Power Insider Asia

Fraunhofer ISE and India in MoU for Solar R&D

Deepak Sharma — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:22:40 +0000

Secretary Ratan P. Watal in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India and Prof. Eicke Weber, Institute Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Freiburg signed a MoU a short time ago in Berlin in the presence of Sujata Singh, the Indian Ambassador to Germany. "For a long time now, Fraunhofer ISE and India have been involved in joint projects and the exchange of researchers," says Eicke Weber. "I am pleased that, with the signing of the MoU, an official basis has now been established for intensifying the cooperation. In India, scientific acclaim, great scientific expertise and large areas of land are coincident. These three aspects set the ideal conditions for solar applications." On the Indian side, the Solar Energy Center SEC in Delhi, which belongs to the MNRE, will coordinate the work with Fraunhofer ISE. Examples of planned pilot projects are photovoltaic test centers, the development of test regulations for concentrating collectors, solar thermal desalination demonstration systems and hydrogen technology for stationary and mobile applications. Many projects between Fraunhofer ISE and India already have been planned in detail or are in the development phase. Thus, concentrator photovoltaics shall produce renewable hydrogen, which, upon demand, is converted into electricity using a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell. This type of fuel cell is also of interest for the field of electric mobility. In practical applications, the most important feature is a long lifetime under the given climate conditions. Therefore, test facilities for PEM fuel cells shall be built at the Solar Energy Center in India. Fraunhofer ISE holds experience in this field and has developed an outdoor test facility for material investigations, life-cycle tests and the analysis of climate factors on fuel cells. On this test stand, 30 test cells can be simultaneously analyzed under real conditions; for example, with respect to the effects of air pollution. The test stand can be set up at any given location and operates autonomously with integrated controls and safety monitoring. In a project sponsored by the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), a linear Fresnel collector was constructed that generates process heat up to 200 degrees Celsius. In contrast to the well-known parabolic trough concentrators, this Fresnel technology uses rows of flat mirrors mounted on holders near to the ground. Each row is tilted at an angle to achieve the optical effect of a parabolic concentrator. The reflected sunlight is concentrated on an absorber tube located above the mirrors. For this type of collector, the manufacture, tracking and maintenance are simpler than those for concentrator systems using curved mirrors. Using the long standing expertise of the researchers at Fraunhofer ISE as a basis, a prototype customized for production in India was developed. Now measurements of the prototype are to be carried in a demonstration power plant. For nearly two years, the scientists in Germany have assisted their Indian colleagues by carrying out simulations and evaluations in the IndiaOne project. In this project, a 1 MW electric solar thermal power plant is set up, based on the Scheffler reflector technology. The system provides both heat and electricity for the Brahma Kumaris Talheti complex in Rajastan.

Solar Industry Groups Urge U.S., EU, and China to Avoid Trade War

Deepak Sharma — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:15:03 +0000

An international group of solar industry trade associations meeting in Shanghai last week has issued a joint declaration appealing to China, the European Union and the United States to avert a trade war and negotiate a settlement to disputes over solar panels, according to one person who attended the meeting. The groups also urged the creation of a permanent inter-governmental committee, modeled on one in the semiconductor industry, to address solar competitiveness issues. The appeal comes amid rising tension over EU and U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made solar panels. The United States imposed tariffs last year, and the EU recently imposed provisional duties averaging 47 percent on imports of Chinese-made solar panels. Many U.S. companies favor a negotiated resolution, although U.S. firms have divergent interests. Companies that sell equipment and silicon to Chinese solar panel makers fear the effects of a trade war, but U.S. firms that install solar panels have benefited from low priced imports. U.S. and European panel manufacturers alleged that Chinese panel makers were benefiting from Chinese government subsidies and were dumping their products at prices below cost. Chinese panel makers have been struggling in the competitive oversupplied global market. Suntech, which led the world in solar panel sales in 2011, has been forced into bankruptcy and is negotiating a restructuring.

Landis+Gyr to Play Key Role in Smart Grid Award for TEPCO

Deepak Sharma — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:06:00 +0000

With Toshiba Corporation's recent announcement that Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has selected the firm's proposal for a smart metering communications system and associated meter data management system (MDMS), Landis+Gyr is poised to undertake its indispensable role for the world's largest smart grid project. While Toshiba will work as a prime contractor and system integrator of the communication system, together with NTT Group and NEC Corporation, Landis+Gyr, the global leader in smart meter technology, will be providing much of the project's technical foundation, including: supplying the Head End System (HES), network expertise, RF communications modules, large scale product deployment experience and the meter data management system (MDMS). "Landis+Gyr has been a keystone supplier of products and solution know-how for some of the largest smart metering deployments in the world," said Andreas Umbach, President and CEO of Landis+Gyr. "Our Gridstream(®) open-standards solution and software expertise, whether supporting RF mesh, PLC or other public network communications requirements, has provided unparalleled capability for our utility customers. Working with our partners, we look forward to providing TEPCO the tools for their 27 million customers to manage energy better." Smart metering is revolutionizing energy management and grid reliability across the globe. Smart metering solutions provide a two-way flow of data between customer meters and utility back-end systems. With this two-way data flow, utilities will be able to offer customers a broad array of new pricing, demand response, and energy automation options that enhance the efficiency and reliability of the electric grid. Customers will benefit from more information, expanded choices, and simpler, smarter management of their energy use. "We have built a special team to leverage our Gridstream suite and network expertise for the worldwide utility market," said Marius Chilom, Vice President and Chief Solution Officer for Landis+Gyr's Global Gridstream Team. "We think TEPCO's approach to this massive upgrade project truly represents the new way of business in the industry and will become a flagship for how utilities will approach the next generation infrastructure." Landis+Gyr offers the broadest portfolio of products and services in the electricity metering industry including integrated AMI solutions, communication systems and software, meters, and meter data management.

Haryana Challenges Adani Power Tariff Hikes

Deepak Sharma — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:03:28 +0000

Haryana is challenging in court a decision by the power regulator to allow utility Adani Power Ltd to raise tariffs, dealing a potential blow to a key sector struggling with chronic losses and erratic fuel supplies. The case filed by Haryana underscores the ability of local politics to derail a regulator decision that was hailed by power companies as a step toward ending electricity shortages that sap the competitiveness of businesses in India, hobbling economic growth. Haryana is home to the business hub of Gurgaon, where companies rely on costly generators to avoid major and frequent blackouts. Microsoft Corp , Google Inc and agribusiness giant Cargill Inc are some of the multinational firms based there. State power minister Ajay Yadav told Reuters his government had filed a challenge against an April ruling by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) that paved the way for Adani Power to increase the price at which it sells electricity to state-subsidized power distribution companies. CERC had also issued a similar ruling favourable to Tata Power Co Ltd , which sells to Haryana, but it was not immediately clear if the state would challenge that ruling as well. The regulator is also mulling a decision that could benefit Reliance Power Ltd. "We decided to file an appeal," Mr Yadav said on Tuesday, referring to the Adani Power ruling which was specific to the company's operations in Haryana and Gujarat states.bThe challenge was filed at the power tribunal and there is no indication when it will be heard as the judicial system is notoriously slow. An Adani spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. The company posted a net loss of Rs.586 crore in the quarter that ended March 31, more than double the loss incurred over the same period a year ago. It was not clear if the government of Gujarat would also appeal the ruling. Senior officials at the state energy ministry, who declined to be named as they are not authorized to speak to the media, said they could see the merits of the federal regulator's ruling in favor of Adani Power. India sits on the world's fifth-largest coal reserves, but local utilities rely on costly imports because domestic supplies are patchy as coal mining projects are mired in red tape and corruption. The government has struggled to balance the needs for private electricity firms to turn a profit while protecting voters in a country with hundreds of millions of poor. A general election, due within a year, could make the issue of power prices especially sensitive. Yadav said the Haryana government would take part in a committee that was formed to decide the price Adani Power could now charge, although the committee had missed an April 30 deadline to meet.

Alstom Grid and KEPCO Create Strategic Power Electronics Joint Venture

Deepak Sharma — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:57:20 +0000

Alstom Grid and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), one of the largest electric utilities in the world, have announced the creation of KEPCO Alstom Power Electronics Systems (KAPES). The joint venture will focus on delivering high voltage direct current (HVDC) projects in Korea. This long term strategic relationship aims at increasing Korean transmission grid capabilities based on Alstom technology. The joint venture is implemented with a shareholding of 49% for Alstom and 51% for KEPCO. The HVDC global market is expected to grow by €50 billion between now and 2020 and is a strategic growth area for Alstom Grid and KEPCO, as Supergrids develop around the world. Alstom's high voltage direct current technology is essential for bringing large amounts of power across long distances, with minimal losses, and is also used for integrating renewables and for offshore connections. Alstom Grid and KEPCO have been working together since 1997 on two important HVDC reference projects in Korea. Alstom provided the original 300 MW HVDC bipole link for the point-to-point submarine interconnection linking South Korea's Jeju Island across 101 kilometres with the mainland in the late 1990s. In 2009, Alstom was then awarded a second contract to supply the new converter stations for the 400 MW high voltage direct current (HVDC) bipole scheme. "This joint venture will allow Alstom to increase its HVDC technical footprint in Asia and KEPCO to benefit from Alstom's proven industrial expertise", said Patrick Plas, Senior Vice President, Alstom Grid. "We are very honoured to partner with the largest electric utility in South East Asia. Our past success in HVDC projects in Korea has built common understanding and a strong and shared feeling of confidence", Patrick Plas added.

Suzlon Loses Top Spot in India Wind Market Installations

Deepak Sharma — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:54:16 +0000

Suzlon Energy Ltd. Has ceded its position as India’s top wind-turbine supplier in the year ended March 31 for the first time in at least a decade, according to figures from an industry group. Wind World (India) Ltd., formerly known as Enercon (India) Ltd., took the top spot after installing 454 MW of turbine capacity last fiscal year, according to data from the Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers’ Association. Suzlon trailed with 415 MW of installations, while ReGen Powertech Pvt. was third with 273 MW. “The rankings offered a number of surprises as new market entrants pushed aside incumbents,” said Shantanu Jaiswal, a New Delhi-based wind analyst for Bloomberg New Energy Finance. General Electric Co.’s installations surged more than sixfold to 122 MW, the biggest jump among the companies surveyed, according to the IWTMA data. The company’s gain in orders may indicate a shift in customer preferences as GE sells turbines alone in contrast to competitors who include land acquisition and permitting as part of supply deals. GE won orders from developers such as Greenko Group Plc that are separating project development from turbine orders to improve returns. Suzlon, which committed India’s biggest convertible bond default in October, reported difficulties in carrying out orders due to a lack of working capital in the past three quarters. The company completed a 95 billion-rupee ($1.8 billion) debt reorganization plan last month that will allow it to execute $7 billion of orders, Group Chief Financial Officer Kirti Vagadia said in an April 23 statement. The company’s performance last year was hampered by its debt problems and by the suspension of two government incentives, though the company is confident of regaining market leadership in their home market. Vestas Wind Systems A/S, which tied with GE as the world’s biggest turbine maker, posted an 87 percent drop in installations to 34 MW, IWTMA figures showed. The Danish manufacturer, one of the first to enter the Indian market more than 25 years ago, focused on bigger, more profitable markets elsewhere. In total, India wind installations dropped 47 percent on year to 1.7 GW of wind capacity after the expiry of government incentives, according to IWTMA figures. Globally, a record 48.4 GW of new wind capacity was added in 2012, according to BNEF. A tax incentive drove a record 13.6 GW of installations in the U.S., where GE commissioned 96 percent of its turbines and Vestas sold 40 percent. The U.S. was Vestas’ biggest market.

NTPC to Merge with it’s own Hydro Subsidiary

Deepak Sharma — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:49:43 +0000

Indian energy company NTPC is merging its hydro projects unit, NTPC Hydro (NHL), with itself as a part of its business restructuring process. NHL was formed to under the development of small- and medium-sized hydropower projects. Confirming the speculations, NTPC spokesperson was quoted as saying that the merger would result into positives including operation consolidation, reduction in overhead expenditure, enhanced efficiency and administrative control, and optimum utilization of resources. An NTPC official familiar with the developments revealed that “an extraordinary general body meeting has been called on 24^th May to obtain the creditors' consent and shareholders' approval.” In addition, the company is planning to terminate the joint ventures including NTPC-Alstom Power Services, BF-NTPC Energy Systems (BFNESL) and NTPC-Telk. "While the decision to merge NHL has already been taken by the board, discussions on other JVs are yet to happen," added the NTPC official.

Pakistan Admits Defeat: Only Raised Prices Can Stop Blackouts

Deepak Sharma — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:47:24 +0000

Two Pakistani ministers in charge of water and power explained what can be done to end power cuts of up to 20 hours a day in parts of the country enduring temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius and above - absolutely nothing, it seems, except raise prices. The power shortages have sparked violent protests and crippled key industries, costing hundreds of thousands of jobs in a country already beset by high unemployment, a failing economy, widespread poverty and a Taliban insurgency. The "load-shedding" means many families cannot pump water, let alone run air-conditioners, with a disastrous knock-on effect on health and domestic life. Ministers Musadiq Malik and Sohail Wajahat Siddiqui "expressed their inability to overcome the crisis" at a news conference in Lahore, where the temperature was 40 C on Monday. The ministers termed financial constraints as a major, and incompetence as a minor, hurdle in resolving the issue. Presenting the realistic picture, the ministers announced that they were going to increase the price of electricity and gas for all sectors. They gave no details but said the problem would get worse before it gets better. About two-thirds of Pakistan's energy is generated by oil and gas and there are widespread gas shortages, with cars run by CNG, compressed natural gas, queuing up for hours overnight to fill their tanks.

New Desalination Plant in South Australia Approved for Construction

Deepak Sharma — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:40:32 +0000

A desalination plant to deliver improved water quality for the town of Hawker in South Australia has been approved for construction. The challenge has been to identify an appropriate desalination solution that is suitable for a remote location that can be delivered efficiently. “SA Water has held extensive discussions with the Flinders Ranges Council about options for improving water quality to the township," said Hunter. “While the current water quality supplied to Hawker complies with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011) health criteria, the Flinders Ranges Council and the local community regard it as too saline for drinking purposes. After conducting research into the issue, SA Water has determined the most appropriate solution a reverse osmosis desalination plant. “I am pleased that the local community, council and SA Water have arrived at a solution which applies the available funding in the most efficient way and gets the outcome the community wanted," explained Hunter. “The proposed new plant will desalinate the existing groundwater supplied to customers and fits within the $8 million allocated on the SA Water capital plan." Tenders are now being called for the construction of the project which is due to commence later this year. The new desalination plant is expected to be operational in the latter half of 2014.

Beijing Drainage Group Awards Pumping Station Contract

Deepak Sharma — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:37:54 +0000

Xylem Inc., the water company whose pumps helped clean tunnels flooded by Hurricane Sandy, has been awarded a contract from Beijing Drainage Group, a state-owned wastewater utility. Xylem will install 19 pumping stations in downtown Beijing as part of the $2.9 million contract, according to a statement from the White Plains, New York-based company. The pumps will improve water storage capability and prevent overflows by providing more efficient drainage and flood control, according to yesterday’s statement from the former ITT Corp. unit.