Electricity consumption drops in Gurgaon
Apart from a sudden drop in the temperature, the recurrent rainfall has also had a corresponding effect on the electricity consumption in the city. Officials of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) have said that there has been a 15% decline in electricity consumption this week. According to the data procured through DHBVN, the total power supplied in the past week was nearly 1,400 mW on an average daily. Following incessant rains, this week the demand was less than 1,200 mW on an average. “The weather and the cold breeze has reduced load on the power transmission system. There have been no reports of transformers overloading because of the low demand,” said Sanjeev Chopra, DHBVN general manager. A senior DHBVN official explained that the decrease on the load implies that residents are consuming less units of electricity. Officials said that over-dependence of consumers on air conditioners during summer leads to overloading and higher power consumption. The dip in temperature means less use of ACs. In addition, high humidity levels leads to AC compressors using less electricity that also contributes to lower power consumption. Last month, during peak summer season, the city’s daily demand was pushing to 1,500 mW. Despite a higher electricity supply, the city was falling short of 300 mW owing to transmission loss through electricity theft and poor infrastructure. This was leading to more than four hours of power outages at several places throughout the city. The India Meteorological Department (MET) department has predicted a high possibility of rains and thunderstorms in the coming weeks that may further bring down the temperature and Gurgaon’s dependence on electricity. Ted Williams Womens Jersey
141 Villages Electrified last week ; 8,960 Villages Electrified till date under DDUGJY
141 villages have been electrified across the country during last week (from 11th to 17th July 2016) under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojna (DDUGJY). Out of these electrified villages, 5 villages belong to Arunachal Pradesh , 56 in Meghalaya, 31 in Assam, 4 in Mizoram, 3 in Jharkhand,9 in Rajasthan ,3 in Madhya Pradesh , 23 in Odisha and 5 in Bihar, 1 each in Himachal Pradesh and Tripura . An update on ongoing electrification process In view of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s address to nation, on Independence Day, Government of India has decided to electrify remaining 18,452 unelectrified villages within 1000 days i.e. by 01st May, 2018. The project has been taken on mission mode and strategy for electrification consists of squeezing the implementation schedule to 12 months and alsodividing village electrification process in 12 Stage milestones with defined timelines for monitoring. 8,960 villages have been electrified till date. Out of remaining 8,995 villages, 497 villages are uninhabitated. 6,009 villages are to be electrified through grid,2,657 villages to be electrified through off-grid where grid solutions are out of reach due to geographical barriers and 329 villages are to be electrified by State Govt . Total 1654 villages were electrified during April 2015 to 14th Aug 2015 and after taking initiative by Government of India for taking it on mission mode, 7,306 additional villages have been electrified from 15th August 2015 to 17th July, 2016. In order to expedite the progress further, a close monitoring is being done through Gram Vidyut Abhiyanta (GVA) and various actions are also being taken on regular basis like reviewing the progress on monthly basis during the RPM meeting, sharing of list of villages which are at the stage of under energisation with the state Discom, identifying the villages where milestone progress are delayed. Cortez Kennedy Womens Jersey
Banks, financial institutions provide over Rs 78K crore for clean energy projects
Banks and financial institutions have sanctioned about Rs 78,830 crore funding for clean energy projects, of which Rs 33,482.83 crore has been released till March end this year, Parliament was informed today. “Banks and financial institutions (FIs) have supported (renewable energy) projects of 30,983.70 MW capacity with sanction and released an amount of Rs 78,829.69 crore and Rs 33,482.83 crore respectively as on March 31, 2016,” Power, Coal, Mines and New & Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha today. Overall, as many as 23 public sector and 7 private sector banks as well as 4 public sector and 2 private sector non-banking financing companies (NBFCs) have committed for financing renewable energy projects of 76,350 MW in the country with an outlay of Rs 3,72,240 crore. Goyal said the World Bank has also approved a loan of USD 620 million (Rs 4,228 crore) and a grant of USD 5 million (Rs 34.50 crore) from clean technology fund for the grid connected rooftop solar programme in May 2016. Public sector banks have provided Rs 19,639.52 crore finance for 12,619.83 MW renewable projects and have already released Rs 7,333.35 crore. Private sector banks have provided Rs 18,660.01 crore for 6,905.24 MW projects, and have released Rs 8,615.07 MW. Luke Kunin Jersey
Government doubles down on solar parks after SunEdison setback
India will double the target for energy to be generated from solar parks by 2020, a top government official said, as roof-top installations progress slower than anticipated and U.S. company SunEdison’s projects are threatened by its bankruptcy. The solar parks are sought after by companies because the Indian government acquires land for the installations and sets up transmission lines, major attractions in a country notorious for red tape and public opposition to land transfers. Debt-heavy SunEdison was one of the first companies to be drawn into the programme to encourage solar use, bidding aggressively to win a 500 megawatt (MW) project in Andhra Pradesh state in India’s south last November. But after its bankruptcy, SunEdison has been forced to initiate stake-sale talks with companies like Adani Group and Finland’s Fortum Oyj for funds, according to sources. “We are adding 25 more solar parks to create a buffer for exigencies like SunEdison,” Upendra Tripathy, secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, told Reuters on Monday. “Solar parks are a hit with companies. A lot of them are interested.” Tripathy declined to name any companies. But the new generation target of 40,000 megawatts for solar parks was likely to be approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet in two months, he said in an interview in his office. Pashupathy Gopalan, president of SunEdison Asia Pacific – which focuses mainly on India – did not immediately respond to calls for comment. He has previously said the company would stick to its India growth plans. Analysts said it was doubtful any rival would pick up the Andhra Pradesh project at the aggressive power prices promised by SunEdison. Once the fastest growing renewable energy developer in the United States, SunEdison beat out 29 other bidders for the solar park with a record-low tariff of 4.63 rupees per kilowatt-hour. Japan’s Softbank Corp, Taiwan’s Foxconn and India’s Bharti Enterprises have pledged to invest a total of about $20 billion in India’s renewable sector. Global solar giants like First Solar Inc, Trina Solar Ltd and Fortum are also expanding their presence. Modi wants India’s solar capacity to jump nearly 30 times from 2014/15’s levels to 100 gigawatts by 2020. Last month India secured a loan of more than $1 billion from the World Bank for its ambitious solar programme. Total investment needed for the solar goal is around $89 billion, according the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. India wants renewable energy, excluding hydro-electricity, to contribute 8 percent of the energy mix by 2022, up from 5.7 percent early this year. Kelvin Beachum Jersey
Power-surplus India to electrify Bangladesh trade
After turning power-surplus, India is working with Bangladesh on a plan to double the capacity of existing transmission interconnects and set up a third link for increasing cross-border electricity trade in a bid to widen the regional market as new generation capacities come up on both sides. Sources said the two sides are working to double the capacity of the Baharmapur-Bheramara line to 1,000 mw and also examine the possibility of raising the Tripura-Comilla line’s capacity to 200 mw. Also on the table is a proposal to lay a third line from Assam’s Bongaigaon to a suitable interconnect point in Bihar through Bangladesh. Though the proposal is at a nascent stage, sources said a HVDC (high-voltage, direct current) line with a capacity of around 2,000 mw is being looked at. The new line is expected to wheel power from hydel projects proposed to be built in the northeast, some of which can also be shared with Bangladesh.This line would allow an easy tap-in or tap-off facility for both countries to feed -or plug into -each other’s markets. According to the Asian Develop ment Bank, interconnected networks increase the operational efficiency and reliability of existing national grids and encourage the development of new renewable power resources.Besides Bangladesh, India also exports power to Nepal and imports from Bhutan. A wider regional market with easy export and import options will help balance the output swing from the 175 mw of solar power capacity being pursued by India. The talks for enhanced interconnect capacity are well-timed with developments on the ground as power generation grew at more than 9% in the April-June 2016 period against the same period of 2015. Ryan Anderson Authentic Jersey
NTPC saves Rs 550 crore/month on coal rationalistion, import control
State-owned NTPCBSE -0.54 % has achieved savings of approximately 30 paise per unit – approximately Rs 550 crore per month – on account of coal rationalisation and reduction in imports of fossil fuel, Parliament was informed today. “NTPC has achieved saving of approximately 30 paise per unit (approximately Rs 550 crore/month) due to rationalisation of coal linkage and reduction of imports,” Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal informed the Rajya Sabha. Further, due to various efficiency measures, including reduction in grade slippage, specific coal consumption (coal consumed per unit) in the first quarter of 2016-17 has come down by 2.9 per cent as against the same quarter in the previous fiscal, the minister said. The minister further said the government has taken various measures in order to ensure synergy between power and coal sectors. The coal availability, he said, is regularly monitored at the highest level, resulting in increased supply of domestic coal. The blocks have been allotted to certain power utilities to improve domestic coal availability and 100 per cent crushed coal is supplied from Coal India. Coal India, he said, will supply 100 per cent washed coal of G10 grade and above from October 1, 2018, as per environment ministry guidelines. “The amount of coal imported during 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 was 166.86 mt (million tonnes), 217.78 mt and 199.88 mt (provisional), respectively,” he said. Le’Veon Bell Womens Jersey
Tamil Nadu power minister to lead a team to Delhi to discuss UDAY
Goyal, who also handles the coal, new and renewable energy portfolios independently met Jayalalithaa at the state secretariat. During their meeting, Jayalalithaa reiterated to Goyal to consider her government’s request relating to joining the Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) – a scheme for financial turnaround of power distribution companies. She told Goyal that she had already requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in her letter dated October 23, 2015 to consider certain requests of the state government to ensure that the state finances are not adversely affected, while taking over the debt of TANGEDCO- the power distribution company. She also requested that the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) which are central public sector undertakings may extend co-operation by providing loans for both revenue and capital expenditure and also for the new power projects proposed by Tamil Nadu. She told Goyal that Tamil Nadu has an installed capacity of 7,600 MW of wind power and is in a position to sell wind power to other states who require to fulfill their Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO). Jayalaltihaa reiterated that it is absolutely essential to provide a dedicated green corridor to export the surplus power to other states. Derrick Shelby Jersey
Essar to fully operationalise Tori, Mahan power plants
Essar Power plans to make its 2×600 MW Tori power plant operational by the next financial year as the company expects to secure new fuel through government’s upcoming coal linkage auction, a company spokesman told ET. The plant, which is 43 per cent complete, will be built at an investment of Rs 4,100 crore. “All approvals for the plant are in place and the company has also signed long-term power purchase agreements for the project with Bihar and Jharkhand,” the spokesperson said. The promoters of the company have infused close to Rs 1,500 crore as equity in the project. The current debt of the project stands at Rs 2,600 crore. The company is also in process of re-operationalising unit II of 2×600 MW Mahan power plant by November this year as it plans to secure coal through special forward e-auctions in the short term. For longterm fuel security, the company looks to make coal available from its Tokisud coal mine. “The restart of unit I has been possible due to the government making coal available through e-auctions and aligning coal prices to the current market scenario. Mahan plant has already secured over 12 lakh tonne coal through special forward e-auction of Coal India (CIL). Company will be participating in further e-auctions being done by CIL,” Essar said. Danny Woodhead Womens Jersey
NGT orders criminal action against TSGenco
In a massive blow to the Telangana State Power Generation Corporation Limited, the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered criminal proceedings against its officials for illegally initiating construction of the 1,080 MW Bhadradri Thermal Power Station in Khammam district without procuring the mandatory environmental clearance. In a landmark judgement delivered on July 11, the green tribunal directed the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEF & CC) to take “appropriate criminal action [against TSGenco] under Section 15, 16 and 17 of the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986” for failing to comply with the norms of the Act. The action, the tribunal categorically stated, must be initiated “within a period of four weeks” from the day of the order and the prosecution be “completed expeditiously”. Incidentally, the Act allows for imprisonment “for a term which may extend up to five years” and fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. Further, lashing out at the Telangana Pollution Control Board for failing to take any against the offenders so far, it directed it to “take penal action against the officials [of TSGenco] who are responsible for such activity under the Water Act and Air Act.” Such action too, the two-member bench of the NGT noted, “shall be initiated within four weeks”. As per the rulebook, such construction activities need a ‘Consent to Establish’ from the concerned pollution control board before commencement of any work. The TSGenco had none. It also failed to conduct any public hearing prior to initiating the project. Trouble for the thermal power station began in October 2015 when members of the Human Rights Forum (HRF) noticed massive construction underway at the site – without a prior EC required under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006. Subsequently, the forum petitioned before the NGT which, while admitting the application on December 12, 2015, issued “an order of status quo” on the project. Yet, the construction continued. Condemning the violation, the NGT, earlier this month, stalled all work at the site with immediate effect. While observing the impossibility of directing the demolition of the “structures already put up”, it instructed the Experts Appraisal Committee of the MoEF & CC to decide whether “proper impact assessment [of the project] is possible” now and to take a call on the fate of the project. It allowed the experts committee eight weeks’ time to communicate the same to the Union ministry. Reacting to the “landmark” judgement passed by the NGT bench – comprising Justice P Jyothimani and P S Rao – V S Krishna, general secretary of the HRF, said: “It is a rare and extraordinary order. We now look forward to the MoEF and PCB implementing the order and initiating necessary action against those responsible for the violation.” He added, “This order sends out a strong message to authorities who think they can get away with such brazen illegalities. Now, we hope that the experts committee rejects any further appraisal of the project.” In its argument before the NGT, TSGenco, while refuting all charges, had justified the project on grounds that the new state of Telangana was reeling under a shortage of power – deficiency of 2,900 MW – forcing the government to purchase power from neighbouring states. This particular project, it noted, was therefore significant and had to be completed as soon as possible. Its defence, however, has been cold-shouldered by the green tribunal. Aaron Donald Womens Jersey
MSEDCL to pay 16,000 crore for power it will never need!
It is a miscalculation that defies all logic. The number of power purchase agreements (PPAs) that MSEDCL has signed is so large that it doesn’t require all the electricity that it will get from those agreements. However, as per the PPA clauses, it will have to pay capacity charges to the generation companies and this will be recovered from common consumers by the way of higher tariff. The agreements were signed when ex-deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar held the power portfolio. This excess payment in the coming four years will be to the tune of about Rs4,000 crore every year. These payments will be made to Mahagenco, NTPC, Adani Power (Tiroda) and RattanIndia (Amravati). MSEDCL is already paying capacity charges to these generators. It is only now that the miscalculation has been found out by studying MSEDCL’s multiyear tariff petition (MYT). The impact of the miscalculation can be gauged by comparing MSEDCL’s revenue gap in coming four years with the excess payment. The company will face a revenue gap of Rs56,000 crore for the period 2016-17 to 2019-20 if tariff is not increased. Of this, Rs16,000 crore will be excess payment. This means that the tariff hike required will reduce by 28.5% if this excess payment was not to be made. If the total back down (generation reduced deliberately due to oversupply) is compared with the demand for power, the miscalculation is equally shocking. This summer, the peak demand for power was over 17,000MW. Against this, the total back down in 2016-17 is 6,379MW, in 2017-18 it is going to be 8,961MW, 2018-19 — 7,257MW and 2019-20 — 6,463MW. Drew Hutchison Authentic Jersey