News

NHPC is trying to meet the December 2011 deadline for preparation of detailed project reports  for hydroelectric projects in Bhutan.

NHPC and Orissa Hydro Power Corporation are likely to sign an MoU for construction of three hydel projects. It will have an aggregate capacity of 300 MW, across the Mahanadi river in Orissa.

NHPC will the Ministry of Power once again for obtaining the necessary statutory approvals for its proposed diversification into other power generation sectors. This includes the thermal and nuclear segments.

India has signed an agreement with Bangladesh for the construction of a 2,600MW coal-fired plant in the Rampal area of the Bagerhat district, Bangladesh.

Abengoa and BHEL will work together on a range of Concentrating Solar Power projects in India. The agreement will not only see the firms join forces on the engineering, procurement and construction of the Indian portfolio but also look to develop projects in other parts of the globe.

The University of Queensland will collaborate with Verdicorp to develop next-generation geothermal turbine and power plant technology.

China Ming Yang Wind Power won a total of 1.1GW new bids in January 2011. It includes 200MW for its 2.5/3.0MW Super Compact Drive wind turbine generators in both onshore and offshore tenders.

Sri Lanka will receive a $120 million Asian Development Bank loan to help expand and improve its power network. The country is experiencing rising customer demand and gaps in coverage which are hindering growth.

ABB won an order worth $15 million from Oyu Tolgoi LLC. to boost the capacity and reliability of existing transmission lines. 

Taiwan reduced the feed-in tariffs for solar power for 2011 by approximately 30 per cent from 2010 levels. This is due to the falling cost of solar photovoltaics installation equipment. State-run Taiwan Power will now pay US$ 0.2518 per kilowatt-hour for power generated from ground mounted solar installations, compared with US$ 0.3821 for 2010, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said in a statement on January 28th. The 2011 price for roof-top solar power is as high as US$0.3546. Solar cell prices may decline 10 to 15 per cent this year, said Chang Ping-heng, chief executive officer of Motech Industries, Taiwan’s biggest solar cell maker by market value. Global annual capacity to produce solar cells may climb to as much as 30GW in 2011, Chang said December 1st. “Solar power costs may fall further,” Hwang Jung-chiou, vice minister of economic affairs, said in a press conference in Taipei today. Feed-in tariffs are at least US$0.3821 for PV solar panels installed in 2010, the Bureau of Energy said in a statement on its website in December 2009.

India's Ministry of Environment and Forest okayed Chettinad Power's proposed 1,200 MW merchant coal based thermal power plant.

Jaiprakash Power Ventures Limited will commission the first unit of its 1,000 MW hydroelectric power project in Himachal Pradesh in March. This will be six months ahead of schedule.

TEECL has diversified into non-conventional energy sector to produce 950 mw of wind power by 2017.

Youil Ensys subsidiary Youil Renewable Energy Corporation will invest around $160 million to construct two solar projects in the Philippines.

ADB has agreed to lend China WindPower $240 million to build and operate up to 800MW of new wind farms by 2013.

The state owned power utility  Neyveli Lignite Corporation would set up a 2,000 Mw power station at Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu.