Staff Reporter

Germany is setting the pace in grid compliance and gen set manufacturer Cummins are the first to market with a code compliant gen set, say the firm’s managing director Willi Vogtner and executive director Vikrant Aggarwal. The new laws come into place from January 1, 2013 and stipulate the requirements for generating units feeding into the grid. Other countries such as France will soon follow, and it is likely that these standards will likely become global ones.

First Solar will design and build two utility-scale power plants with a total capacity of 159 MW in South Wales for AGL Energy Ltd.

The government of South Korea will US$318.8 million into research and development on eco-friendly energy generation.

The Sri Lankan government has handed over the contract to construct the Moragahakanda dam to the Sinohydro Corporation.

Kansai Electric will continue to prepare for potential rolling blackouts this summer despite getting the approval to restart its Ohi nuclear power plant.

China is encouraging and will support Chinese companies that participate in energy and electric power projects in Pakistan.

A controversial Indian nuclear power moves closer to becoming operational.

The open bidding of Pakistan's National Power Construction Corporation is expected to take place in June.

GAIL India Limited is looking to hire a clean development mechanism consultant for its 5 MW solarphotovoltaic power plant in Rajasthan.

Suzlon has signed an expression of interest with the Indian state of Karnataka to develop 2500MW of wind-powered electricity over the next five years.

Alstom and Druk Green will provide repair services for hydro runners and other underwater parts of hydropower plants. A state-of-the-art hydropower service centre will be established by the groups at Jigmeling, Gelephu under Sarpang Dzongkhag district of Bhutan. This strategic partnership will be implemented as a joint venture with a shareholding of 49% for Alstom and 51% for Druk Green. The corresponding agreement was signed in Bhutan by Dasho Chhewang Rinzin, Managing Director, Druk Green and Alain Spohr, Unit Managing Director, Alstom Hydro India.

IAEA inspectors declared South Korea’s aging Gori-1 nuclear reactor as safe after reviewing the facilities for eight days.

On the sidelines of the Power Plant World Asia 2012 held in Singapore, Asian Power spoke with Bentley Systems, a leader in software engineering and software solutions to discuss Asia’s power industry trends and how their customer preferences changed in the last decade.

The Eurozone crisis and a massive drop in prices of solar panels are combining to make China the solar power superpower.

Japan’s Prime Minister tells his countrymen that Japan cannot do without nuclear power.