Staff Reporter

The US Government-sponsored banks that have helped fund the takeoff of India’s fledgling solar industry may soon move to withdraw their support, according to an official at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). Peter Ballinger, OPIC’s director, has said that the agency is rapidly approaching its lending limit for PV projects in India and opined that multilateral lenders like the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB) could shortly be forced to reassess their aid packages. The ADB, WB and OPIC were among the first to invest in developing solar in India. However, such has been the success of the investment programme that projects in the country now account for 8.5% of OPIC’s total loan book, nearing its 10% limit for any one country. India hopes to complete its first round of large-scale PV installations by January, and is planning to hold an auction for a further 350MW of projects later this month. In October Moser Baer installed India’s largest system to date, a 30MW system in the state of Gujarat, and national capacity now stands at 125MW. Ballinger believes that, with the industry maturing, the time is right for development banks to start withdrawing support. “We’re supposed to be catalytic for new industries by providing financing at an early stage until more traditional lenders get comfortable with the risks of new technologies and businesses they’re unfamiliar with,” he said. “It may be time for commercial banks to step in to India’s solar sector now that it appears to be ramping up."  

Instead of burning waste gas in a boiler, the off-gas from Handan’s blast furnace and coke oven will power a GE 9E Gas Turbine to generate power.

Total net generation for the first ten months of 2011 increased by 19.9% to 92,398,706 MWh.

The Overseas Private Investment Corp nears its limit for lending to projects in India, and other banks may follow suit.

The coal handling plant of the first unit of Mettur thermal is likely to be ready for coal bunkering by the end of December 2011.

NHPC has now approved an interest bearing advance of Rs 10 crore against a secured bank guarantee to Hindustan Construction Company, contractor of its Uri-II hydroelectric project. Thge latter is experiencing a cash flow crunch. Further, NHPC`s board of directors are in the process of considering an additional interest bearing advance of Rs 15 crore to HCC.

Anti-nuclear protesters held a series of large rallies in Japan's southwestern city of Fukuoka on Sunday.

Companhia de Electricidade de Macau - CEM, S.A. recently hosted the “16th Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau Power Industry Services Seminar” with around 100 delegates from over 20 areas.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is lending $170 million to build a new power plant in Thailand that will provide clean, affordable electricity to help meet the country’s increasing demand for supply. “This is the first large independent power producer (IPP) project to reach financial close in Thailand since the 2008 global economic crisis,” said Daniel Wiedmer, Investment Specialist in ADB’s Private Sector Operations Department. “It incorporates state-of-the-art technology to generate electricity far more efficiently than coal fired systems, which are the only domestic alternative for IPPs.” The 1,600 megawatt natural gas-fired plant, which will be built in Nong Saeng district north of Bangkok under a public private partnership arrangement, will help meet Thailand’s rapidly increasing appetite for electricity. By using clean burning, combined cycle technology to curb harmful carbon releases, the plant will avoid an estimated five million tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions that would otherwise be produced by coal-fired generators. Affordably priced power is crucial for supporting Thailand’s post global crisis economic rebound, for making Thai businesses competitive, and for expanding livelihood opportunities to help reduce poverty. A subsidiary of J-Power?Japan’s largest wholesale power supplier?will develop and operate the plant, with the electricity to be sold to the state-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand under a 25-year power purchase agreement. Thai energy firm PTT Public Company will supply the gas, and a group of companies led by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build the facilities. ADB’s participation and willingness to provide a long-term loan helped draw co-lending support from commercial banks at a similar tenor. The availability of long dated finance gives J-Power the ability to pay down the plant’s high upfront costs over a longer term, allowing it to provide low-cost energy to consumers in Thailand. ADB is heavily involved in clean energy development in Thailand where it is helping to finance two private sector solar power projects, including one of the world’s largest solar photovoltaic plants in Lopburi. Alongside the investment by J-Power and ADB’s 23-year loan, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and commercial banks – Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., KASIKORNBANK PCL, and Siam Commercial.

The Asian Development Bank is lending $170 million to build a 1,600MW natural-gas fired power plant in Thailand.

Essar Energy expects to complete three power projects by March next year that would increase its total generation capacity to 4,510 Mw.

Gujarat is pushing for new feed-in tariff rates covering PV projects commissioned from January 29, 2012 until March 31, 2015.

Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limiteda has been granted the techno economic clearance fo rits120 MW Vyasi hydro electric project from the Central Electricity Authority.

Media have been allowed into Japan's tsunami-damaged nuclear power plant for the first time since the disaster.

India boosted its wind power maintenance technology by creating lubricants and sealants that helps windmilsl function properly.

Nepal and Czech Republic have agreed to form a joint economic council to boost bilateral trade and investment opportunities between the two countries, including electricity. During the meeting with Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun Thurday at his office, the visiting Czech assistant minister for Environment Ivo Hlavac agreed on forming a joint economic council. Formation of joint economic council is a good to start for joint projects, he said, showing interest on investment on electricity, water and sanitation management of big cities like Kathmandu. Pun urged the visiting Czech entrepreneurs to invest in Nepal with out any fear. “Nepal is ready to protect foreign investments,” he said, adding that the country is moving towards stability as yesterday the major parties signed a peace deal. “Nepal is gradually heading towards economic development.”