In Focus

NTPC has geared itself to become a 75000 MW company by 2017 and the company has core competency to achieve this feat. By their so-called “XI Plan period” the company aims to put about 13000 MW capacity on stream contributing to the Govt. of India’s plans of adding 68000 MW by that time. This was stated by Shri Arup Roy Choudhury, Chairman and Managing Director, NTPC.

 China will build a 10.8-million-KW wind power farm in Hami in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region within five year.

South Korea is going for an ambitious off-shore wind farm amounting to US$8.3 billion. According to the Ministry of Knowledge Economy or MKE this project will erect 500 wind turbines in the West Sea off the Jeolla province in ten years.

Russia, India and China have agreed to promote cooperation in energy security and ensure contact between their innovation centres.

Sri Lanka is considering OTEC, or ocean thermal energy conversion, in the eastern deep-water harbour of Trincomalee. According to Lanka Online, Minister of Power and Energy Champika Ranawaka explained that it is part of the country’s renewable energy drive.

Bangladesh aims to generate an additional 7,000MW of electricity by 2013 by setting up new power plants in the country, the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said.

Azure Power will develop a 15 MW solar PV power plan with an investment of $40 million in Gujarat. The investment is led by Overseas Private Investment Corporation, an agency of the United States Government. Other investors in the project include World Bank arm IFC, and venture capital firms Helion Advisors and Foundation Capital.

Pakistan will give incentives builders and constructors which complete their projects before scheduled completion time.

The Punjab government signed memoranda of understanding with two Chinese companies for cooperation several hydro, wind and solar power projects across the province.

Alstom has won a contract for the supply of equipment to a new hydroelectric dam in China.

REC’s Singapore facility already exceeds expectations by producing one millionth module ahead of plan before reaching full capacity.

The construction of a 10MW wind power plant in Indonesia started with Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf laying the foundation stone.  It is located in Suak Bakong village, Kluet subdistrict, South Aceh regency.

A worldwide boom in new power plant construction is putting a strain on engineering resources, says Invensys VP Paul Dacruz. And worldwide some 30 % of power plants are more than thirty years old which means that many of them are now at half life and facing obsolecense in parts.

China will be a future wind energy hotspot, according to Tulsi Tanti, chairman of Suzlon Energy. Wind energy, one of the worst affected sectors of the industry during the economic turmoil of the last two years, is seen to make a revival by 2011.

A platform will encourage expansion of proven business models that supply low-cost solar products to consumers living 'off grid'.

Wartsila has been awarded an operations and maintenance agreement by Liberty Power Tech for its power plant in Pakistan.