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Renewable Energy Corporation said it was unlikely to set up its manufacturing presence in Indiadue to unfavorable government policies.

Blame it on the 8.7% decline in the rupee.

Essar Energy Monday said it expects to complete three power projects by March next year that would increase its total generation capacity to 4,510 Mw. The company, a part of Ruias-led conglomerate Essar group, is also planning to float a sponsored ADR programme this year that would allow American investors to trade in Essar Energy shares. London-listed Essar Energy also has interests in oil and gas and owns the Vadinar oil refinery in Gujarat. “In Power, we expect to commission three projects, Mahan I, Salaya I and Vadinar P2, by end March 2012 which will increase our total generation capacity by 2,910 MW to 4,510 MW,” Essar Energy said in its interim management statement for the period ended September 30. “We expect to complete a further 7 power generation projects by the end of March 2014 to take our total generation capacity to 9,670 MW,” it noted. The 1,200 MW Salaya I and 510 MW Vadinar P2 projects are located in Gujarat while Mahan I is in Madhya Pradesh. According to the statement, the company is looking to initiate American Depository Receipt (ADR) programme, for which BNY Mellon has been appointed as the depository bank. “To further enhance the ability of a wide range of institutions to invest in Essar Energy, the company has decided to establish a Level 1 (Over-The-Counter) sponsored ADR programme. “… it is expected that the ADR programme will be in place before the end of 2011, opening up a new source of potential investors in Essar Energy,” it said. When contacted, an Essar spokesperson said the proposed ADR programme is just to allow US investors to trade in Essar Energy shares and that there would not be any kind of share issue or raising capital. As on September, Essar Energy’s net debt stood at USD 5,507 million, which is in line with its plans.  

With an installed capacity of over 14,150 MW, India is currently the fifth largest market in the world for wind energy. Estimates put the available potential for wind energy at around 65,000 Mw which leaves a lot of room for expansion. India is being considered as a market of the future by many global wind energy majors who are lining up to enter the market. With an estimated wind potential of 8,591 Mw, Karnataka produces 1,576.2 Mw according to the World Institute for Sustainable Energy. While this places the state behind others like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat where wind energy has taken off on a bigger scale, there are many small producers. Windmill management is no easy job, however, as industry experts point out, it is a huge investment of financial resources and planning. “Windmill maintenance is a very demanding sector, it is not very easy to get up there and fix problems whenever they occur as there are no lifts,” said Bhagwant Divate. “Windmills need to function for 20 years which is their average life span. During this time they see strain on all their parts due to varied velocities, vibrations and idle time, and lubrication and sealants play an important part,” he added. The height of the windmill increases each MW of extra power it generates. Some windmills can reach up to 80 m in height with blades that spin up to 22 times per minute. Blade manufacture is a science that ensures proper functioning of the windmill. “A minor crack in the blade before installation can run up a bill of crores in repairs if installed improperly. It is very important to use a proper release agent when manufacturing,” said Gerard Lourduraj, Chem Trend. The release agent helps in freeing the blade from the mould in which it is cast without causing cracks in the blade. “Proper management of financial resources is essential for small players, they are strained by land expenses, lack of regulatory framework in the state for power sales to other states and inadequate government incentives, investment in proper machinery is very important,” added Divate. Express News Service.  

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