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China Wind Power has signed an engineering contract with China Ming Yang Wind Power Ltd for the construction of its wind farm project in China.

Hyundai Heavy Industries expects annual sales of as much as $300 million from a wind-turbine factory in China as it bolsters clean-energy units to pare a reliance on making vessels.

Rising demand for the dominant form of renewable energy worldwide – wood – could drive yet more acquisitions of land in developing countries where food insecurity is rising and land rights are weak, say researchers at the International Institute for Environment and Development. In a briefing paper published today (30 August), they warn that this new trend needs greater public scrutiny and debate.  Wood accounts for 67% of global renewable energy supplies, and many countries in the global North are increasing their use of it both to reduce their reliance on costly fossil fuels and to mitigate climate change.  Such countries are setting ambitious targets for using renewable energy, including biomass, but with demand for wood set to outstrip supply by up to 600% in some countries, and high tree growth rates in the tropics, investors are beginning to look South.  New tree plantations in developing countries that will be harvested to export wood could spell good news in terms of jobs, investment, climate change and conversation — if they are managed well.  But there is also a risk that plantations will displace poor and marginalised communities from land they have tended to for generations but have no formal claim over.  The paper, aimed at policymakers in both developed and developing countries, warns that rising demand for wood could harm food security and the livelihoods of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people if governments lease large areas of land for fuel wood plantations.  “All eyes are turned to food and biofuels, but tree plantations for biomass energy may soon become an important driver in the global land rush,” says Dr Lorenzo Cotula, a senior researcher at IIED and co-author of the paper.  Duncan Macqueen, also a senior researcher and co-author adds: “Wood is a vital renewable energy source, and countries in the South should develop it for local energy security, not export it to fuel Northern energy deficits at the expense of their own people.”  

Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Taiwan's CTCI Corp have jointly won a full turnkey contract for three 800 MW coal-fired power generating units from Taiwan Power Co .

Vietnam Electricity plans to adjust its monthly pricing based on fluctuating costs such as US dollar exchange rate, changing fuel prices, and also the power output level from its plant.

The deal involves the construction of wind energy projects with a total capacity of at least 1,000 MW over a 10-year period.

India's ministry of power has sought an allocation of 56.08 MMSCMD of natural gas for power plants to be commissioned during the 11th Five Year Plan.

Suzlon Energy is set to build a 600MW wind power farm at 20km South-West of Ardrossan on the East Coast of the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia.

Engineering, procurement and construction company BGR Energy Systems has bagged Rs 444.48 crore orders from Nuclear Power Corporation of India. The order involves supply, erection, testing and commissioning of main plant electrical systems, including nuclear Island electricals at Kota Rajasthan for 2×700 Mw and Kakrapara in Gujarat 2×700 Mw has been given to the electrical projects division of city-based BGR Energy Systems, a company statement here said. The two projects are expected to be completed between September 2015 and March 2016, it said. “This happens to be the single biggest order for main plant electricals received by BGR Energy so far and would facilitate qualifications in the future,” BGR Energy Systems CEO V Balakrishnan said. BGR Energy Systems designs and manufactures 22 high technology equipment for power, process and infrastructure projects for world markets. As of March 2011, the company achieved a turnover of Rs 4,763 crore, the statement added. Agencies  

The  Karnataka State Solar Policy 2011-12 to 2015-16 is looking to generate 200 Mw solar power in five years.

Jaks Resources Bhd is expected to start construction of its 1,200 MW coal-fired power project worth US$2 billion in Hai Duong province, Vietnam, in the second quarter of 2013.

India's has given top priority to the development of renewable energy sources,  increasing the rate of electricity production from 3.5% in 2010 to 4.5% of total electricity production in 2020 and to 6% in 2030.

The state government of Tamil Nadu has sought the help of private players to set up infrastructure for wind power evacuation.

India's Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah revealed that the country will be adding about 3,500 Mw of renewable power during the current fiscal, entailing a capital investment of about 29,000 crore.

The operators of Nam Theun 2 are preparing to resume power generation for export to Thailand.

 Nam Ngum II hydropower dam with a generation capacity of 615MW started selling electricity to Thailand but the official sale of electricity will be launched at the end of 2011, said Managing Director of Ratch-Lao Service Company, Mr. Jatuporn Soparaksa, on 24 August. Mr. Soparaksa explains about the Nam Ngum 2 Hydropower operation. Mr. Jatuporn also disclosed that Nam Ngum 2 Hydroelectric Power Plant is currently 90 per cent completed and started its initial operation in 2010. Nam Ngum 2 Hydroelectric Power Plant Project, Nam Ngum III hydroelectric dam, Hongsa electricity thermal plant and Se Pien-Se Nam Noi dam were invested by the RATCH-Lao Services Company. Nam Ngum 2 Hydroelectric Power Plant is located in Vientiane province. The Nam Ngum III hydroelectric dam, located in the north of Nam Ngum II hydroelectric dam with a generation capacity of 440-megawat in Saysomboun district, Vientiane province, has signed an agreement to sell electricity to the Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand. The power house is expected to export electricity in 2016. He said that the largest scale of Hongsa electricity thermal plant in Laos, situated in Sayaboury province, with a generation capacity of 1,878 MW has signed a 25-year agreement for electricity purchasing with the Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand (EGAT). The Hongsa electricity thermal plant will sell 1,473 MW to Thailand and the rest will be distributed for domestic consumption, and the project is scheduled for initial operation in 2015, added Mr. Jatuporn. In addition, the company also have another co-operation project of building a Se Pien-Se Nam Noi dam in Attapeu and Champassak provinces, southern Laos. Upon completion, the dam will have a generation capacity of 390 MW. Most of the electricity output will be exported to Ubon Ratchathani province, north-eastern Thailand, in 2017. The company also plans to provide 10 scholarships every year to Lao students studying on technical machine, electricity and electronic and will organise a short training course for technical schools such as Parkpasack Technical College, Lao-Germen Technical College and other college. This project will be started in academic year of 2011-2012. Source: KPL Lao News Agency