankly about the contribution made by states.

"We want to help state governments. We don't discriminate ....Hum sab Hindustani hai...Hindustan bachega to hum bachenge (We all are Indians, if India survives, then only we will survive)," he said, adding, "We want to strengthen the nation."

Abdullah also lauded Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for the vast network of renewable energy sources including solar and wind power set up in the state.

He said over 979 MW of solar power capacity has been set up in the country, of which 654.8 MW is in Gujarat, 197.5 MW in Rajasthan and 20 MW in Maharashtra.

The tariff has come down from Rs 18 per unit to about Rs 7 a unit, he said adding it will further come down when the second phase of projects come up.

[rajugentleman80]

Video on BBC NEWS about Gujarat Solar Park

It might be logical that solar power is a natural fir for India. After all, it's a large country with plenty of sunshine.

But in the past, solar energy has always been seen as a more expensive option.

The BBC's Adrienne Murray reports from Gujarat in India where a solar power facility may be starting to get the formula right.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18320330

[senthilkumark]

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation goes green, taps solar power for electricity needs

According to reports, pushing its endeavour to become an environment-friendly civic body, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has floated tender to install solar power electrical system at Sardar Patel Building – AMC’s main building at Danapith. This development promises to shave a major portion of AMC’s electricity bills.

Earlier, civic body had recruited energy engineers and has already switched on its energy efficient street lights.

The tender, as declared by the municipal corporation, entails commission, installation, supply and maintenance of the solar power system at their Danapith office. The facility is rated at 25 KW photovoltaic capacity.

“We are shifting to a green sourceof energy to curtail our electricity bills. All electrical appliances will be run by solar power except air-conditioners,” said municipal commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra.

Four other major electrical conversions are being planned on the same lines. “We want to switch to solar power in all of AMC’s main buildings,” said Mohapatra.

“Solar power at Danapith and west zone office of AMC at Usmanpura will be installed by AMC. The other two – Memco Sports Complex and Sardar Patel Stadium – will be converted by Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA),” he added.

As per officials of state electricity department, tenders for solar-powered Memco Sports Complex are already granted while the same for Danapith were recently invited. Tenders for ‘solar-ification’ of AMC’s Usmanpura office will be floated in two days’ time with Sardar Patel Stadium following soon after.

Danapith office of AMC, at present, utilises 1.25 lakh units electricity per month raking up a bill of Rs10.25 lakh, said officials of electricity department.

“With installation of solar power, we will be able to save around 4,000 units of electricity every month. A total of 25 KW solar energy will be generated and utilised. We will be able to save Rs1,500 of the electricity bill on a daily basis,” said officials.

The project will take around six months to complete. “June 20 is last date for interested parties to apply for Danapith’s tender.

Considering scrutiny, finalising, allotment of work and implementation, it will be six months before AMC’s Danapith office will run on solar power,” said officials.

[senthilkumark]

Asian Development Bank gives Rs 5 billion loan for Gujarat solar power supply grid

Earlier this year, speaking at the inauguration of the Gujarat Solar Park,Senior Climate Change Specialist of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Naoki Sakai said the bank has already invested US$100 million in Gujarat’s solar designs, and proposed US$ 500 million more on concessional terms for four main purposes — smart grid development for efficiency, building a second solar park within the state, expansion with solar smart transmission which will help stabilise erratic solar power supply, and vocational training with Gandhinagar-based Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU).

According to reports, the Asian Development Bank has sanctioned a low-interest loan of Rs 500 crore loan for the construction of a Solar and Renewable Power transmission grid, a first in the country. The construction of the power grid will be undertaken by the Gujarat Energy Transmission Company Ltd.

[senthilkumark]

Sardar Patel University develops unique solar tracker system

Solar power plants can harness 45 per cent more if the automated dual axis solar tracker system, developed by researchers at Sardar Patel University (SPU) in Gujarat state of India that works on sunflower motion – follows the sun as it moves.

It is the first indigenously designed solar tracker system in India and currently installed at the terrace of SPU’s Department of Physics. It generates up to 1.5 KWh of electricity through 20 multi-crystalline solar panels of 75 watt each.

India receives ample solar radiation in most parts with around 300 to 330 sunny days a year. The tracker system has been designed to provide rotation angles as per the rotation path of sun for the entire year for various regions of the country, said Shreelal Jha, Director (Technical) of the self-financed R&D and consultancy centre for impaired. He along with Dr Jayesh Gandhi, director (operations) of SFRCI developed this system.

The system is designed in a way so the batteries connected in the circuit stores excess power that can be later utilized in absence of solar light like early mornings, late evenings or at nights. The stored power helps in monsoon when solar radiation is uneven or unavailable. The unique auto grid changeover device in the system, takes care of uninterrupted power of 230 volt alternating current (AC) load. The device has a special feature whereby the tracker starts automatically at 5:45 am and shuts down automatically at 6:45 pm.

This system has been designed on sensor-based technology so as to avoid manual programming. It is capable for 3,400 horizontal rotations and 700 vertical rotation movements. The entire structure has been designed to survive wind speed of 60 metre per second during cyclonic conditions. Special funds were sanctioned by SPU vice-chancellor Dr Harish Pad and SFRCI chairman Dr A R Jani for this solar power plant which presently supplies power to the head of department’s office, the administrative office and the laboratory of physics department.

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Gujarat is doing wonders in solar energy exploitation. I wish Gujarat will set some more examples like these ones in solar architecture also.

Solar Powered Office Building

AGreenLiving

100% solar stadium

MetaEfficient

[Meeeet]

India harnesses solar power to meet demand
By James Fontanella-Khan in Charanka, Gujarat

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article.

Two years ago, the dusty plains of Charanka were just desert wasteland that could barely sustain life, let alone create energy.
Today, the isolated area in the western state of Gujarat, about 30km from the border with Pakistan, is at the forefront of India’s solar power boom, boasting Asia’s largest solar energy park by output.

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article.

The recently inaugurated Gujarat Solar Park was developed in less than two years with the co-operation of 21 international companies. Surpassing China’s Golmud park in terms of its potential output, the $600m project marks India’s rise as a key market for global solar power developers and manufacturers.
Laurence Mulliez, chief executive of Eoxis, a solar investment fund focused on southern Europe, says India is the new frontier for solar energy. “The potential is huge,” she said on a recent visit to Gujarat.
Plagued by power shortages, India desperately needs energy. More than 400m people still lack access to electricity, and the International Energy Agency estimates that India’s consumption demands are likely to double by 2035.
Although conventional fossil fuels will fill the bulk of that demand, renewable energy is playing an ever greater role. New Delhi has directed companies to source 15 per cent of their energy needs from green resources by 2022, although sceptics doubt this measure will be enforced.
“They say they want us to use more green energy, but then they will have to deal with whatever we can get,” says one executive at a large conglomerate. “It’s not certain that we will have enough solar and wind ... to comply.”
India has a poor record when it comes to implementing reforms. However, some investors think the government has no option in this case but to proceed, given the country’s urgent power needs.
“India’s government is often criticised for not pushing through reforms that the country needs to keep growing,” says Alan Rosling, founder of solar developer Kiran Energy, whose investors include Bessemer Venture Partners, an early backer of Skype. “Solar is the one sector where the government has been forward thinking and progressive.”
India decided just two years ago to increase the capacity of solar power from virtually zero to 20,000 megawatts by 2022. That was part of a broader effort to boost the total capacity of renewable energy to 72,400MW out of the 455,000MW the country hopes to generate from all sources of energy within the next 10 years.
The new Gujarat park, for example, is capable of producing as much as 214MW.
These national targets are attractive for developers, because the government has agreed to buy the power they produce at subsidised rates, while demand from the private sector is expected to boom once companies are forced to buy green energy.
Those set to benefit include equipment suppliers in developed markets, such as Japan’s Sharp and America’s First Solar, as well as emerging market companies such as India’s Reliance Infra and China’s Trina Solar, a manufacturer of solar panels.
Early figures are encouraging. Indian investment in the solar energy sector rose to $4.2bn last year from almost nothing in 2010, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. This has spurred the generation of just less than 1,000MW in less than two years.
Developers will be under pressure to keep rates low, however, as India’s auction system – under which companies must bid to offer solar energy as cheaply as possible – forces energy providers to compete on prices.
In the second national auction last December the average tariff for a kilowatt-hour was Rs8.78 (17 US cents), about 30 per cent lower than the average tariff at the first auction two years earlier.
Although solar power is far from being on cost parity with more traditional sources of energy, the gap is shrinking rapidly. For example, imported coal sells at about Rs5 a KW-hour. Analysts believe that within five years the costs of solar could also be bought down to about Rs5.
Nevertheless, the sector still faces challenges. New Delhi has introduced barriers to the entry of foreign modules and cells used to produce panels as it seeks to nurture a domestic manufacturing sector that it hopes can compete with China. Developers say these obstacles could hurt investment and set back efforts to boost production of cheap and domestically generated power.
The central government’s sourcing rules are prompting many developers to set up shop in Gujarat, which has its own solar energy policy and has made a strategic decision not to impose any barriers on equipment origin.
“We think it’s better to leave the sector open,” says DJ Pandian, Gujarat’s energy policy chief. “That way it can develop faster ... [and] at a later stage manufacturing will also emerge. We don’t want to scare developers.”

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/55e544ac-9...#axzz1yI57YQNX