BUSINESS
Cabinet clears listing of IREDA through part-sale of government holding
The decision was taken due to change in IREDA's capital structure following infusion of capital to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore by the Government in March, 2022. The IPO will also create additional employment opportunities, the government said
MCMINIS
What are India's pilot green-hydrogen projects?
BUSINESS
India’s missed solar power target may bite hard as power demand soars in summer
The solar sector is finding it tough to meet targets as it faces policy headwinds. Besides, a plethora of grid norms are also increasing project costs.
INDIA
Andaman authorities issue strict rules on power consumption amid blackouts
Due to the geographical and topographical peculiarities of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, including separation by sea over great distances, there is no single power grid for all the electrified islands and instead a power house caters independently to the power requirements of an area.
BUSINESS
NTPC to import 5.4 million tons of coal to meet growing summer demand
The Union power minister also informed the Upper House that Railways has taken steps to purchase one lakh wagons for coal transportation
POWER
NTPC arm to buy 4-GW gas-based power to meet demand in 'crunch period'
As per the tender document reviewed by Moneycontrol, the last date for submission of bids is March 23. The minimum guaranteed offtake during the identified crunch period shall be 1209.6 MU. Any offer of less than 50 MW by a bidder will result into non- responsiveness of bid, it stated.
BUSINESS
Solar Boost: Govt lifts ALMM mandate for projects commissioned by March 2024
The move is significant as India aims to have 280 gigawatts (GW) solar power installed capacity by 2030, which means the country needs to add about 27 GW annually. At present, India has an installed solar capacity of 63.89 GW.
BUSINESS
MC Exclusive: NTPC to invite bids for 9 GWh of energy storage systems
This will be the largest bid for energy storage systems in India, surpassing NTPC's own previous tender of 3 GWh.
BUSINESS
Tata Power Renewables signs deal for 510-MW hybrid project
With this, the total renewables capacity of TPREL reaches 6,303MW with an installed capacity of 3,909 MW (Solar - 2,981 MW & Wind - 928 MW) and 2,394MW under various stages of implementation.
BUSINESS
Govt launches High Price-power trading market and Surplus Power Portal
Now the discoms will be able to indicate their surplus power in block times/days/months on portal. Those discoms who need power will be able to requisition the surplus power. The new buyer will pay both variable charge (VC) and fixed cost (FC) as determined by the regulators, the ministry of power said in a statement on March 10.
INDIA
Govt eyes additional 11,920 MW to meet summer power demand
During a review meeting held on March 7, Union minister for power RK Singh asked electricity companies to ensure there is no load-shedding during the summer months.
BUSINESS
Women’s Day: Powering our lives the green way
Increasingly, organisations are finding it difficult to ignore the value of involving women in the renewable energy supply chain.
ENVIRONMENT
40% capacity of upcoming coal-based power plants must be sourced from renewables: Govt
However, the government said that a captive plant shall be exempt from the requirement of RGO, if it fulfils the Renewable Purchase Obligations as notified by the central government.
BUSINESS
Order on pooling electricity from old thermal and gas-based stations soon: Power ministry officials
Many states and distribution companies, based on commercial considerations, started making an exit from PPAs of costlier plants (non-pit head coal stations and gas-based thermal generating station) while retaining the PPAs of cheaper plants. This is also leading to generation capacity crunch especially during the peak demand season.
BUSINESS
States should privatise transmission network for quality power and renewable integration: Pratik Agarwal
In an exclusive interview with Moneycontrol, the managing director of Sterlite Power Transmission said the recurring power crisis in India is actually a crisis of the last mile. Agarwal also said cost escalation to build transmission network for renewable energy will be offset by the overall low cost of RE compared to electricity from conventional sources.
INTERVIEW
If India fails to secure energy beyond fossil fuels, the world will fail: Danish climate minister
If you look at the figures, in 20 years India will need extra electricity capacity equal to the capacity of the entire European Union today. That is wild. But it also gives India something that is very unique, said Aagaard, Denmark's minister for climate change, energy and utilities.
COMPANIES-2
Power demand: NTPC to generate 5,000 MW through gas-based plants in April-May
In December, the government asked state-run GAIL (India) and NTPC to increase imports of natural gas to supplement power generation.
BUSINESS
NTPC transfers 3,000 MW renewable energy assets to its subsidiary
With the transfer now completed, the state-run power generator is planning to offload 10 per cent to 20 per cent stake in NGEL, a senior NTPC official said.
BUSINESS
Will India face another power crisis this summer?
In November, the coal ministry in a statement said it would augment coal supplies at TPPs to 45 million tonnes by March-end. However, data showed that maximum coal stock at TPPs hasn’t crossed 31-32 million tonnes so far. Also, logistics around coal supply will continue to be a major bottleneck, despite increase in coal production as well as railway lines for its transportation.
BUSINESS
Hoping to make India a supply base for our global energy storage needs: Fluence CEO
The company's 150 MWh BESS will be commissioned by July-August in Karnataka.
TECHNOLOGY
Lithium discovery notwithstanding, indigenous batteries still some distance away
5.9 MT of lithium can give 6 terawatt hour of battery cells in India, which is six times the current production in the world. But lithium cell requires a host of other raw materials and technology, which need to be sourced.
BUSINESS
Former Assam chief secretary Jishnu Barua is the new chief of India’s power regulator
The CERC is responsible for regulating and determining tariffs of inter-state transmission of electricity, issuing licences to persons to function as transmission licensee and electricity trader with respect to their inter-state operations
BUSINESS
Post Budget 2023: PM Modi outlines three pillars of India's ‘green growth’ initiative
The government aims at raising renewable energy production, reducing fossil fuel use and rapid move towards a gas-based economy, Modi said at a power ministry webinar.
BUSINESS
India re-imposes emergency clause; imported coal-based power plants to run at full capacity
On January 9, 2023, Moneycontrol first reported that the previous such order under Section 11 of the Electricity Act lapsed on December 31, 2022, after being extended from October 31, 2022. The latest order would mean at least 15 ICBs will have to operate at their full capacity until further notice.
