Producing Own Solar Energy is Beneficial

Fed up with constant electricity cuts and government-enforced "power holidays", Indian IT firm Value Labs has turned to the sun beaming down on its head office for help.
In July, it finished building a 13 megawatt solar plant - enough to power 6,000 homes - to keep the lights on and computers humming for more than 3,000 employees at its base in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad.
It is even selling surplus electricity back to the grid.
"We plan to use the entire quantum of power generated from these plants in the coming years for our existing and upcoming campus," said Krishna Reddy, a senior Value Labs executive.
Factories and businesses have installed over 30 MW of rooftop solar panels in the last year, data compiled by New Delhi-based consultancy Bridge To India shows. That is a small amount compared with India's solar capacity of 2,700 MW, but demand may accelerate under Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has made renewable energy a priority.
Bridge to India forecasts compound annual growth will hit more than 60 percent in the next five years, as falling panel prices make installations more alluring.
In a sign that even big business is warming up to alternative energy sources, India's second-largest IT exporter Infosys Ltd is building a 50 MW solar plant in southern Karnataka state to meet 30 percent of the company's power needs.
Bridge To India estimates that commercial rooftop and smaller utility plants have the potential to provide up to 83,000 MW of solar energy, more than half of India's potential solar capacity out to 2024.(credit-Reuters)
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Electrification of Villages and Hamlets

The Government is implementing Decentralised Distributed Generation (DDG) under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) for electrification of villages where grid connectivity is either not feasible or not cost effective. This was stated by Sh. Piyush Goyal, Minister of state for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. In XII Plan period, DDG has also been extended to the grid connected area where supply of electricity is less than 6 hours a day. Decentralized Distributed Generation (DDG) can be from conventional or renewable sources such as Biomass, Biofuels, Biogas, Mini hydro, Solar etc. Rs.900 crore as subsidy has been earmarked for DDG projects. However, the allocation under DDG would be flexible to meet any additional requirements within the overall cost of the scheme. DDG scheme provides a subsidy towards 90% of the project cost. The balance 10% is to be arranged by the Implementing Agency at their own or arrange from any FI/REC. The Minister further stated that Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has been implementing Remote Village Electrification (RVE) Programme for providing financial support for lighting/basic electrification in those remote unelectrified census villages and unelectrified hamlets of electrified census villages where grid extension is not found feasible by the State Governments and hence are not covered under the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY). Such villages are provided basic facilities for lighting/electricity through various renewable energy sources. Under the Programme, Central Financial Assistance of up to 90% of the costs of systems, subject to pre specified maximum amount, is provided for approved projects to the states. The balance cost of projects is financed through contribution from State Plans, beneficiaries, or other sources. The Minister further stated that during the last 5 years, REC has sanctioned 775 DDG projects for a total project cost of Rs.349.38 crore in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha. Out of these 775 projects, 164 projects have already been commissioned and remaining are at the various stages of Tendering & Execution. REC has so far disbursed an amount of Rs.43.68 crore for the implementation of the DDG projects. The RVE scheme is based on proposal submitted by states for coverage of left out villages/hamlets from the RGGVY Scheme of Ministry of Power; therefore, target is not relevant. During the last five years, 3704 number of villages and hamlets have been sanctioned and around 259.60 Crore fund has been released to various states under the programme, the Minister added.

Scheme Approved for 750 MW Grid-connected Solar PV Power Projects

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the implementation of a scheme for setting up of 750 MW of Grid-connected Solar PV Power Projects under Batch-I of Phase-II (2013-17) of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support from the National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF).

The total VGF requirement for implementation of the scheme is estimated as Rs. 1,875 crore at the rate of Rs.2.5 crore/ MW The actual requirement will, however, depend on the bid prices. This VGF support is estimated to leverage private investment to the tune of Rs. 5000 crore in setting up of the projects.

The VGF scheme will facilitate setting up of the 750 MW grid connected solar power projects, in mainly the private sector on Build, Own and Operate (BOO) basis at various locations, which will help supplement grid power generation in the country. These projects will also lead to an associated development of their surrounding areas with positive impact on the socio-economic conditions of the local population.

The scheme will be implemented through the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI, a Section 25 company set up by the Ministry) in close association with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN). The power generated shall be purchased by SECI at a fixed levelised tariff of Rs.5.45 per kWh for 25 years and sold to willing State Utilities/ Discoms at a fixed tariff of Rs.5.50 per unit for 25 years.

The selection of projects would be done through a process of open competitive bidding for their VGF requirement in order to enable them to supply the solar power to SECI at the fixed tariff of Rs.5.45 per kWh for 25 years.

Background:

The JNNSM was launched by the Government in January 2010. The main objective of this Mission is to create a policy and regulatory environment for large scale diffusion of solar energy technologies across the country as quickly as possible. It has laid down, a long-term goal of adding 20,000 MW of grid-connected solar power by 2022, to be achieved in three phases (Phase-I up to 2012-13, Phase-II from 2013 to 2017 and Phase-III from 2017 to 2022).

10,000 MW Power through Solar Energy by 2017

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has set a target of generation of 10,000 Megawatt of power through solar energy by the year 2017. Addressing the Solar Power Developers Meet in the Capital, the Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that the Phase I of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission has been very successful wherein 1685 MW of solar power was generated as against the target of 11,000 MW. The Minister informed that large tracks of land have been identified in Rajasthan, Kargil and Ladakh which have immense potential of generation of solar power. Dr. Abdullah said that the main challenge was starting a transmission line in the areas of Kargil and Ladakh so that power could be evacuated to the other parts of the country. He also focused on the need for breakthrough in new research to ensure storage of solar energy for greater time period. The Minister highlighted the new initiatives for ensuring greater use of solar power in the Government buildings and also said that the Ministry planned to use mobile towers in a way that they could generate power through solar and wind energy. On this occasion, the Minister gave awards to 13 organisations / companies for having done commendable work in the first phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. He expressed the hope that the corporate sector will continue to contribute in a major way to the efforts of the Government in making India one of the leading producers of solar energy. Mr. Ratan P.Watal, Secretary, MNRE, highlighted importance of development of solar power for meeting the solar requirements of around 40% of the population which lacked access to energy resources. Even providing one unit of power to such houses throughout the year would in itself need a generation of 15,000 MW of solar power. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission was launched on 11th January, 2010 by the Prime Minister. The Mission has set the ambitious target of deploying 20,000 MW of grid connected solar power by 2022. The Mission has targeted a capacity of grid connected solar power generation of 1000 MW within three years of its launch and to reach installed power capacity of 10,000 MW by the year 2017. The target of 20,000 MW for 2022, which if successful, could lead to conditions of grid-competitive solar power.

Cabinet's approval for setting up of institute for solar research

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for setting up of an autonomous "National Institute of Solar Energy" (NISE) to assist the Ministry and function as the apex national centre for research and technology development and related activities in the area of solar energy technologies in the country.

The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) is to be set up immediately by converting the Solar Energy Centre (SEC),Gurgaon with a long term vision to develop it as a world class institute.

Solar energy technologies are evolving continuously and the proposal to set up the National Institute of Solar Energy is an innovative idea which will accelerate the process to support induction of the latest technologies to ensure maximum cost benefit and lead to early commercialization. Solar power project developers will be motivated to use more efficient and optimized solar components.

A broad based national team in the form of a Review-cum-Strategy Formulation Committee would be set up with representation from industry, the scientific community, financial institutions etc. to prepare a blue print. This committee would look at various models available in the country and outside and prepare a roadmap for the Institute.

In order to enable this Institute to acquire the envisaged stature, reorientation of the present management system, better infrastructure and highly skilled manpower would be required. Public private partnership with future investment coming from both Government and private sector would be important so that the activities can be expanded.

Background:

Setting up of an apex national centre for Solar Energy is a part of the JNNSM, which was considered by the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change in August, 2009. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) and other related proposals were approved by the Govt. in November, 2009. While approving the JNNSM, the Govt. also approved specific targets and budget for the first phase of the Mission till March, 2013. This includes R&D in solar energy, including setting up of a Centre of Excellence as an apex centre on different aspects of solar energy technologies. 

Odisha Govternment : Harnessing Solar Power

The Odisha state government has approved a proposal for installation of solar panel in roof top of all government establishments in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack area under PPP model and has directed the implementing agency to sign agreements with International Finance Corporation (IFC). 

Last week, the government declared the newly floated company GEDCOL (Green Energy Development Corporation Ltd ) as the nodal agency for on-grid solar energy projects in the state whereas off-grid generation such as solar cooking, pumping, refrigeration, heating and industrial process will be Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA)’s responsibility . 

In the first year of the implementation, the government has decided to use the office rooftops of government offices, agencies, directorates and state PSUs situated in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, and later the scheme will be planned for other districts. read more..

The Biju Patnaik airport in Bhubaneswar will generate 100 KW electricity from solar power plant to meet the daily electricity requirements.

This was an eco-friendly initiative of the airport to generate electricity.

The airport has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with a Gurgaon-based private firm, Lanco, for setting up the plant. The firm will sell power to the airport. About 360 solar photo voltaic (SPV) panels have been installed near the airport. Each panel will generate 300 W electricity. 
"The solar power plant will supplement the power requirement of the airport, which requires 3,000 KW of electricity, to run both the new domestic and proposed international terminals," said airport director Sharad Kumar.read more..

 

Rooftop Solar Panels: The New Enemy of Firefighters

Loved by the green movement, solar panels pose a growing threat to firefighters, who may suffer electrical shocks from panels that typically cannot be turned off, said John Drengenberg, consumer safety director for Underwriters Laboratories.

Even when systems are equipped with shutoffs, any light can keep panels and their wires energized, Drengenberg said.

Gaining access to roofs gives firefighters advantages such as venting gases, and the panels get in the way, said Ken Willette, who manages the public fire protection division at the National Fire Protection Association.

In Delanco, New Jersey, volunteer fire crews rushed to the burning meat warehouse on Sunday and discovered the roof was covered in solar panels, forcing firefighters to change tactics. It took 29 hours to put out the flames at the Dietz & Watson warehouse, which was left gutted and smoldering in ruins. read more..