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..

Solar PV project bidders get time till 30th Sept. to submit proposals in AP

Solar photovoltaic power generation companies who have submitted bids to set up units in Andhra Pradesh or those who are now interested, have been given time till September 30, to submit their proposals.

The Government had recently decided to allow more companies interested in taking part in the projects under the State solar power policy.

As a part of development of green power, particularly solar, the Andhra Pradesh Government represented by AP Transco has given opportunity to all solar developers, including those who have not participated in the recently concluded competitive bidding for 1000 MW, to submit their applications for executing the solar projects.

They can do so with the tariff offer of Rs 6.49 per unit as decided by Group of Ministers.

Suresh Chanda, Chairman and Managing Director of AP Transco, while reviewing the progress of solar power projects bidding, has issued guidelines for prospective solar power developers to submit their applications along with non-refundable processing fee of Rs 2 lakh/location to execute the solar project at a fixed tariff of Rs 6.49/unit for a period of 20 years. They have been given time till September-end.

In all, 109 sub-stations were offered under this open offer for grid connectivity. However, solar developers will also be allowed to connect to any other sub-station in the State subject to technical feasibility. Also the draft power purchase agreement, list of sub-stations and the detailed guidelines are being published in AP Transco Web site www.aptransco.gov.in.

This decision to harness solar power has given an opportunity to those solar power developers who have not participated in the bidding process to submit their bids subject to conforming to the tender specification issued earlier.

The State Government had come out with a solar power policy and issued orders for encouraging solar power projects under captive and for third party sale.

AP Transco and distribution companies are in the process of issuing technical feasibility clearances commissioned under this policy. Approximately, 1200 MW have been given sanctions for grid connectivity. Further, the State has issued directed AP Transco to ensure setting up of 1000 MW solar power plants through the process of competitive bidding route.

 (Article source:  the Hindu Business Line,September 2, 2013)

Wind and Solar Forecasting System by IBM

IBM has announced a power and weather modelling technology that will help utilities increase the reliability of renewable energy resources. The solution combines weather prediction and analytics to accurately forecast the availability of wind power and solar energy. 

HyRef forecast system graphic via IBM

Jibei Electricity Power Company Limited—a subsidiary company of the State Grid Corporation of China is the first client to use this software. It hopes to increase the integration of renewable power generation by 10%. 
 

The solution, named "Hybrid Renewable Energy Forecasting" (HyRef) uses weather modeling capabilities, cloud imaging technology and sky-facing cameras to track cloud movements, while sensors on the turbines monitor wind speed, temperature and direction. When combined with analytics technology, the data-assimilation based solution can produce accurate local weather forecasts within a wind farm as far as one month in advance, or in 15-minute increments. read more..