Suzlon signs EoI with Karnataka Govt to develop 2,500 MW of wind power capacity

Wind turbine manufacturer Suzlon Group today signed an expression of interest (EoI) with the government of Karnataka to develop 2,500 megawatt (MW) of new wind power capacity in the state between 2012 and 2017.

Speaking on the occasion here, Suzlon Group Chairman Tulsi Tanti said: "This not only reinforces Karnataka's position as one of India's leading markets in wind energy, but also illustrates their commitment towards creating a low-carbon economy in the state".

The EoI covers the development of new capacity in wind farms across the state, with developments planned in the districts of Bijapur, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Dharwad, Raichur, Chikmagalur, Mysore, Belgaum and Bagalkot. The investment is worth Rs 15,000 crore, according to a company statement.

Under the EoI signed during GIM 2012, the Karnataka government would obtain the necessary permissions, registrations, approvals and clearances for the development of wind farms in the state.

Suzlon, in turn, would play the role of a developer and facilitate the flow of investments into the state through its customers investing in wind energy.  Karnataka has large untapped wind energy potential, with estimates ranging around 13,000 MW according to Centre for Wind Energy Technology (CWET).

M and B Switchgears zooms 35% on trading of solar RECs

M and B Switchgears has soared 11% to Rs 99.95, extending its three day’s rally after the two power trading exchanges Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and Power Exchange India Ltd. (PXIL) commenced trading of solar Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) on Monday.

M and B Switchgears Ltd. has become the first solar power producer in India to be issued 249 Solar RECs by the National Load Dispatch Centre in New Delhi.

“These REC's are likely to be traded in power exchanges on May 30, 2012, within a price band of Rs 9300/- to Rs 13,400/-per REC,” the company said in a filing.

The stock has outperforming the market by surging 35% in past four trading days, compared to 4% rise in the benchmark index Sensex and 2% gain in the small-cap index.
As many as a combined 462,435 shares have already changed hands on the counter till morning deals, against an average sub 150,000 shares that were traded daily in past two weeks.

Hydrogen-powered Mercedes-Benz F-CELL goes Hollywood

With strict vehicle-emissions standards and the nation’s first cap-and-trade program to reduce pollution, California has been at the forefront of the United States’ renewable-energy push during the past decade. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Mercedes-Benz would select The Golden State for an early rollout of its new hydrogen-powered B-Class F-CELL model.

More than three dozen Mercedes-Benz F-CELL electric vehicles are currently being leased to early adopters in Southern California, and availability will open up in Northern California this month. Among the first to take home the new eco-friendly Mercedes-Benz was actress Diane Kruger of the films “Inglourious Basterds” and “National Treasure.” By converting compressed hydrogen found at several Greater Los Angeles fueling stations into electricity, the F-CELL returns a 55-mpg equivalent on average and has a range of up to 240 miles, all while emitting nothing but water vapor.

“The F-CELL may be reserved for environmental enthusiasts and Hollywood actors right now, but its technology is extremely viable, and we just need the fueling infrastructure in place before it becomes a reality in New England,” said Will Dame, general manager of Viti, Inc., a Tiverton, Rhode Island Mercedes-Benz dealer. “In the meantime, Mercedes-Benz already has eight other alternative-powertrain vehicles available to U.S. buyers, so there are plenty of green options that still offer the brand’s signature performance and luxury.”

Driven by award-winning actresses and actors like Michelle Williams, Natalie Portman and Bryan Cranston, Mercedes-Benz’s alternative-powertrain lineup ranges from the new diesel-powered 2012 M-Class BlueTEC SUV to a hybrid model of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class luxury sedan, the S400 HYBRID. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz S400 HYBRID features a fuel-saving ECO start-stop function that shuts down the gas engine when braking below nine mph in stop-and-go traffic, whether it is on Hollywood Boulevard or on the way to Narragansett Beach.

While the S400 HYBRID allows for cruising that is both stylish and sustainable, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class BlueTEC offers eco-conscious capability. The ML350 BlueTEC uses a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 to produce 240 horsepower and an impressive 455 pound-feet of torque, yet it still returns 27 mpg on the highway. Though most owners won’t be taking their M-Class to a Hollywood movie premiere anytime soon, the vehicle’s rear occupants can take in films on the way to their destination with the optional LCD monitors built into the front head restraints.

Mercedes-Benz’s alternative-powertrain lineup has scored a lot of red-carpet attention recently, but it was an alternative body color that turned heads for the luxury automaker at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, which took place in the south of France from May 16 to May 27. Using a special fleet of its vehicles covered in gold paint, Mercedes-Benz chauffeured VIP guests and celebrities to and from the red carpet, and every day at the festival the automaker also offered test-drives in various AMG models along the famed French Riviera.

“There is probably no other automaker that can earn praise for its environmentally conscious vehicles one day, and then stand out among the most famous celebrities in the world on the red carpet the next,” added Dame. “It goes to show how good a job Mercedes-Benz has done of combining luxury, style and sustainability. ‘Eco-friendly’ no longer means having to settle for an economy car.”

80% of young people support wind energy

The recent poll, taken by ComRes for the Independent newspaper, shows a sizeable 68% of the public believing that new wind farm are an “acceptable price to pay” for green energy in the future.

Wind energy was front-page news in the UK this weekend with the revelation that Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne plans on cutting subsidies for onshore wind turbines by 25%, a move that would “kill dead” the industry, according to Renewable UK. At the same time, the Chancellor will maintain Government support for nuclear and fossil fuels which account for the largest proportion of Government support for energy.

The news came despite Prime Minister David Cameron’s election campaign promises to be the “greenest government ever” and in the face of a new poll which reveals that a majority of Britons actually want more wind energy.

The recent poll, taken by ComRes for the Independent newspaper, shows a sizeable 68% of the public believing that new wind farm are an “acceptable price to pay” for green energy in the future. Young people are even more supportive of wind energy, with almost 80% of those ages 18-44 backing wind farms, compared to 59% of those ages 45 and over.

And yet, the Conservative leader seems to have been persuaded by a minority of Tory backbench MPs to backpedal on green energy. In February a hundred Tory MPs sent Cameron a letter demanding cuts to the £400 million (€492 million) a year government subsidies, which they see as evidence of too much Liberal Democrat influence over policy in the Coalition government. Earlier this year Cameron’s government announced cuts in solar power subsidies, and a newly published energy bill is heavy on support for nuclear and gas.

“What is needed is a phase out of subsidies for ALL mature energy sources. The European Commission itself acknowledges that fossil fuels receive four times the level of subsidy as all renewable energies,” Julian Scola, Communication Director at EWEA, said.

This latest evidence of public support for wind power comes on the back of similar polls in the UK, such as the April survey commissioned by wind trade body RenewableUK, which showed 66% of Britons in favour and just 8% against when asked: “to what extent are you in favour of or opposed to the use of wind power in the UK”.

Ending subsidies has been shown to be disastrous for the renewables industry in countries like Spain. The government there cut support for new renewable energy in January, pushing project developers and equipment makers to work abroad or perish. “They destroyed the Spanish market overnight with the moratorium,” EWEA Chief Executive Officer Christian Kjaer said in an interview with Bloomberg.

Looking to cut costs, the UK government has set its sights on wind energy, but is looking in the wrong place. “It is crackers to kill dead the deployment of the cheapest renewable technology if you genuinely are worried about the cost,” said Gordon Edge, policy director at RenewableUK. A source at one of Britain’s big six energy companies told the Guardian: “It’s perverse – you get less renewable energy bang for your buck. It only makes sense if you don’t like wind farms in your constituency.”

Renewable energy could fall victim to low natural gas prices warns IEA

NEW YORK, NY, Jun 04, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Clean energy stocks have struggled recently as concerns about a loss of subsidies and tax credits have led to growth concerns. The PowerShares Wilderhill Clean Energy Portfolio (PBW) is down more than 17 percent over the last month. Cheap natural gas prices in 2012 have recently become a nuisance to the renewable energy industry. Five Star Equities examines the outlook for companies in the Renewable Energy Industry and provides equity research on Capstone Turbine Corporation CPST +1.72% and First Solar, Inc. FSLR -0.31% .

The emergence of "fracking" has led to abundant supplies and low prices for natural gas. This has put pressure on the renewable energy industry which by comparison is more costly. When burnt, natural gas produces roughly 50 percent of the carbon emissions of coal. "Renewable energy may be the victim of cheap gas prices if governments do not stick to their renewable support schemes," said Fatih Birol, chief economist for the IEA.

Five Star Equities releases regular market updates on the Renewable Energy Industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at www.FiveStarEquities.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Capstone Turbine is the world's leading producer of low-emission microturbine systems, and was the first to market commercially viable microturbine energy products. Capstone Turbine has shipped over 6,500 Capstone MicroTurbine systems to customers worldwide. The company will release financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 at 1:45 p.m. Pacific Time (4:45 p.m. Eastern) on, June 14, 2012.

First Solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) solar systems which use its advanced thin-film modules. The company's integrated power plant solutions deliver an economically attractive alternative to fossil-fuel electricity generation today. The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation recently inaugurated a new 250-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) power system donated by First Solar which will help power the historic Taliesin West campus.

Renewables half of new power generation globally

A series of reports from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) show renewable power generation, including wind and solar PV, is becoming increasingly competitive and now accounts for half of all new electricity generation capacity additions worldwide 


One of a series of analyses released by IRENA at its Council meeting in Abu Dhabi states crystalline solar panel costs have plummeted 60% in the last two years and cumulative installed capacity for solar PV grew by over 70% in 2011. IRENA says if this growth maintained or increased, further cost reductions will occur.
In 2011, Germany had the lowest installed PV system costs in the small-scalehome solar power market, averaging $USD 3.80/Watt before subsidies for crystalline silicon solar panel based systems. In Italy, Spain, Portugal and the United States the average installed cost in 2011 before subsidies was between USD 5.7 to USD 5.8/W. 
  
While thin-film solar panel based utility-scale systems are often perceived to cost far less than facilities consisting of crystalline silicon modules, this is not always the case. Thin-film utility-scale systems had an average installed cost of around USD 3.9/W in 2010, not much less than the average cost of a residential solar power systems in Germany the following year.
  
In regard to wind power, IRENA states onshore wind has become a highly competitive, with the cost of electricity from prime sites in North America in the range of USD 0.04-0.05/kWh in 2010. The organisation says this is competitive with or cheaper than gas-fired generation and has been achieved even though in China wind turbine costs are 50-60% cheaper than in North America.

Tariffs on Chinese-made wind energy towers

The advance decision comes after a coalition of U.S. tower manufacturers – Broadwind Towers, DMI Industries, Katana Summit, and Trinity Structural Towers – petitioned the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration to impose the new tariffs. They cited production subsidies of between 14 to 26 percent that Chinese companies have received as the reason for the petition, and they want duties applied on Chinese imports equal to the same percentage. If implemented, the tariffs will only be on steel towers capable of supporting wind turbines generating in excess of 100 KW.

Commerce will make a final decision in August as to whether or not it will impose the new tariffs on wind energy towers. The tariffs on Chinese solar panels, ranging from 31 percent all the way up to 250 percent, go into effect this fall and could have a negative impact on the solar industry here in the U.S., with solar panel prices expected to rise and a slowing of new solar installations. New tariffs on Chinese-made wind energy towers could do the same for the wind energy industry as well.

Many see the decisions by President Obama’s Commerce Department as political in nature, a president seeking to align himself with U.S. businesses alleging unfair trade practices coming from China. And while some of the charges may be true, Obama has also marketed himself as an alternative-energy president and his interest in the technologies should not come as a surprise. In the long run, duties on Chinese solar and wind energy products may be just the boost that American companies need to become more competitive with producers in other countries.

BRIDGE TO INDIA: Increase in Indian fossil fuel prices to benefit solar

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and Union minister for new and renewable energy Farooq Abdullah today inaugurated a 18-KW Solar Power Plant at Sub-District Hospital at Charar-i-Sharief in Budgam district.

This was the second such solar power unit inaugurated by the two leaders in the past two days. Yesterday, one such plant was inaugurated at the Old Assembly Complex here.

The unit inaugurated at Charar-i-Sharief involved an expenditure of about Rs 50 lakhs, an official spokesman said.

He said the Union ministry of new and renewable energy has approved a total of 69 solar power plants for the State to be installed in as many health institutions as backup power supply units.

This involves an amount of Rs 32.70 crore, the spokesman said, adding, the tenders for 32 such units have been finalized and for the remaining units the process is going on.

During the last three years the MNRE headed by Farooq Abdullah has sanctioned over 50000 solar home systems for the 225 un-electrified villages and hamlets of the State.

As many as 50 water mills have been upgraded, while financial assistance to upgrade 2000 more such water mills for electricity generation and mechanical activities has also been approved, the spokesman said.

He said the Union ministry has also sanctioned 58 micro-hydel projects being installed in remote villages to generate electricity.

It has also sanctioned and installed solar water heating systems at 10 locations, while solar photo voltaic power plants at 69 locations to generate 1.09 MWs have also been approved, the spokesman said.

Chattisgarh villagers go hi-tech, cry for more power

Villagers in the remote areas of Chhattisgarh go hi-tech propelling the state government to moot a plan for increasing the capacity of solar power stations following boost in the electricity demand.

The Chhattisgarh State Renewable Development Agency (CREDA) had lit up more than 1200 villages that cannot be electrified through conventional power. These villages have been powered with solar energy with the state-run agency installing solar photovoltaic power plant.

For the last eight years, the villagers have been using the same capacity power plant even as their socio-economic condition has increased that has resulted in boosting the power demand. Even the population in the villages has increased with addition of new houses.

“As the purchasing power of the villagers have increased, they have gone hi-tech; using mobile phones, television and other electric appliances that has increased the demand of power,” a senior official with the agency said. The capacity of the plant installed in the villages is not enough to meet the demand.

The matter also came to the notice of Chief Minister Raman Singh when he paid surprise visit to a few villages during the village contact programme. Taking serious note on the issue, he has directed the officials to moot a plan and enhance the capacity of solar power plant installed in the villagers.

“The chief minister yesterday night convened a meeting of agency and energy department officials to discuss the issue,” a government spokesperson said. Singh directed the officials to take necessary step in this regard and start the work in the project as soon as possible.

The agency officials said they had prepared a preliminary report and identified 25 villages in Jashpur district to increase the capacity of solar power plant in the first phase. The project of enhancing the capacity would be taken up in phases, they added.

Tapping solar energy in big way

The ‘Solar City’ project, proposed by the Centre in late 2011, will progress to the next step if the master plan is ready by the end of this month.

The project was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to enable the cities tap more renewable energy. The purpose of the project is to reduce electricity consumption by 10 per cent by utilising solar energy. The project had 48 cities in its ambit at the start, out of which 37 were sanctioned in the first phase and seven cities were ready with the master plan at the launch of the project.

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) had roped in a consultant to help prepare the master plan for the city. Civic officials are hopeful that the consultant will be ready with the plan in time.“Our major focus will be on street-lighting as major part of our funds go into it. We will now try to reduce the funding by using solar energy,” said BMC Environment Officer BK Rout. Government hospitals, office buildings and BMC offices, could be used to set up solar panels for tapping solar power.

The master plan cost of Rs 2 lakh is being provided by Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA). It will take into account the complete power consumption of households and industrial zones in the city. It will also record the city’s petrol consumption and other forms of energy over the years.� Based on these reports, they will identify locations for tapping solar energy. Recently a mega project was undertaken in Gujarat by its government in solar energy. In Bhubaneswar the project is in its nascent stage, but the plan will make use of whatever resources the city has to tap solar power.

BMC officials said Bhubaneswar also has land for such a development, but will have to wait till the master plan is ready.

Infosys tops in climate initiatives

IT services company Infosys has been identified as one of the top 25 performers in Caring for Climate Initiative by the UN Global Compact and UN Environment Programme. As part of the top 25 performers group, Infosys achieved the greatest absolute emissions reductions percentage over the 2009 to 2010 reporting period, a press statement said. “Over the past four years, Infosys has saved 290 million units of electricity; by implementing energy efficiency measures across our development centers,” Mr Kris Gopalakrishnan, Executive Co-Chairman, Infosys, said in the statement. The statement said Infosys has committed to reduce its per capita electricity consumption by 50 per cent over 2007-2008 levels by the year 2018, and source its entire electricity requirement from renewable resources (by 2018).

Suzlon launches environment app for Apple iOS and Android

The Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Farooq Abdullah, launched the 'Suzlon Earth - an EnvironmentDiary' a digital application for Apple iOS and Androidplatform on the occasion of World Environment Day.

On the launch, Farooq Abdullah said: "I am very happy to launch this digital application on the occasion of World Environment Day. The Suzlon Earth app is a fantastic digital tool to empower people with knowledge and information making them part of the revolution towards environmental responsibility. I applaud Suzlon for this engaging and thoughtful tool on modern communication devices like tablet computers, allowing enthusiastic audiences to stay connected with just a click."

"I personally believe that smart use of technology is the key to reaching out and engaging with people. Suzlon is India's leading wind energy company and has constantly demonstrated thought leadership in taking issues of climate change and renewable energy to larger audiences with Pure Air Lovers Society and now with this app. I look forward to using this app on my iPad to keep updated on what's happening in the world of green," added Abdullah.

The app is a social news application for friends of the environment. It aggregates news, events, actions, governmental decisions, tools and blogs from top environmental sites from around the world. Another feature also includes news about Suzlon, its products, stock price, videos, photo gallery, publications, Twitter feeds and Mr. Tulsi Tanti's blog. This app is available for free download at the Apple and Android app stores or this link; http://www.suzlon.com/application/index.html

Speaking on the development, Tulsi Tanti, Chairman - Suzlon Group, said: "We are delighted to launch this app. I believe it is a powerful way to empower people with knowledge and information about the environment and how we impact it. Through this app we are now able to reach out to the opinion and decision makers of the next generation."

Gujarat has highest potential for generation of renewable energy, says GoI report

The state of Gujarat has the highest potential for generation of renewable energy from various sources, revealed the report 'Energy Statistics 2012' by the Central Statistical Office (CSO), government of India.

The report was brought out by the CSO which is under the ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) to help planners and reserchers.

India’s energy-mix comprises both non-renewable (coal, lignite, petroleum and natural gas) and renewable energy sources (wind, solar, small hydro, biomass and cogeneration bagasse) and information on its reserves of non-renewable sources and potential for generation of renewable energy sources is a pre-requisite for to assess the country’s potential for meeting its future energy needs.

Talking about the potential for generation of renewable energy the report states, “The geographic distribution of the estimated potential across states reveals that Gujarat has the highest share of about 14% (12,489 MW ), followed by Karnataka with 12% share (11,071 MW) and Maharashtra with 11% share (9596 MW), mainly on account of wind power potential.”

The report estimated total potential for renewable power generation in the country at 89760 MW by end of financial year 2010-11.

The report estimates Gujarat’s potential for generating wind power at 10,609 MW, small hydro power at 197 MW, Biomass Power at 1,221 MW, cogeneration bagasse at 350 MW and waste to energy at 112 MW.

However, when it comes to installed capacity of grid interactive renewable power Gujarat does not figure in the top three.

It is below Tamil Nadu which has highest installed capacity of grid connected renewable power (6500 MW) followed by Maharashtra (3005 MW) and Karnataka (2882 MW), mainly on account of wind power.

Gujarat has 2197 MW of installed capacity of grid interactive renewable power as of year ended March 2011. This is however, jump of 17 per cent compared to the previous year.

The total installed capacity of grid interactive renewable power, had gone up to 19971 MW in 2010-11 a growth of 18.75per cent compared to previous year. Out of the total installed generation capacity of renewable power as on year ended March 2011 wind power accounted for about 71%, followed by small hydro power (15.2%) and Biomass power (13.3%).

Waste converter for Thrissur Sakthan Thampuran market

The corporation will set up an organic waste converter at Sakthan Thampuran market, which generates a considerable volume of waste in the city.

The waste converter, to be set up at a cost of Rs. 98 lakh on 30 cents of land at Sakthan Thampuran market, can process 4 tonnes of waste a day. It will be used to process the vegetable waste generated in the market.

The fish and meat waste will be processed at the biogas plant. With these two systems, all the waste generated in the market could be processes there itself, Mayor I.P. Paul said.

The new generation of solar panels from Jurawatt

Bavaria’s solar module manufacturer presents exciting development trends at the Intersolar 2012 trade fair.

A platform for innovations and turntable of revolutionary product: Intersolar at Munich is the leading trade fair for the solar industry and the solar craftsmanship. Also Jurawatt, a company located in Oberpfalz region, is represented again with interesting innovations. Besides the Desert Modules, which are already in series production, Jurawatt is presenting for the first time its ultra-thin Glass/Glass modules.

Some like it hot: the Desert Modules from Jurawatt The new high temperature modules from Jurawatt are capable of tolerating temperatures up to 125 °C. In addition, the Desert Modules, as the company calls them, have the distinction of three-times longer life span than comparable modules. They are also free from PID. The Desert Module has passed stringent tests prescribed by the IEC/DIN with flying colours.

The findings were attested by TÜV Germany and the Institut National de l’Énergie Solaire (INES). What is behind the term Glass/Glass module? Conventional modules are covered on the front side by transparent glass and the rear side consists of a plastic foil. In the case of Glass/Glass modules the so-called cell matrix is located between two glass panes; a foil is not present in this case.

The aesthetic looking Glass/Glass modules are often integrated into the building construction. But they are also suitable for using as shades or as marquees. Strong, stable and safe: the plus points of “the glassy production“ by Jurawatt With their remarkably heat-resistant Desert Modules the Bavarians begin to capture already new regions worldwide. Glass/Glass modules are a logical advancement in the direction of more efficiency and more resistance to heat and humidity including extended life span.

The load is better distributed, while wind and snow loads can hardly affect these modules. Further advantages of the Generation 2.0 from Jurawatt: if till now the Glass/Glass solutions were more difficult than the conventional modules with rear side foil, then, the thin, frameless Glass/Glass module from Jurawatt with 19 kg/m2 are even lighter than the framed Glass/Foil types. Something that would be more interesting for architects and house owners: the Glass solutions put hardly any limitations to the design, neither on the dimensions, nor on the exterior shaping.

The sun of Bavaria shines for all: Jurawatt GmbH Jurawatt GmbH with its headquarters in Neumarkt in Oberpfalz is a specialist for high-performance PV modules which meet the highest of quality standards. The company focuses on Research & Development and it already has a number of patents to its credit. Patrick Thoma, the managing director, has consciously prefers Germany as its location for the production. Jurawatt provides 12 years warranty on all products.

Arpan to set up a plasma gasification plant in Agarthala

Agartala-based Association for Research on People and Nature (Arpan) has planned to set up a plasma gasification plant in the city to manage the growing solid waste here. The organization has also trained as many as 30 female entrepreneurs on manufacturing carry bags with waste paper and cloth.

Arpan vice president D Daschoudhury on Wednesday said the Agartala Municipal Council (AMC) had been facing problems in dumping solid wastes and recycling non-degradable desecrates generated by city dwellers. "AMC does not have trained manpower and proper infrastructure for solid waste management. But, they are spending about Rs 70 lakh every month in cleaning, sweeping and dumping the waste into the ground and this is a major concern for us," Daschoudhury said. Plasma gasification is a technology to convert solid waste into energy at medium-scale investment. This technology is successfully running in Bangalore, Nagpur and Chennai.

One of England's largest onshore wind farms is out of action

One of England's largest onshore wind farms is out of action because of a faulty part.

Owner Electricity Supply Board (ESB) said the 22 turbines at Fullabrook Down near Ilfracombe, Devon could be off for weeks.

The firm said a part had been ordered but the turbines would be out of action while it was being delivered.

The 110m (360ft) tall turbines could produce enough electricity for about 30,000 homes says ESB.

ESB, parent company of operators Devon Wind Power, said in a statement: "Fullabrook wind farm was taken off line on 24 May to carry out planned testing of electronic systems.

"Testing takes place on a regular basis.

"It was during this testing that an issue arose which necessitates the replacement of a component.

"Devon Wind Power expects the wind farm to return to full service by the end of the month."

SunEdison turns to big new markets for solar power

Last week SunEdison, one of the largest installers and financers of solar power, announced a new project that will deliver solar power to 30 villages in India. It’s already equipped one of these villages with solar panels, a small distribution grid carrying electricity to more than 70 houses, and battery backup system to provide electricity around the clock.

The first village is a pilot project that’s not expected to be profitable, says Pashupathy Gopalan, SunEdison’s managing director for South Asian and sub-Saharan operations. But he expects that economies of scale and refinements to the design and installation process will bring costs down, and the company could be making money within the next couple of years. “By 2014, we want to be able to scale up to thousands of villages,” he says.

The reason for SunEdison’s optimism is that plummeting prices for solar panels are making this type of electricity cheaper than power from diesel generators. “If the industry went after diesel displacement in a very big way, I think there is money to be had,” he says. “That’s where the money is if the industry wants to transition and not be dependent on subsidies.”

Diesel is a major source of power in south Asia and Africa, where many areas lack access to the grid and frequent blackouts prompt those who can afford it to install backup generators. These markets could help a solar industry that’s struggling with low profit margins due to an oversupply of panels. In turn, the lower prices for solar power could speed up deployment in poor countries by providing a more economical alternative to diesel-powered pumps and generators, and a much faster path to electrification than waiting for grid infrastructure.

One of the first economical applications for solar is replacing diesel-powered irrigation pumps, Gopalan says. These pumps don’t have to run at night, so batteries aren’t needed, keeping costs down. “The total available market in India alone is 15 to 20 gigawatts, and irrigation pumping is a massive application in all of Asia and Africa,” he says. For perspective, the current total installed capacity for solar power is 65 gigawatts, according to the management consulting firm McKinsey.

Solar panels could also augment existing diesel systems, such as those that run island communities or provide backup power for apartment blocks and businesses in blackout-prone India. According to McKinsey, diesel generators can produce power at prices ranging from just under 30 cents per kilowatt-hour to 65 cents per kilowatt-hour, depending on their size. Solar-panel systems can produce power for 12 to 35 cents per kilowatt-hour. In some areas in Cambodia, power from diesel engines is used to charge batteries, which are rented out at rates exceeding $1 per kilowatt-hour, Gopalan says. In these applications, solar would serve to displace diesel generation on sunny days, not to completely replace it.

Many governments are starting to find that it’s cheaper to install solar panels and batteries than it is to connect villages to conventional power plants or install diesel generators, says Stephen Phillips, the managing director of Optimal Power Systems, an Australian company that installs solar power plants and microgrids in remote areas. In some areas, diesel power can cost two to three times as much in the city because of transportation costs and problems with theft, he says. That means batteries that cost 55 cents per kilowatt-hour of storage capacity can still undercut diesel power by 60 percent.

OPS typically installs systems that have diesel generators for backup in case of prolonged cloudy weather. But Phillips says that new technologies could lower the cost of batteries by more than half, making it possible to introduce larger battery systems that further reduce the use of diesel. “Two to four years ago, these systems would only use solar power for 25 percent of the electricity. That’s going up to 50 percent, and soon diesel could be used only rarely,” he says. “Solar with batteries can compete directly with diesel-powered village electrification.”

Windmills start pumping in much needed power in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari

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.